Plus, Japan blocks Mount Fuji views and other top travel news.
Last week, the Department of Transportation provided passengers with reasons to celebrate by introducing new policies addressing delays and cancellations. However, amid this positive news, there were concerning reports in the travel space: primarily norovirus outbreaks in Germany and on cruise ships. Additionally, Japan has taken innovative steps to tackle overcrowding at tourist attractions near Mount Fuji, and two unusual airline incidents have recently come to light. Read on to discover the five top travel events that unfolded last week
NOROVIRUS STRIKES MULTIPLE DESTINATIONS
The Stuttgart Spring Festival in Germany commenced on April 20, but last weekend, around 800 people became sick due to a norovirus outbreak. The festival, which runs until May 12, is a big celebration with performances, food and beer stalls, and rides. It attracts more than a million people. It is unclear what caused the outbreak and health officials have said that no hygiene rules were broken.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only outbreak reported in the last few days. New reports say that 200 people on Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean ships also became sick from norovirus. Ninety-four people became ill on board the Sapphire Princess cruise ship, sailing from Los Angeles to the South Pacific; and norovirus struck 67 guests and two crew members on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas, sailing from Florida to Los Angeles.
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On possible cause of norovirus has been discovered in California, where public health officials have issued a warning against raw oysters imported from South Korea. Sellers are advised to avoid oysters from from JBR Inc. and are being urged to discard any leftovers.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. It spreads through contaminated food and surfaces or by coming in contact with someone who has the food-borne illness. According to the CDC, outbreaks can happen anytime, but they are more common between November and April. To prevent norovirus spread, the agency recommends washing hands thoroughly and follow food preparation safety guidelines. Sanitizers do not work against norovirus.
JAPANESE CITY BLOCKS MOUNT FUJI VIEW FROM TOURISTS
After banning tourists from Kyoto’s geisha district and introducing a charge to hike a popular Mount Fuji trail, Japan is undertaking another strict measure to tackle the crowds. In the town of Fujikawaguchiko, officials are installing an eight-foot tall, 65-foot long mesh net to block a popular viewpoint of Mount Fuji.
Tourists have been flocking to the spot, which is outside a Lawson convenience store, to take photos. Locals have complained of overcrowding, littering, and violating traffic locations. A dental clinic nearby has also said that ill-behaved tourists have climbed onto their roof to get that perfect click. Fed up officials wish they didn’t have to take this drastic measure, but they hope that this helps in improving the situation.
AIRLINE REGISTERS 101-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER AS A BABY
This story is a bit surprising: a centenarian was mistaken for a baby by American Airlines. The 101-year-old passenger was born in 1922, but the airline system automatically changed the year to 2022 because it doesn’t recognize the year. So, the staff expected a baby to show up, not an adult.
The 101-year-old passenger said that the same thing happened last year and has been a problem ever since she turned 100. She travels once a year to visit family and hopes that the airline can fix the issue to prevent the hassle of explaining and waiting for a wheelchair.
JAPAN AIRLINES CANCELS FLIGHT DUE TO DRUNK PILOT
A Japan Airlines pilot flew to Dallas from Tokyo and it’s alleged that he then got drunk in the Texan city. The 49-year-old drank with his colleagues on arrival at 6 p.m. and continued drinking at the hotel. The hotel staff warned him of noise and called the cops at 2 a.m. due to shouting. In the end, the flight with 157 passengers was cancelled by the airline and many were transferred to American Airlines. Apparently, the pilot didn’t break the airline’s policy of drinking within 12 hours of a flight, but the airline decided to consider the mental and physical conditions of the pilot. Japan Airlines apologized for the inconvenience.
This is hardly the first time an overzealous pilot was overserved in another city. Recently, a Delta Air Lines pilot was sentenced to 10 months in prison after showing up for duty in Edinburgh under the influence. In the U.S., pilots are forbidden to fly within eight hours of alcohol consumption.
POWER OUTAGE CAUSES PANIC ON FLIGHT
A power outage aboard an AirAsia flight from Perth to Jakarta caused concern just prior to take-off last week. Power resumed after seven minutes, but again cut out soon thereafter. One passenger said that after the air conditioning and lights shut off people started panicking. And although the pilot assured everyone on board that the outage was due to auxiliary power and wouldn’t impact the flight, 17 passengers chose to deboard, fearing more issues while in the air.
While one passenger who disembarked applauded the Perth airport staff for helping them, she claimed that AirAsia provided no assistance. The flight departed 75 minutes late and arrived without incident. An AirAsia spokesperson said that passengers were not at risk at any point.