World’s Worst Tourists?

Travel Blog  •  Julia Ross  •  07.07.08 | 1:55 PM ET

Once again, it’s the French, Indians and Chinese, according to an annual survey of hoteliers by the French version of Expedia. The latest poll of 4,000 hotel employees in Europe and North America calls the French out for being impolite and unwilling to communicate in foreign languages, deems the Japanese most liked and declares the Italians best dressed.

Although Americans led the rankings among tourists considered generous and most willing to speak the local language (surprise), they garnered low marks for dress sense and being loud.

Stereotypes aside, it’s worth repeating a few words World Hum contributor Rolf Potts wrote a couple years back: “The worst travelers in the world are, after all, the rude, small-minded ones—and rude, small-minded travelers can hail from any nation.”

Tags: Global Village, Asia, China, India, Europe, France, News and Briefs

Julia Ross is a Washington, DC-based writer and frequent contributor to World Hum. She has lived in China and Taiwan, where she was a Fulbright scholar and Mandarin student. Her writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Time, Christian Science Monitor, Plenty and other publications. Her essay, Six Degrees of Vietnam, was shortlisted for "The Best American Travel Writing 2009."


3 Comments for World’s Worst Tourists?

Dave 07.07.08 | 6:53 PM ET

I think there is a pride or respect issue for some that live in those countries.  It could just be part of their culture and they may not see what their doing as being a bad traveler.

Ling 07.08.08 | 1:32 AM ET

Japnese tourists really are way too polite. Always have a nice smile, and they mostly ask questions, instead of making demands. And I love the way they bob their heads up and down when they talk. And always leave rooms neat and tiday when they leave.

Dave 07.08.08 | 6:52 PM ET

Japanese people have manners and respect others.  Any guest that does not pick up after themselves is rude.  The demand thing is totally true!

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