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Stereotypes of Tourists, from a British Perspective
Travel stereotypes always make good writing topics. On one hand, we hate stereotyping because we are told that "cultured people don't use stereotypes". On the other hand, there is no question that observations become stereotypes because they are based on accurate reality. And isn't travel supposed to be about observing reality?
I came across a funny piece, entitled "The Worst Tourists in the World" by Rolf Potts talking about the British obsession with stereotypes of national character, roughly outlined below:
- Americans: Ignorant. Loud. Oblivious to surroundings. Insincere.
- French: Rude. Bigoted. A trifle out of touch with reality.
- Germans: Humorless. Rule-obsessed. Unfriendly. Stubborn.
- Israelis: Rude. Cheap. Arrogant. Cliquish.
- Canadians: Exactly like Americans, but more soft-spoken, more polite, less ignorant, and twenty times more boring.
Well, there you have it. Of course, you are all different!
I think stereotypes are actually really helpful, if used wisely. For example, if every American/French/German...could look above and try to NOT be all those things, the world would be a better place. Although, arguably, not as funny.
Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
Niedliches Etwas Jan 25th 2007 10:04PM
I have to admit, there is some factual basis in the stereotypes we hear. They all can't be based on one person's fantasy! Still they are funny. And just for the record, the only one I feel inclined to disagree with is the one about the Germans. Whomever compiled that description of Germans obviously doesn't know the fun, exciting, interesting, silly, cut-loose (read: party animals) that I know!
As for the rest, I'd say they hit the nail right on the head, although I do want to point out that America is notoriously dubbed 'The Melting Pot' and since there are many ethnic communities that tend not to mix too much with other ethnic communities, you do tend to find these various other sterotypes within certain communities in America. For example, (and absolutely NO ethnic slur is intended here) you may see a group of Hasidic (sp?) Jews in a community NOT mixing with other communities, and one may observe the same stereotypical qualities as one may observe about Israelis. Just making my own observation, and as I said, there's GOT to be some basis to these stereotypes.
kia Jan 25th 2007 10:05PM
YOU KNOW PEOPLE SHOULD GET OVER STEREOTYPES. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT AMERICAN PEOPLE AGREE WITH THE WORLDS MOST STUCK UP PEOPLE. WE AS AMERICANS I DON'T THINK ARE OBLIVIOUS TO THINGS. WE JUST WANT TO ENJOY OURSELVES. WHAT IS THE POINT OF GOING ON VACATION, TO GET AWAY FROM THE HO-HUM. IF THE VACATION IS LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY LESSON-BOORING. WE ALL REMEMBER HISTORY, THE CLASS WE SLEPT THROUGH.
ELizabeth Jan 25th 2007 10:13PM
I am American and have encountered rude people of all nations. I dream of the chance to go to another country and learn about the culture. I consider myself very respectful and interested in other cultures. I also see a lot of other countries trying to emulate American culture and then turn around and badmouth Americans for being the same way. I find this behavior hypocritical. I can only speak for myself but before labeling an entire country, try just dealing with one person at a time. One way to find out about a culture is through the food, which works for me. I have learned language and traditions just by asking about the food. Thank you.
JSB Jan 25th 2007 10:14PM
Gee Patrice, aren't you just a tad opinionated. I'm not from Wisconsin or Minnesota, and though I am well over 25, I don't make it a practice to say things I don't mean and I always do my very best to follow through. Your attitude regarding Texans shows you to be narrow minded bigot, as I'm sure you have not personally met everyone in Texas. This is a big country full of wonderful people who are not all perfect like you. I live in a tourist area and frequently give directions, or help, to many visitors from around the world, and know many who do the same. Maybe YOU need to start hanging around with a better group of people.
Niedliches Etwas Jan 25th 2007 10:26PM
Kia, giving you the benefit of the doubt,perhaps stereotypes are something discussed behind closed doors, but to call the British the world's most stuck up people is just a bit hypocritical, no?
Lar Bear Jan 25th 2007 10:34PM
Woo hoo! Twenty times less boring than Canuck's! USA! USA! USA!
Cheryl Jan 28th 2007 4:11AM
Patrice has obviously never been to Texas or met a Texan.
eurofeuer830 Jan 25th 2007 10:39PM
I have posted here regarding the subject of Americans in Europe, and what the general opinion is about American travelers. Not too nice, and that's being kind.
That being said, I don't think it's the DEMOCRATS that are giving Americans a bad rap, I think it's the wealthier crowds (after all, the well-heeled are the ones with money to spare for such frivolities as European vacations, correct? The rest of the working class slobs are paying bills and trying to make ends meet) Anyway, that being said, it's common, or even typical for the wealthier to look down on the working-class, and treat the working-class like garbage. I'm willing to wager that they treat anybody that they feel is inferior like garbage.
Perhaps it's yet another generalization or stereotype, but again, these observances are based on fact somewhere along the line. While I think that every country has their share of rude and obnoxious people, it's my observation that usually the 'new money' people (upstarts one might say) that treat lower classes like garbage. And just for the record, I enjoyed History class very much, as well as Geography.
Brian McElaney Jan 25th 2007 11:01PM
The only thing I despise more than ignorant non-Americans who stereotype us is sycophantic Americans who buy into the insults. We have travelled to more than 50 countries and have witnessed ignorant, arrogant, and rude behavior by people of at least that many nationalities. Incidentally, while visiting Banff, Canada, a tip we had left for our server was stolen----by four Britons.
Cini Apr 1st 2007 12:39AM
Where's the love here? Why not celebrate the diversities of ALL the world's citizens? To be so narrow minded just screams of under educated peeps spreading toxic energy. It's totally dippy to make such blanket statements about foreign nationals and even worse about some of your own countrymen/women. For those haters of Americans (or fill in the blank), please don't travel or move to the USA. I'm sure that most of the natives will be very happy that you stayed home! For the vast majority of open minded travelers, welcome :-).
Ekman Jan 25th 2007 11:20PM
Heh, As soon as I saw this list I knew a British Bloke wrote it. As arrogant as the general populace may be, British citizens take the cake for ruining anything cultural when they are holiday. Examples: Med Coast Spain, Algarve Coast Portugal, Croatia and especially Turkey. No respect for local cultures. totally Oblivious. I think the author should have included his own people in the survey as they are the most hated around Europe.
raene Jan 25th 2007 11:26PM
re: Elaine's comment. Don't forget...Americans like to pontificate.
Laurie Wiegler Jan 25th 2007 11:34PM
Leave it to the Brits to come up with a handy guide to tourist stereotypes. Yes, the typical American tourist is brash and ignorant - not to mention a poor dresser, lacking imagination, toting an oversized camera and complaining about the walks/lines/etc. - but so many of us are not typical. When I went to England and France, I avoided the tourist traps like the Plague. Granted, I saw Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower, but I did it on non-touristy terms, by foot, skipping the brochures and cheesy guides in double-decker buses. When traveling, always stay in the parts of town where the locals reside. I come from San Francisco originally, and guess I learned a thing or two about how disgusting tourist traps can be: Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli Square, Alcatraz, ad nauseum .... But finding an occasional foreigner at my usual haunt, like a cafe in the Richmond or while running through Golden Gate Park, made me feel an instant kinship. So when traveling, I say be a traveler, not a tourist. Speak their language, even if it's difficult. Even those haughty Brits will love you for it. :)
Robert OKane Jan 25th 2007 11:41PM
Very good observations and mostly true. English, Aussies and Americans are loud and with some cultures it frightens them. Every Asia countries I have visited, 12,like Americans and Englishmen, though they see englishmen as cheap, but are actually one's who watch their money. Europeans are cheap cheap in Asian peoples eyes and complain complain about everthing. All travelers have a certain rudeness about them from what I believe is from the hassels of travel. Learn your country before you visit it, everyone is different in this world, thus you can avoid insulting someone and not know it.
vicky Jan 25th 2007 11:49PM
Dear Patrice, please tell me what area you are in so that I don't make the mistake of going to your coffee shop. I would really hate to make you wait on a Texan, as I am sure I or my money are not good enough for you. AND, I really mean that.
Barb Jan 26th 2007 12:11AM
Last year I was in Paris and Greece. Despite all I had heard about the French I found them to be most agreeable and they treated me well, even though my French was limited to a few phrases. I also was in Greece, and apart from the tour guide had little contact with the Greek citizens. We ate a few time at a restuarant adjacent to our hotel, because of convenience only and the staff there was not friendly at all, actually they barely spoke to us. Not a good impression.
Will be travelling again soon, and as always I will treat the citizens of that country with the same respect and dignity the I would expect be extended to me if the shoe were on the other foot.
George in San Diego Jan 27th 2007 12:00PM
How interesting (and ironic) that this British author thinks American tourists are loud. I've been all around the world, and by far, the loudest, and usually most inebriated tourists I've come across, have been Brits. And I say this objectively because I totally love British people, it's just that when they're on holiday, they tend to drink. And when they drink, oh lordy are they loud and obnoxious.
George in San Diego Jan 26th 2007 1:14PM
How interesting (and ironic) that this British author thinks American tourists are loud. I've been all around the world, and by far, the loudest, and usually most inebriated tourists I've come across, have been Brits. And I say this objectively because I totally love British people, it's just that when they're on holiday, they tend to drink. And when they drink, oh lordy are they loud and obnoxious.
TONE Jan 26th 2007 12:54AM
IT'S TOO BAD THAT AN ENTIRE NATIONALITY IS REMEMBERED BY THE BAD APPLES IN EVERY COUNTRY'S BARREL ! Just as so many have commented here, we're all the same people, with a cultural twist here and there, but a man can do 100 things right and yet he'll be remembered for the one thing he did wrong!
It's good that we do these studies and take these polls, because it allows those who care to take stock of themselves and perhaps to curb the darker side of their human nature as they find themselves in frustrating situations in various foreign lands.
"Iron sharpeneth iron" as God's WORD declares.
TONE Jan 26th 2007 12:50AM
IT'S TOO BAD THAT AN ENTIRE NATIONALITY IS REMEMBERED BY THE BAD APPLES IN EVERY COUNTRY'S BARREL ! Just as so many have commented here, we're all the same people, with a cultural twist here and there, but a man can do 100 things right and yet he'll be remembered for the one thing he did wrong!
It's good that we do these studies and take these polls, because it allows those who care to take stock of themselves and perhaps to curb the darker side of their human nature as they find themselves in frustrating situations in various foreign lands.
"Iron sharpeneth iron" as God's WORD declares.