A Japanese-based travel agency is all set to shut its doors on December 20, 2012. The Amuse Travel Co. agency had arranged for a tour of the Great Wall of China, where three elderly Japanese tourists died in a snowstorm last month.
Katsumi Itai, the president of Amuse Travel Co has been in trouble since the incident over negligence on operational measures. The incident happened in the month of November, 2012 and the president said that his company had not checked the trekking route and did not know the name and qualifications of the Chinese guide.
An investigation was ordered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism for the Japan Tourism Agency to investigate Amuse Travel’s operations. The order also mentioned an investigation into what safety measures were in place.
A Japan Tourism Agency spokesperson said on November 5, 2012, that it received an email notice which stated that the last day of its business would be December 20, 2012. The five offices of the company in Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo and Sendai will be closed and this will result in a loss of about 50 jobs. Reports said that Itai and two other executives will remain on board to deal with compensation and other legal issues.
