And other travel news from the week.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: an American tourist carves initials into Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine; Airbnb is facing criticism over a PR stunt; and a Southwest flight was struck by bullets in Dallas, Texas.
Dive into these and more as we explore the week’s five most intriguing, under-the-radar travel news.
NO.1
AMERICAN TOURIST DEFACES TORII GATE IN TOKYO
Steve Lee Hayes, a 65-year-old American tourist, was arrested in Tokyo after he allegedly carved his family’s initials into a Torii gate at the Meiji Shrine. The tourist, who was visiting the country with his family, was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police for property damage after reviewing security camera footage. Hayes faces up to three years in prison or a fine of 300,000 yen ($1,940) if found guilty.
Japan is currently overrun with tourists, and the government is taking measures to control some of the disruption it is causing locals. Earlier this year, the local government banned tourists from Kyoto’s Geisha district, and both Kyoto and Tokyo have made it onto Fodor’s No List–outlining 15 destinations to reconsider traveling to in 2025–due to overcrowding, lack of services, and disrespect for local customs.
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NO.2
FLORENCE ANNOUNCES 10-POINT PLAN TO COMBAT OVERTOURISM
The Italian city of Florence is home to iconic pieces in its museums and galleries, making it a favorite among tourists. However, it has been dealing with a growing number of visitors for many years. Last week, Mayor Sara Funaro announced a 10-step plan to make tourism more palatable for locals.
The timing is apt because tourism leaders from the G7 countries of Canada, France, the U.K., Japan, Italy, Germany, and the U.S. were assembled in the city. The mayor told The New York Times, “We’re sending a clear message to G7 leaders that there is a need for rules and tools to deal with an ever-growing tourism that cannot and must not undermine the quality of life of residents.”
The proposal includes the idea of restricting lockboxes that short-term rentals use to offer easy access to tourists. It also proposes a ban on loudspeakers and amplifiers used by guides, as well as a ban on “atypical” vehicles such as golf carts for tourism purposes. Moreover, data sharing and consultation with locals are also on the agenda.
NO.3
SEVERE TURBULENCE TURNS FLIGHT AROUND
A Scandinavian Airlines flight was en route to Miami, Florida, from Stockholm, Sweden, when it encountered severe turbulence over Greenland. The pilots turned the plane around, and it landed in Copenhagen, Denmark, for inspection.
The airline stated that the inspection was part of safety protocol and would have led to the grounding of the aircraft in Miami. “Since SAS does not have the necessary facilities and staff for this level of inspection in MIA, we decided to reroute the aircraft to Copenhagen (CPH), where both hangar space and qualified technicians were available.”
The flight was carrying 254 passengers, and no one was severely injured. All passengers stayed in a hotel overnight and were booked on other flights.
NO.4
AIRBNB’S COLOSSEUM EXPERIENCE DRAWS FLAK
With the release of the movie Gladiator II, Airbnb and the Colosseum have entered a partnership worth $1.5 million. As part of this deal, Airbnb is hosting a staged gladiator fight at the heritage monument. Tourists can become part of this experience by requesting a booking for the event, which takes place on May 7-8 after closing hours; the experience is free, but those partaking will need to organize their own travels.
Airbnb said in a statement, “As part of this program, Airbnb is offering its support to the restoration and enhancement of Colosseum’s heritage, including an ongoing project to restore the permanent exhibition at the Colosseum.”
Locals and experts are definitely not happy about this. Erica Battaglia, president of Rome’s Culture Commission, said that the Colosseum shouldn’t be turned into an amusement park. “For what it represents, the Colosseum is a world heritage site, and one must go in the direction to protect it, but also to make it accessible to all and to prevent it from becoming a place of pranks for a select few.”
DAY5
BULLETS HIT SOUTHWEST PLAN IN DALLAS
A Southwest plane was preparing for departure when it was struck by bullets on Friday evening. The incident occurred at Dallas Love Field Airport in Texas, with 99 passengers on board; fortunately, no one was injured. Passengers were deplaned after the plane returned to the gate from the tarmac. While no details have been released about the motive behind the shooting, police believe it was a random act.
This is not the first incident of gunfire aimed at planes. Last week, multiple U.S. aircraft were struck by bullets while flying over Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which is facing gang violence. Spirit, JetBlue, and American reported incidents, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has prohibited U.S. airlines from flying into Haiti below 10,000 feet for a month.
