Travel in groups, Asians told by New Zealand operators
A report in The Press in New Zealand says some New Zealand South Island tour operators are advising Asian tourists to travel in groups after the arrest of three men for the murder of Korean tourist Jae Hyeon Kim.
Kim disappeared on the West Coast five years ago, but the arrests occurred only last month after police decided to take another look at his case.
Since the arrests, the New Zealand-Japan Society has advised tourists to travel in groups, rather than individually.
Managing director of Canterbury tour bus operator Aaron Travel, Stephen Ni, said his clients were mainly Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean tourists.
“We remind them not to walk alone to the bushes and at night-time always go with a group,” he said.
Tourists had heard of the murder and subsequent arrests but they still felt safe in New Zealand.
“It’s getting worse in terms of safety of travel here, but the problem is always comparable to other countries. In Asia there are murders every day,” Ni said.
Wang Wang Travel minibus operator manager Taylor Chen said news of the murders of an Asian liquor store owner and a woman run over after her bag was snatched in Auckland recently had made some people frightened to travel.
“They are thinking, `maybe it’s getting worse’.” “They are a little bit worried.” We will look after them more carefully now,” he said.
“Maybe tell them to go walking together rather than on your own.” “I tell them it’s OK, but still keep yourself safe.”
Malaysian backpacker Joyce Khong, 20, has been travelling alone around New Zealand for five months.
She arrived in Greymouth yesterday and said travelling in the North Island was fine but she had been told to expect some discrimination in the South Island where there were not so many Asian people.
Khong said she had heard about the murder on the West Coast, but it did not make her feel unsafe.
“It doesn’t really make me worry.”
She had travelled on some tour buses, but said no operators had given her safety advice.
Christchurch police Asian liaison officer Liying Cai said travelling in groups was always good advice.
“Tourists in other countries are always vulnerable.” “Asians may have more language barriers and lack of local knowledge so they need to take more precautions.”
Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Christine Prince said numbers of independent travellers from Asia in New Zealand were increasing, but most of them still travel in groups.
A Report by The Mole from The Press
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