worst-behaved tourists
Ignorance is sometimes to blame for worst-behaved tourists. It’s hitting the airport bar too hard sometimes. There are moments when it feels like you’re distant from home and the repercussions.
More people than ever before are traveling in the post-Covid age. Unruly traveler occurrences in 2024 were also abundant due to record-breaking tourist numbers.
CNN Travel has created this list of New Year’s resolutions for all of you travelers and wanderers out there to address this issue. Let’s do better in 2025.
1. I will not punch, bite, or hurl insults while flying.
In 2024, the US Federal Aviation Administration looked into over 2,000 occurrences involving rowdy passengers. Even though that represents a significant decline from a peak of 5,973 in 2021, there are still almost twice as many reports as there were before to COVID-19.
The Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific banned a couple after a September flight from Hong Kong to London erupted into physical violence and xenophobic slurs during a dispute over seat-reclining etiquette.
Although a customer on a United Airlines flight in October viciously attacked another sleeping passenger without cause, criminal activity typically targeted flight attendants.
A male passenger bit a female flight attendant on an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight headed for Seattle in January, forcing the carrier to turn back, according to the airline.
In the same month, a man repeatedly attacked a flight attendant, forcing an American Airlines flight headed for Montana to be rerouted to Texas.
A man repeatedly attacked a flight attendant in the same month. This attack forced an American Airlines flight eaded for Montana to be rerouted to Texas.
After reportedly attempting to strangle a Frontier Airlines flight attendant and threatening to “kill everybody” on a flight to San Francisco that had to be rerouted, a California man was charged in September.
Passengers reported a man attempting to open the emergency exit on an American Airlines flight in February. This action forced the plane to return to Albuquerque. Authorities said a passenger was duct-taped. They said this passenger attempted to do the same thing on another American Airlines flight. This time, the flight was headed for Dallas.
A passenger in China poured pennies into the engine, presumably as a “good luck” gesture,. This action caused the aircraft to be delayed for four hours.
Finally, an Australian customer was ordered to reimburse the airline for fuel expenses. His disruptive behavior forced his Sydney-bound flight to turn around and return to Perth.
2. I refuse to include firearms, narcotics, or animals in my suitcase.
Airport employees worldwide stopped individuals attempting to smuggle an entire zoo of animals through security, as they do each year.
There were the 90 enormous African snails found in Detroit. The endangered red panda was found in Bangkok with 86 other creatures. The authorities found the man with 100 live snakes stuffed down his trousers. In the next case, authorities discovered another man who had 300 tarantulas tied to his body.
Smugglers came up with several creative techniques to hide methamphetamine, but they didn’t work.
Authorities took California man into custody at Los Angeles International Airport. He allegedly attempted to check two suitcases with meth-stained apparel, including a cow pajama onesie.
The police arrested Canadian woman earlier this month. Customs officers discovered over 10 kilograms of meth in her hand luggage. Authorities valued the meth, disguised as Christmas gifts, at up to $2.2 million.
Another female traveler at LAX had enough contraband to bring 2024 to a spectacular close before she was apprehended. In December, authorities arrested her after discovering that her hand luggage included 82 fireworks, three knives, two fake guns, and a pepper spray canister.
3. I’ll keep in mind that “hands-on” immersion doesn’t entail reaching or shattering objects.
Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world. However, not all tourists show respect for its millennia of history and cultural treasures.
Images of a young woman imitating sexual actions with a statue of Bacchus went viral on social media in July. This led Florence officials to investigate the woman. Bacchus embodies wine and sensuality.
In August, a British visitor engraved initials on one of the 2,000-year-old houses in Pompeii. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE trapped this historic city in time.
A group of London parkour enthusiasts caused damage to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera in June. Matera is home to many priceless old buildings. Running, climbing, and jumping over obstacles are part of the sport. Colliding with them head-on is also part of the sport.
More than 33 million tourists visited Japan in 2024, setting a new record. This was partly due to an increase in direct flights and a comparatively weak yen.
There were issues with this. Tourists overwhelmed a Japanese municipality, leaving trash and causing traffic issues. The municipality erected a barrier to prevent tourists from accessing a popular view of Mount Fuji.
The old capital of Japan, Kyoto, took harsh measures against “geisha paparazzi” who were bothering the traditional female performers. Additionally, authorities took tourists into custody for offences like having sex inside a temple and damaging its gate.
4. I’ll consider my posts before sharing them on social media.
The US Navy built the 3922-step Haiku Stairs during World War II. They officially closed them to the public in 1987. However, in the era of social media, issues with unlawful trespassing have increased.
For $2.5 million, authorities demolished the steps due to the high volume of thrill-seekers. This was because of the number of tourists, including YouTubers and TikTokers, who were sneaking into the attractive but off-limits beauty area. We are unable to have pleasant things because of this.
A new attraction opened in May, connecting two public sculptures in New York and Dublin with a video link. The attraction faced issues shortly after opening.
Some people resort to cruder communication methods when they can see each other but not hear each other.. These methods include flashing breasts or displaying insulting and obscene images. In September, the so-called “Portal” permanently closed.
A British TV presenter sparked controversy by posting about her 15-year-old son traveling alone in Europe. Meanwhile, an influencer couple from Arizona faced criticism for allegedly abandoning their children on a cruise, prompting them to defend their parenting choices.
People were going wild about social media trends like sharing artistic pictures of airport trays and “raw-dogging” in flights (isn’t language growth an interesting thing?).
There was also footage that appeared to show a traveler posing within an overhead container. This explains why that isn’t a good idea at all.
5. I’ll safeguard the earth for coming generations.
What dubious or hazardous activities did visitors engage in this year at America’s national parks?
In August, authorities charged two individuals from Nevada for damaging historic rock formations at the popular Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
A few noteworthy instances occurred at Yellowstone. It is the first national park in the world and one of the most popular in America.
Littering remained a problem. This September film featured Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The film explained how even a dropped bag of Cheetos could significantly impact delicate ecosystems.
Authorities in Nepal also took action to reduce pollution. Human waste has become a major issue on Mount Everest. Climbers must now take their waste with them.
A guy kicked a bison and was accused of injuring it in April. A car carrying five people swerved off the road in July. The car collided with one of the park’s well-known boiling geysers, but no one suffered life-threatening injuries.
6. I’ll abide by local laws and traditions.
“Gate lice,” is a pejorative phrase for those congregating outside their boarding gate before their scheduled departure time. It was one of the most evocative new slurs of 2024.
American Airlines implemented new technologies in October to reduce line-cutters. An alert sounds when someone tries to board ahead of their designated group. The authorities force the offender to make the humiliating trip back to the waiting area.
One airport in New Zealand implemented a time limit on hugs in response to concerns about people loitering in the vehicle park drop-off area. Daniel De Bono, CEO of Dunedin Airport, described airports as “hotbeds of emotion” and said, “over the years, our team has seen interesting things go on.”
Following allegations of “offensive, obscene, or antisocial behavior,” a well-known Australian nude beach north of Byron Bay had its clothing-optional policy withdrawn.
Check out our timeless guide to nude beach etiquette for more tips on how to drop your clothing without losing your manners.
Following that, you might also want to read about common mistakes made by visitors to France. You might also want to read about how to avoid the “stupid American” image when traveling overseas.
7. I refuse to shout into a loudspeaker while riding an e-scooter to my Airbnb.
Many economies throughout the world rely heavily on tourism. However, in 2024, the negative impacts of mass tourism reached a peak with protests around Europe. This increased visitor tariffs and caps globally.
Amsterdam prohibited the building of new hotels, Italy prohibited Airbnb self-check-ins, and Barcelona prohibited foreign visitors from renting apartments.
Prague outlawed pub crawls. Milan contemplated outlawing pizza and gelato sales after midnight. Florence outlawed tour loudspeakers and Melbourne outlawed the renting of electric scooters.
But as the new year begins, let’s give it a shot. Having a good time while politely interacting with residents and patronizing local businesses is still legal almost everywhere.
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