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And other news you may have missed.
This week in travel, we have several stories that may have flown under your radar. Among them: an AI bot sent travelers to nonexistent hot springs in Australia; a group of men was fined in Thailand after a public brawl; a snow leopard in China attacked a skier after she got too close to take photos; and travelers are being warned that Mexico has banned a very popular product.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
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AI Sends Tourists to Nonexistent Hot Springs
An AI-generated blog post has been sending tourists to a remote location in northern Tasmania for hot springs that do not exist.
Travel company Tasmania Tours runs a blog to recommend attractions in the region, and a now-deleted post described the Weldborough Hot Springs as tranquil and secluded. Inspired by the post, tourists arrived in the rural town of Weldborough hoping to take a dip, only to learn the springs were an AI hallucination.
The owner of the travel company explained that the blog uses AI-generated content produced by a third party, and everything is reviewed before publication. However, the hot springs article slipped through. “Our AI has messed up completely,” Scott Hennessey said. The company has since removed all AI-generated posts, and he assured readers it is a legitimate website, not a scam.
Related: Beware of Using AI for Travel Planning. A Lot Can Go Wrong
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American Tourist Allegedly Slaps Waitress in Thailand
A group of American, Australian, and British tourists came to blows outside a bar in Pattaya, Thailand, on Jan. 25. The group had been drinking together and, after becoming intoxicated, turned on each other. The American tourists allegedly slapped a waitress at the bar. Two British tourists were recorded beating the American, who fell unconscious in the street, before turning on the Australian. When police arrived, they took all the men to the local police station, except for the American, who was transported to a hospital.
Later, the group reconciled, and the female bar worker chose not to press charges. All were fined Baht 1,000 ($32) each for causing a public disturbance, a police lieutenant confirmed.
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Snow Leopard Attacks Skier in China
On Jan. 23, a skier in the Xinjiang region of China was mauled by a snow leopard. The animal bit the skier’s face after she spotted it and exited her vehicle to take photographs. Social media videos show the victim clutching her face after the attack as the snow leopard sits nearby. She was helped by bystanders after the cat walked away and is currently stable.
Local authorities warned travelers not to approach wild animals. “The general public and tourists are urged to strictly abide by the safety guidelines, maintain a safe distance when encountering wild animals, and report to the police immediately to ensure personal safety,” an online notice said.
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Tourists Warned About Mexico’s Vape Ban
FIFA fans visiting Mexico this summer should be aware that the country has banned vapes. Since Jan. 16, the strict rule has been in effect, and bringing e-cigarettes to Mexico can result in confiscation, fines up to $12,500, or imprisonment of up to eight years.
The use of vapes itself is not illegal, but bringing them into the country may be seen as importing them. Cruisers are also being warned not to travel with their smoking devices or to leave them on the ship before disembarking.
Vapes are legal in the United States, and the Food and Drug Administration allows 39 e-cigarettes to be lawfully sold in the country. However, the agency clarifies that these products are not FDA-approved or safe. “All tobacco products are harmful and potentially addictive. Those who do not use tobacco products shouldn’t start.”
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Crew Blocks Disruptive Passenger With Carts
On a Delta flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo on Jan. 18, a male passenger allegedly became disorderly and assaulted the crew. The 64-year-old man verbally abused the crew and pushed a flight attendant. He reportedly was talking incoherently and stumbling down the aisle, leading the crew to suspect “symptoms of dementia due to his age.”
The crew escorted him to his seat, but he got up again and went to first class. He was brought back to his seat, and this time the crew blocked aisle access with their carts. As it was determined that the passenger could not comply with orders and might become a disruption, the pilot made an emergency landing. The plane diverted to Alaska, where FBI agents removed him from the flight in handcuffs.
Delta confirmed a medical incident occurred onboard, and the customer was transported to a medical facility. The passenger faces one count of assault and one count of interfering with the crew.