In a recent article, I outlined how to (hopefully) get a French person to smile at you in Paris.
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To do so, you’ll need to know a thing or two about local culture, along with Parisian sensibilities. After all, every destination has its own idiosyncrasies and cultural standpoints, and tourists are, ultimately, outsiders who can benefit from learning a few basics.
But what about tourists who regularly earn complaints from locals? Do some nationalities have a reputation for being difficult?
One recent study from a luxury rental platform based in Dubai outlined which nationalities get complained about the most, and why. Full disclosure: The precise metrics for this study aren’t very clear. According to the report, the company. ‘…surveyed residents worldwide to identify which tourists attract the most criticism and the behaviours most often behind those complaints.’
In short, I’m not sure how many residents were consulted, where these residents live, and how involved they are in hospitality. Plus, location plays a huge part in how residents relate to tourists, and even topics like geopolitics can play a part. Still, I think it’s a fun study—and the results are food for thought for travelers.
Think you can guess which nationalities landed highest on the list? Hint: The French weren’t named in the top five, but they’re on the list.
Nationalities of tourists who get complained about the most
American tourists (32%)
Americans are noisy. Respondents to the survey complained primarily about noisiness in public spaces and private residential areas. Plus, expectations for servers tends to be very high and reflect US tipping culture.
British tourists (18%)
The Brits were frequently listed as the most difficult when it comes to drinking-related behavior. It was listed as also affecting noise levels at night and rowdy, disruptive group dynamics. Personally, I can tell you they have a ‘stag do’ (aka bachelor party) reputation in many parts of the Mediterranean.
Chinese tourists (16%)
Chinese tourists ended up on the list thanks to the fact that many travel in large groups. That’s not actually something individual tourists are responsible for—instead, it’s the tour groups that organize travel. Things like massive group size, lack of spatial awareness, and sudden stops have earned them a subpar reputation around the world.
Russian tourists (9%)
Why did Russian tourists get name-checked in the survey results? Apparently, they have a disregard for local rules and are prone to confrontational behavior.
Israeli tourists (7%)
Israeli tourists are known for their direct communication style, which would put a Parisian to shame. Unfortunately, that direct, even abrupt, form of communication is considered rude in many places around the world—even when it isn’t considered rude back at home.
French tourists (6%)
French tourists landed in the sixth spot on this list thanks to their openly critical commentary. (What did I tell you? To blend in in Paris, you need to have a few strong opinions.) Residents are sensitive to outsiders offering ongoing critiques from French visitors.
German tourists (5%)
Lastly, according to Deluxe Holiday Homes, German tourists have a reputation for getting frustrated about local rules and customs—especially when there seems to be a lack of rules and systems in place. That German predilection to create and follow rules still stands even when on the road.
