A travel influencer sparked controversy by asking if the typhoon-ravaged Philippines could "clean up" within 10 days to accommodate her planned holiday, raising concerns about tourism ethics.
Jasmin Rostock, a Danish influencer living in Melbourne with 67,000 TikTok followers, posted a video asking if the Philippines could recover quickly enough after a super typhoon expected on November 4 or 5. She was considering booking flights around November 17 and wanted to visit popular spots like Boracay, Siquijor, and Coron.
Rostock asked her followers whether she should delay booking or pick another destination such as Thailand. She sought firsthand accounts from people who had visited the Philippines after a typhoon.
"I need to hear it from someone who has been to the Philippines after a typhoon."
The video went viral and many labeled her questions as "tone-deaf," criticizing her focus on vacation plans over the disaster’s human impact and safety of residents.
Her remarks have sparked a larger discussion on the responsibilities of influencers and tourists when natural calamities strike popular destinations.
This incident highlights the ethical challenges around travel during disasters and the importance of sensitivity toward affected communities.
Author’s summary: An influencer’s question about the speed of cleanup in typhoon-hit Philippines stirred backlash, reflecting broader tensions in tourism amid natural disasters.