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Tourists often do questionable or even unthinkable things. They damage cultural monuments, eat endangered species and strip in public.
In 2023, tourists around the world will continue to make negative headlines. Blick shows five of the worst cases, including one with Swiss involvement.
1
Japan
In 2023, Japanese authorities had to crack down on visitors to the Ghibli theme park. This is dedicated to the work of the famous animation company Studio Ghibli.
In February, photos of men crossing boundaries surfaced on social media. The men “acted as if they were sexually harassing young female characters,” according to regional media reports. The men touched the breasts of the female figures and took pictures under the skirts.
“The behavior of these people is extremely wrong, it is not possible. Some of these numbers represent children,” the region’s mayor said this spring. He warned of possible criminal consequences.
2
England
Since this year, visitors to Stoke Fruit Farm on Hayling Island have seen signs among the sunflower fields reading ‘No naked people’. The reason: many visitors took inappropriate photos. The owner of the farm had to ask guests of the sunflower fields to keep their clothes on and not to pose naked in the fields.
The owner told CNN: “There have always been people taking risqué photos, but this is the first year it’s been a problem. That’s why we put up signs.” Children also visit the fields regularly.
3
China
Social media seems to be the source of many absurd ideas. In February, a Chinese influencer was fined after cooking and eating a great white shark in a livestream while traveling through her country.
The animal is a protected species in China. The influencer was reportedly sentenced to a fine of approximately R15,000.
4
Italy
Numerous cultural attractions also suffered from tourists. Among other things, a 17-year-old Swiss woman who visited the Colosseum in Rome in the summer made headlines.
There she engraved her name in the wall of the 2,000-year-old amphitheater. However, she was caught red-handed and filmed. The Swiss woman was briefly arrested.
A German teenager (17) is said to have recently scratched the masonry in the amphitheater. After scratching a wall on the ground floor of the monument, he was arrested by security personnel accompanied by a teacher. The carabinieri then reported him.
5
Israel
Finally, there is also an American on the list. He damaged two second-century Roman sculptures in Israel. Police told CNN that the tourist knocked over the statues because he thought they were “idols.”
His lawyer denied this accusation. He explained that the man suffered from the ‘Jerusalem syndrome’: tourists are so overwhelmed by history that they lose sight of reality and destroy objects. (gs)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
