We enjoyed the Best Tourist Survey conducted by expedia.com that compared the traits of different nationalities when they travel. From our experience, the results seem about right.
As over 70% of guests that use motel accommodation are Kiwis, it came as no surprise to moteliers that their fellow nationals can find it somewhat difficult to "appreciate value."
BEST TOURISTS
1. Japanese
2. Britons
3. Canadians
4. Germans
5. Swiss
WORST TOURISTS
1. French
2. Spaniards
3. Greeks
4. Turks
5. South Africans
MOST POLITE
The Japanese
MOST IMPOLITE
The French
MOST QUIET
The Japanese
MOST FRUGAL
The French
MOST CLEAN
The Japanese
MEANEST TIPPERS
The French
Kiwis 'stingy' tourists
By ADRIAN CHANG
BusinessDay
09/07/2009
Kiwi tourists may be polite and aren't moaners, but they do tend to keep their money in their pockets, according to an international tourism survey.
In its second annual global Best Tourist Survey, released today, the online travel company Expedia says New Zealanders make the sixth stingiest tourists out of 27 nationalities surveyed.
We ranked fourteenth equal with Austria in the best overall tourists category, which was topped by Japan. Brits came in second with Canadians third, Germans fourth, Swiss fifth and Australians and Dutch sixth equal. The French were rated the world's worst tourists, followed by the Spanish, Greeks, Turks and South Africans.
About 4,500 hoteliers around the world provided their view for Expedia's poll last month. Hoteliers were asked for their opinions on the best travellers overall, as well as on specific categories including behaviour, spending habits, fashion sense and willingness to try to speak the local language.
Kiwi tourists came in tenth for politeness and ninth in being sparing in their complaints. Kiwis were considered to be more courteous with noise levels than their trans-Tasman counterparts, but were seen as being significantly less generous tippers and much less likely to attempt the local language. Kiwis came in nineteenth in the generous tippers category and fourteenth in terms of being prepared to attempt the local language.
"It's encouraging to see that New Zealanders are regarded as good-natured and polite among hoteliers around the world," said Louise Crompton of Expedia New Zealand.
"That said, being more conscious of tipping etiquette and learning some words from the local language could see New Zealand even higher next year."
Crompton also suggested Kiwis abroad ought to be environmentally conscious, such as by not taking long showers, and travel with the latest gadgets such as digital translators or navigational devices.
Apart from being the world's best tourists overall, Japanese were also rated the quietest, the most polite, cleanest and least likely to complain. The French, meanwhile, were seen as the most frugal and meanest tippers, as well as being the rudest. Just ahead of the French were the Spanish, who were amongst the three loudest nations along with Americans and Italians.
Americans redeemed themselves by being the most generous tippers, along with the British. Americans came in eighth equal overall with Swedes.
Source: Click HERE
