Travel Etiquette
A recent guide published by the tourist authority Visit Britain outlined a number of cultural “Dos and Don’ts” when it comes to handling foreign guests in the UK. This list is interesting, and in some parts funny – a few highlights of the list:
Dos
Do: Understand that Indians are amiable but have a tendency to change their minds quite frequently.
Do: Ensure tourists from Russia – a “tall nation” – are housed in rooms with high ceilings and doorways.
Do: Realize that Australian people are being endearing when they make jokes about “Poms” [Aussie slang for British people].
Do: Anticipate all of the needs of a Japanese visitor – even if they haven’t told you what they are.
Do: Deal promptly with any complaint from German or Austrian tourists, who can be “straightforward and demanding” to the point of “seeming rude and aggressive.”
Don’ts
Don’t: Ask superstitious people from Hong Kong to sleep in a historic property or a four-poster bed, because they associate them with ghostly encounters.
Don’t: Exchange a smile or make eye contact with anyone from France who you do not know.
Don’t: Describe a visitor from Canada as “American.”
Don’t: Try to talk to Belgians about their country’s politics or language divisions.
Don’t: Say “no” in a direct way to a Japanese tourist – instead think of a “nicer alternative.”
Are there any top travel etiquette tips that you can share with us about certain nationalities? We look forward to your comments!
Category: Student Travel
