Images showing a hotel room where Chinese tourists had stayed turned into a garbage dump have sparked international outrage. As evidence emerged that even appliances and the bathroom were severely damaged, the issue of "tourist bad manners" has come under fire.
On the 23rd, a staff member at a hotel in Hokkaido, Japan, posted photos on social media (SNS) of a room after two Chinese female tourists checked out.
The room in the photos was so messy it was hard to see it as a normal lodging space. Various pieces of trash were scattered throughout the room, leaving no place to step, and appliances such as a microwave had been moved from their original positions and left in disorder.
The bathroom was in even worse condition. Pink plastic sheets were stuck all over the toilet seat cover, and underwear and wet towels, apparently used by them, were left on the floor.
The hotel staffer wrote, "The damage to the room was so severe that we charged an additional fee, but the guests refused, leading to a dispute," and added, "The issue was resolved after twists and turns, but it is questionable whether they felt no discomfort living in such an environment."
As the post spread, internet users at home and abroad poured out strong criticism. Reactions included, "Is this really a room someone stayed in?", "They lack basic hygiene," and "Cases like this keep happening, which is why people avoid them."
Meanwhile, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), 3,617,700 foreign tourists visited Japan in Dec. last year, up 3.7% from a year earlier. In contrast, the number of Chinese tourists was 330,400, a sharp drop of 45.3% from a year ago.
Despite the significant decline in tourist numbers, a series of disorderly behaviors by some visitors has intensified the "dirty tourism" controversy. Experts noted, "If irresponsible polluting behavior and bad-mannered cases continue to repeat, international aversion toward tourists from certain countries could become further entrenched."