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French Deemed Worst Tourists

by Neil Woodburn on May 23rd 2007 at 11:36AM

It's a debate that will never be definitively decided, but for the time being, the French are officially the worst tourists in Europe according to a recent survey of 15,000 European hoteliers.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the same survey has determined that the very best tourists are the Japanese. Americans, despite the bad rap they usually receive, were deemed the second best--although this was a hollow victory as the Americans were also voted the worst dressed tourists according to the same survey (speaking for myself, guilty as charged!).

The five worst tourists according to the survey come from the following countries:

1. France
2. India
3. China
4. Russia
5. Britain

Filed under: Europe, China, India, Russian Federation, France, United States

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)

Alan May 23rd 2007 8:55PM

In 1990 I visited the Soviet Union as part of a group of attorneys. We were combined with a group of Doctors from India by Intourist and from that experience I can attest to the Indian men being the most unfriendly and ill mannered tourists. They treated their wives as chattel and were rude to our group and to the Intourist guides. They were always late for departures and in the end we just stopped interacting with them and left them to their own devices.

SK May 24th 2007 12:00AM

The article doesn't mention why the French are the worst tourists.

walt caason May 24th 2007 2:35AM

I can readily believe the French are the worst tourists. We were on a tour of the former Soviet Union and in one hotel there was a french group; They were loud, noisey and obnoxious.

RochelleO. May 24th 2007 3:33AM

Having traveled and lived in many countries, I have by far found the Indians and Middle Eastern Men to be the rudest. They expect women to be at their beck and call, and as doctors, a woman doesn't stand a chance in any sayso in her care.

Nicole May 26th 2007 12:11PM

Where did you find the whole article? I'd love to read it and the Yahoo thing only has a summary.

I want to bask in all the details of the French's rating.

Jeff May 28th 2007 8:04PM

The article doesn't mention why the French are the worst tourists.

Why? Because they're French!

Julie May 28th 2007 8:13PM

The French rude and obnoxious? What a surprise! They are also the worst hosts of tourists!

Ted May 28th 2007 8:17PM

I think the french canadians would also fit in as the rudest people i've been associated with. Thai people are amongst the nicest.

Chaitra Leiker May 28th 2007 8:23PM

I would like to know what this is based on...When my husband and I were in Bora Bora for our honeymoon, the Japanese tourists were the worst, completely pushy and rude - I wonder why it would be any different in Europe...?

Peggy May 28th 2007 8:28PM

I have been lucky enough to have traveled the world for the last 20 years. In my mind you cannoat beat the Germans for worst place.
Rude, pushy and inconsiderate.
Italians were the least respectful of the local environment. Throwing trash everywhere.
Asians, except the Japanese, do not acknowledge lines and will cut in at a moments notice.
THe French are the least likely to try to learn any part of the local language.
Americans seem to be the most aware of the local customs, the environment, and the difference in languages. Maybe we try harder in order to get rid of that "ugly American" label.
We may be the most casual dressers, but hardly the worst dressers. Most Europeans seem to ignore the local dress codes. too sexy, and way to flamboyant. OH well, all part of the fun!

bonneu May 28th 2007 8:39PM

The French were super sweet and nice when my husband and I went for 10 days to Paris and also the country side of France. I do not know where you all just lump the French for being the worst. I loved them and I would easliy go back for another long visit. We do not speak a word in French and they were so accommadating and the food is so good. You French know how to live well.. we loved you.

inov8angel May 28th 2007 8:41PM

Is anyone really surprised by this list? I'm not....I've lived abroad for several years and the ones on this list are all the "usual suspects"...they've all put a new spin on the word "ugly"...!

Lynne May 28th 2007 8:51PM

I live in a ighly popular area for tourist and I have to say the Germans are pretty rude. Then again there is a joke: What is the difference between a canoe and a Frenchman? ...the canoe WILL tip.

While visiting Paris I found the French to be horrible so I can't imagine they would be different away from home.

Manny May 28th 2007 9:07PM

While traveling through France and Italy I often encountered groups of German tourist and found them to be the worst tourist. I cannot say the French are any worst since they are rude to each other as well as everyone else, The Italians were helpful loud but friendly. Americans, to many of us do not know how to dress properly for european taste.

soda popinski May 28th 2007 9:13PM

You people are a bunch of jack-asses. Look at yourselves: Germans are this, the French are that, Italians do this, the Chinese do that.
You are a bunch of freaking idiots, and one day you guys will be be wishing you had someone to point out that all of you who posted negative comments are morons. Eventually, however, nobody will care enough to even do that.
Just stay inside your 50 states then, since the rest of the world is so inferior.

Mary Secor May 28th 2007 9:16PM

In 1990, I was able to travel through the Soviet Union to the border of China. What lovely warm people!

Roxanne May 28th 2007 9:21PM

In all my travels I have found the Germans ill-mannered, pushy and rude. I found the Japanese very nice, but can definitely do without their smoking.

Mary Secor May 28th 2007 9:21PM

I have visited France a number of times and have never found the French to be pleasant. In the city of Fois, we were so rudely treated that when we signed out of the hotel, the cashier, while on the phone simply handed us the ticket to sign, tapped on it. Never spoke a word!

Madeleine May 28th 2007 9:21PM

Well, how would you really know? (Unless you are a hotelier with access to name and address. I had the pleasure of being seated with a young French man at a busy restaurant in Paris who expressed great surprise that I am American. All Americans are, of course, loud and disprespectful, or so he thought. Loud people are always easy to identify because they don't stop talking to each other - in churches, in museums, in parks, at other monuments. And so you KNOW their national origin. You have no choice but to know. In Paris, it was my experience that the Americans and the Germans were the most disrespecful (i.e., the lousest). The French, on the other hand, were lovely and gracious.

joepah May 28th 2007 9:22PM

I have found Germans to be the most friendly and most like Americans. They're fun to be around and take pride in being helpful.

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