BASIL Fawlty and his shambolic style of hotel management have finally disappeared from UK resorts, according to Bournemouth’s tourist chief.

Mark Smith said standards have risen dramatically since John Cleese’s hit 70s TV series Fawlty Towers, which depicted grumpy staff, inedible food and shocking service in a fictional seaside hotel.

He was speaking on the day the government’s tourism boss warned of huge job losses in hotels and restaurants in the UK due to shoddy service and high prices.

“I think his comments may have been right 30 years ago but it is a very different product which is out there at the moment,” said Mr Smith.

“It would not be a £100 billion plus industry if standards were not good.”

Visit Britain chairman Christopher Rodrigues claimed many in the British holiday business will go out of business this year.

And Boscombe hotelier Debbie Payne agreed that only those who offer high quality accommodation and food will survive.

She said ever more discerning customers expect high quality for their money.

Debbie, spokeswoman for Boscombe Spa Resort Hotels, said she is optimistic that the weak pound will lead to a bumper year for the UK holiday industry.

But she agreed that cleanliness, friendly staff, flexibility and good hospitality are essential for a business to survive.

“People’s expectations are higher now than ever before and only those that improve in line with expectation will survive,” she said.

“If you give very good service and invest in facilities then you deserve to be in business but, if not, the customers will stay away.”

Mr Rodrigues said he believes tourism earnings will plummet and added: “We’ve had a period in which people could get away with not being of the highest quality – we’re now in an environment where you have to do quality.

“Threadbare towels, a previously owned bar of soap and a grumpy person who says ‘we don’t do breakfast before 8am and we don’t do it after 8.12am’ – you don’t get a lot of happy customers.”