A new survey asked tour operators to make a ranking of international tourists based on their behaviour. The results unveil big cultural differences between travellers from around the globe.
Not all nationalities are created equal when it comes to travel etiquette, it appears. In a survey ordered by Safaribookings.com, an online marketplace for African safaris, 192 tour operators were asked to give their blunt opinion regarding international travellers. More particularly, they had to rate their relationship to five key topics: politeness, tipping, spending, sense of adventure, and culinary interest.
“What stands out in these results is how different nationalities lead in different areas – Japanese tourists for politeness, Americans for tipping and spending, and Germans for adventure. For the questions surrounding food, the results are much more diverse, suggesting that individual preference plays a bigger role than national customs,” said Anita Kovalevska, data researcher and content manager at SafariBookings.com, in a statement to TravelPulse Canada.
Which nationality is the politest?
With 21.1% of tour operators mentioning the Japanese as the most polite travellers in the world, they come out at the very top of the ranking. The top three are completed by Norway and Switzerland, although they lag far behind with 10.6% and 10.4%, respectively.
However, generally speaking, Europeans score well in terms of politeness and overall curiosity.
“Many of our European guests are very interested in wildlife behaviour and often ask detailed questions about animals and conservation. Their curiosity makes game drives very engaging,” a tour operator from Imara Tours Zanzibar stated.
Which nationality tips the best?
Tipping is not something that is considered normal all around the world, but Americans are very used to the idea. Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise that travellers from the US were able to obtain 29.5% of the tour operators’ votes when asked for the best tippers.
Americans are followed by the Germans and Canadians, who were able to obtain 13.1% and 10% of the votes in the survey.
Which nationality is the most active and adventurous?
It appears German tourists also score well when it comes to their sense of adventure. They were able to rake in 21.1%, while the French scored 17.8% and the Dutch 11%. British (4.5%), Indian (4.5%), and Spanish (4.3%) travellers were less likely to indulge in adventurous holidays, however.
Which nationality spends the most money while travelling?
Travellers from the US don’t just tip well; they also know how to spend their money. When asked about the world’s biggest spenders, 24% of the tour operators pointed towards American travellers. Germany and Canada once again completed the top of the ranking, with 12.8% each.
Which nationality is the biggest foodie?
For many travellers, good food is an important part of their holiday experience. However, according to the tour operators, for some nationalities it goes even further. According to the survey, Indian, Japanese, and French travellers are the most obsessed with their culinary holiday experience. China and the Netherlands made up the fourth and fifth spots, while Italians – globally known for their cuisine – came in sixth.
