Following an investigation in the Guardian last month, TripAdvisor is under fire for failing to respond to users concerns about sexual violence. The company’s rocky history, internal concerns about the predominantly male leadership and board, and this new scandal begs the question: does TripAdvisor have a woman problem?
However, an investigation by the Guardian last month suggested that the system has proven insufficient and ineffective for survivors and travelers concerned about security while traveling. K, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims she was sexually assaulted by a tour guide who came with excellent TripAdvisor reviews. According to the Guardian, while her legal case against him was underway, she attempted to leave a review on his TripAdvisor page, only to have it left pending indefinitely.
Women are one of the fastest-growing demographics in the travel industry, and make 80 percent of travel decisions, whether traveling alone or with others. Yet in a world where our safety is constantly under threat, the travel industry is failing us as consumers. In a message to her signers, K writes: “I have done everything, but I have to accept that there is only a small chance my attacker will ever be held accountable by his government for what he did to me. I might not be able to stop him from attacking other people, and now TripAdvisor won’t let me warn people who are considering hiring him as a tour guide.”