Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
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 4 of 4)
coach Jan 26th 2007 1:17PM
living in europe and owning a retail shop, i thought it was funny when americans would come in, walk close to me and yell in my face: "DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?"
yes, you could pick americans off a mile away (white tennis shoes, t-shirts with writing on them, baseball hats are all dead give-a-ways, for those of you who 'can't figure out how they knew' you were an american).
and, yes, i was often embarrassed by watching american tourists ("gee, honey, look at how OLD that building is!!").
but my theory? it's a big-country, small-country thing. those from big countries tend to be more 'aggressive,' shall we say, while folks from small countries tend to be happier 'fitting in' when they travel.
coach Jan 26th 2007 1:17PM
hey, people: the issue was TOURISTS, not necessarily nationalities. stay on point.
Emma Feb 27th 2007 10:04PM
Funny stereotypes! That is all they need to be. The ignorant are those that take them on face value and judge every person that they meet by those stereotypes. There isn't a British stereotype here. I wonder what that would be? Pompous, stiff-lipped, tight-fisted, reserved? Definitely not how a lot of Enlgish people really are, but one can see where it comes from so just have a giggle and move on!
suzee Mar 14th 2007 2:19PM
Oh, interesting discussion. I sell ownership resort vacations (timeshare) in Las Vegas, NV. I meet people from all over the world every week. We have some definite stereotypes too!
We all hate to have a tour from Canada or India. Canadians tend to be very cheap and do not want to spend two dollars to get ten back. People from India all have to check with every single member of the family before they can make a decision, and since they aren't coming back, we lose a sale. It's very frustrating. Even the young ones aren't liberated from the family so they can act on their own, even if they love the product and would use it.
English people buy. They are a harder sell than some other countries, but their dollar is so strong that sometimes they can't resist such a good deal. Forget the Irish or the Scots--they can't part with their money. New Zealanders buy--they're a tougher sell too, but even though their money is weaker than the Canadian dollar, they tend to travel a lot and see the value.
If we get a tour of Hawaiians, New Yorkers, Californians, or anyone in the Southwest, we dance for joy. The Hawaiians always buy, and the others are a good bet. Midwesterners are tough and we hardly ever sell them. (My husband & I were the exception to the rule, having bought one week in 1989 and another in 1994 and living in MN at the time!)
As for rude? Anyone from any country can be rude--I've had them all from Iraq to China to the U.S.A. Rude seems to be a virus that anyone can catch. Also, the nicest people arrive from everywhere too, and even if I don't sell them, if they are at least condiserate and friendly, I have a good day. The mean people make me cry all the way home.
Anyway, it's interesting! I talked to a man who was born in Bethlehem when I was working on Christmas Eve. He was very nice! Didn't buy though! Oh well.
Suz