Time to brush up on our manners
Natives recently uncovered an amusing story from GMTV and Sky News that rated the Brits as some of the worst tourists in the world....
Based on research from Expedia.co.uk, in a poll of 15,000 European hoteliers, apparently Brits abroad are amongst the rudest and meanest tourists in the world. Still, according to the poll we are in a better position than five years ago when we topped the league of terrible tourists!
This year Britain was second in the worst-dressed tourist table which was headed by the Americans, and fifth in the least-generous table which was headed by the Germans. Overall, France came out as the worst nation of tourists, followed by India, China, Russia and Britain.
And who came out top? The Japanese! They were voted the world's best tourists, followed by the Americans and the Swiss. The Brits did however, fair well as the best holiday spenders after the Americans and Russians, but even British hoteliers voted British tourists the meanest tippers while also considering them to be the worst behaved of all nationalities.
Expedia.co.uk managing director Caroline Cartellieri said: "It's disappointing to learn that our position in the world rankings hasn't really changed, with foreign hoteliers still perceiving Brits as noisy, untidy and badly dressed. Although it's good to see Brits perceived as generous in their spending habits, now we just need to work on ditching those 'socks and sandals'."
Wise words indeed and I think we can also extend those fashion no no's to fluorescent ski suits, one-pieces and moon boots. And while we're on the subject, there are also a whole range of sunblock products available these days that aren't day-glo colours!! Still we'd hate the slopes to become a dull place…… ;O)
