Menace threatens to ruin holidays

Eunice Lam

Hong Kong travel agencies fear that rising bedbug infestations in Japan would affect tours in the upcoming Easter holiday after the tiny bloodsuckers were spotted in hotels and public transport in a number of cities including Tokyo.

According to Japanese media, 50 bedbugs were found in the rooms of three Tokyo hotels in January.

Japanese insecticide maker Earth Corp also said last month it received 284 bedbug-related inquiries in December, four times the same period in 2022.

A "bedbug map" by Japanese online users shows many Tokyo spots popular with Hongkongers have bedbug issues.

Some took to social media to discuss about discovering bedbugs on trains, with one saying: "I am afraid of bedbugs. So even if there are empty seats on the train, I will not sit on them."

However, the East Japan Railway Co said yesterday no report of bedbugs has been received from passengers and train station staff.

The railway operator urged passengers to pay special attention to bedbugs and report them to relevant departments if they see any, adding it will use smoke to kill the bedbugs.

Hong Kong tour agency WWPKG's executive director Yuen Chun-ning said they have heard nothing of this from customers or their Japanese partners.

"Although the bedbugs have made a return, people do not feel that the issue is so critical," Yuen said.

The tourism sector suffered badly when infestations broke out in South Korea last year, leaving flights to the country only 50 to 60 percent full, he said.

He feared that infestations in Japan may affect the tours starting in April.

EGL executive director Steve Huen Kwok-chuen said there are bedbug infestations all over the world.

He also felt the issues in South Korea and Japan are exaggerated, but travel agencies have to arrange for better accommodation.

Henry Cheng Kwok-hang, a consultant at Ivy Pest Control Corp, suggested people use light-colored or plastic suitcases rather than black-colored or Oxford cloth suitcases, in which bedbugs could hide and lay eggs.

He also reminded travelers to apply insect repellent on clothes and bed sheets regularly throughout their trips and wash clothes in over 60 degree Celsius temperature once they return home.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com