Japan Sees Surge In Tourist Complaints In 2024

Above, my hotel room in Sasebo, Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have been to Japan eight times since 2001 and I never felt any reason to complain about anything. There are some travelers who like to complain about anything and everything. 

I had read before my first trip that hotel rooms in Japan are smaller than ones in the U.S., so I knew what to expect. I found prices roughly comparable to those in the U.S.

Travel and Tour World has posted an article on a surge in tourist complaints in 2024 over accommodations, pricing and fake goods.  

They begin with:

There has been a noticeable increase in complaints from international visitors to Japan, one of the most visited countries in the world. Consultation requests have increased as a result of problems with lodging, expensive goods, and even fake goods as the tourism sector continues to grow. A record number of enquiries were received by Japan’s National Consumer Affairs Centre (NCAC), suggesting that the visitor experience needs to be improved and awareness raised.

To read more, go here. 

 

Would A Cruise Line Ban You Permanently For Complaining?

Above, the Celebrity Mercury docked at Juneau, Alaska. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I have been on only three cruises in my life.

The first was a cruise to Alaska with Celebrity Cruises in 2000. The next was to Key West and Havana, Cuba with Royal Caribbean in 2019. The last (and most recent) was to the Bahamas with Norwegian Cruise Line last August. 

Each one was enjoyable (maybe except for catching a virus bug on two of them) and I had nothing to complain about. 

It's a good thing, too. I spotted an article which states that one can get blacklisted by a cruise line if they file a complaint. 

The Points Guy reported:

You might have heard about avid cruiser Jenny Phenix. She's the 68-year-old Floridian who joined a three-year, round-the-world maritime adventure but got booted from the ship before it even set sail.

Her offense? She publicly complained about her frustration with the cruise line and its failure to deliver on its promises.

People were shocked at the cruise line's harsh response to its passenger's complaints. After all, isn't the customer always right?

I wasn't surprised, though. As a travel ombudsman and consumer advocate, I've been tracking this phenomenon. Phenix is only one in a long line of former passengers who've landed on a cruise line's blacklist for excessive, aggressive or public complaints. She's just been the most outspoken about her experience.

Incredible, eh? 

There's more to the story, so if one wants to read further, go here. 

Sec. Haaland Hit With Ethics Complaint Over Chaco Canyon

Above, ruins at Chaco Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those of us who are familiar with the lack of ethics on the part of Leftists, this really should not come as a surprise.

Secretary of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has been "smacked" with an ethics complaint over the land grab of the area surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park (also known as Chaco Canyon).

According to Piñon Post:

Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT) has taken a significant step by filing an ethics complaint that calls upon the Department of the Interior (DOI) Inspector General to thoroughly investigate a potential ethics violation involving DOI Secretary Deb Haaland. The complaint arises from Secretary Haaland’s recent exercise of regulatory authority to implement a contentious moratorium on oil and gas leasing near Chaco Canyon National Historical Park. This move has raised concerns about pre-determined decision-making, prompting PPT to question whether the Secretary fulfilled her impartiality and ethics obligations.

Secretary Haaland’s involvement in the documentary film Our Story: The Indigenous Led Fight to Protect Greater Chaco, narrated by her child, Somah Haaland, has raised eyebrows regarding her impartiality in this matter. The film features footage of Secretary Haaland expressing opposition to oil and gas leasing at Chaco, including what seems to be a one-on-one interview near the site. PPT sought a comprehensive investigation into whether the Secretary adhered to her ethical responsibilities.

To read more, go here.