According to a survey by Skyscanner, Brits lead the league as the worst tourists in all three classes: 1) the drunkest tourists, 2) the tourists who leave the least tips and 3) the tourists who are least interested in learning the local language.
Here are the lists
The British are obviously annoying as tourists. However, the Russians win the class as the most rude tourists. Other bad performers in the list are Americans, French and Germans.
The drunkest tourists
Being on the list of the drunkest tourists doesn't feel very honourable. The British top the list, followed by Americans and Russians.
- British
- Americans
- Russians
- Fransos
- Germans
The most insolent
Of course, topping the list of most rude tourists is nothing to brag about either. Russians take the lead, followed by Germans and Americans.
- Russians
- Germans
- Americans
- British
- Fransos
Leaves least tips
The tourists who leave the least tip are apparently the British. The Germans and Chinese aren't very generous either.
- British
- Germans
- Chinese people
- Russians
- Fransos
Least interested in learning the local language
The British top no less than three of the four lists. Apart from being drunk and leaving little tips, they are also not interested in learning the local language.
- British
- Americans
- Russians
- Fransos
- Germans
Our theory
Our theory is that people who come from big and powerful countries are less humble. They are used to using their own language and usually don't have to adapt. If you come from a smaller country, you have learnt from the outset that you need to learn other languages, understand other cultures and be able to cooperate across borders. Right or wrong?
Ninny says:
Yes, there may be something in what you say... Of course, as in everything else, you can't lump everyone together, but I think there may be a lot of truth in your theory!
03 April 2011 - 11:16
Carola says:
That was interesting. The question is whether it is only Swedes who have participated in the survey. Since I have worked as both a tour guide and diving instructor on 3 continents, I must say that I think Swedes are actually drunker than the British. Swedes also very rarely leave tips. I can probably say that I have never been tipped by a Swede while it is not uncommon for an American to leave 25 to 100 dollars in tips after a day of diving.
I think Germans are used to travelling and even though they are bad at speaking anything other than German, they are still quite easy to deal with. Swedes, on the other hand, complain if it says in a travel catalogue that it is 50 metres to the beach, if they think it is actually 70 metres. Right should be right 🙂
04 April 2011 - 5:37
admin says:
Carola, it's really interesting how the survey was conducted. Who was asked and which countries were involved? Then, of course, it is true that tourists, of whom there are many, are more noticeable ...
The tip thing is also interesting. We Swedes are not so used to tipping, while the USA is a country where people are used to leaving tips for all kinds of things, maybe that has an impact?
04 April 2011 - 8:54
Ama de casa says:
That may well be the case, but it is a bit dangerous to generalise too much. There are bad eggs in all countries and also the opposite. But we from the small countries are not noticed as much, precisely because we are so few compared to the English, for example.
04 April 2011 - 14:32
Tess says:
I agree with Carola a bit there.
There are so many Swedes who are so damn rude, impolite and whiny around tourist spots. It seems that we should complain about most things and not see anything positive at all.
I have only positive experiences with Germans even though they are very noisy 🙂 They talk loudly BUT are friendly and helpful.
Take care of yourselves
08 April 2011 - 9:42