Remember when: The Japanese Government warned tourists the Gold Coast was an unsafe place

JAPANESE tourists were warned by their government that the Gold Coast was an unsafe holiday destination based on crime figures released by the consulate.

Flashback: Japanese tourism warning

Gold Coast Bulletin, Saturday January 26, 1991

JAPANESE tourists were warned by their government that the Gold Coast was an unsafe holiday destination, with the number of crimes against Japanese nationals having doubled in the previous year.

Statistics collected by the Japanese consulate in Brisbane showed a sharp increase in crime on the Gold Coast, particularly theft of passports, cash or other valuables.

Bashing had also increased.

As well as that, more 2000 Japanese residents of the Gold Coast lived in fear of attack said Brisbane consul Seijiro Shirahama.

He said the Japanese Government was re-educating its people to protect them from a false sense of security on the Gold Coast.

Their fears were a second body blow to the region’s tourism industry.

On the previous day, the Bulletin had reported that thousands of Japanese tourists were cancelling their holidays to the Gold Coast because of the terrorist fears associated with the Gulf War.

Gold Coast Bulletin 1991, January 26. Front page.

Mr Shirahama estimated the Gold Coast was the 25th most dangerous holiday destination in the world.

“The Gold Coast has always had a clean image in Japan,” he said.

“People see it as the last paradise in the world.”

Meanwhile, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had his top air force commanders executed, the independent Soviet Interfax news agency reported.

Interfax, citing a source in the Soviet Defence Ministry, said Saddam had ordered the commanders of his air force and anti-aircraft defence to be shot.

The agency did not say when they were killed.