Chinese Tourists.

[Chatty]

So sorry if you are Chinese... I'm not intend to look down you, if you are good Chinese people. Actually, I have Chinese blood as well. This topic is all about me and my friend perspective

I got phone call from my high school classmate lately, she just called to check what was going on in my life. She is a tour guide for Chinese tourists and Korean. She said she was so glad that my wish didn't come true. I told her my dream job was archeologist, if not I would be a tour guide.

She told me she was depressed from her job... she didn't like those kind of tourists. Most of them impolite, dirty, and noisey.

I don't know what you guys think but from my experience with the Chinese tourists, I didn't like their manners... I didn't say all of them were bad na ok?

I went to Vimarnmaek Mansion with my guy, there was raining outside, so I was waiting for an umbella from the mansion staff... a Chinese (big) guy just push me out of his way... If I didn't think they were guest and I was a host I might say something. When I and my guy was waiting for the rain stop at waiting area, my BF was walking to the empty table up stairs...The Chinese tourist group come from somewhere push my BF away (he was quite big guy) and took over that table.

Once I check in Ambassador Jomtien... I woke up cuz of the sound of spoons, forks, and knives. So I went off the room and checked where was the sound from...hrrrrrrr Chinese tour group.

Again at Pattaya, difference hotel. I went there with my classmate... our room was sea view, we could see the street in front of hotel as well. I woke up and saw the bus outside... and yes Chinese tour group again. So my classmate and I made up our mind to have breakfast before they finish check in. I didn't know why they always fast... and same circle again and again. It gave us big headache as usual.

I went to see Siam Niramit with my BF, there was package with dinner... We just bought the tickets for show and check the restaurant, we might eat there... but I could hear the sound from the restaurant and I have seen them.. Chinese for sure...I told my BF... "Can we go to eat at somewhere else?"

Ok that's my bad experience about some Chinese people...

I know some of you might think this is "nasty" topic but I wanna hear your comments, and your opinion.

[hbkbkk]

I think she is working with budget tourist. ask her to work with the indian budget tourist. she will love them.

[Niranahm]

I think this is typical experience with Chinese package tourists. But you know? A lot of these issues are not so much because they are Chinese per se but rather because:

1) They are package tourists on a low budget

2) From the above, they are probably less well-educated and have little experience outside their culture

3) They are likely to have not been able to afford to travel when they were younger because their economy was not strong.

If you have experience with Indian package tourists, Russian package tourists or African package tourists, it probably won't be a lot better.

So it may less be an issue of their race, than of their education, and their country's development.

I'm sure someone is going to point out that British tourists in Spain for a drinking weekend aren't exactly a role model of sustainable tourism either.

What are the factors that are specifically Chinese?

1) There are a lot of more of them, especially in Thailand, and increasing in numbers

2) Their society is still somewhat closed to foreigners and from an early age they have not necessarily been taught to try to understand foreign cultures

3) And some of course think that they are superior because they are Han Chinese. (But don't most people believe their culture is superior to others!)

That doesn't excuse rude behavior, and we all know that it is still very common from Chinese package tourists. But OTOH as I have visited China over 20 years, I've seen the people become more open, friendly and understanding of foreigners (especially the younger people). This is a RELATIVE scale. In other words, they are still on average rude and dismissive toward foreigners compared to Thais, Filipinos and many other countries -- but it's slowly getting better (notwithstanding individual tales of woe).

My point? Yes, they can be a difficult lot to deal with, but don't necessarily judge Chinese people as a whole from the package tourists. At least no more than you want other cultures to judge Thai women from those they meet in Pattaya.

(BTW, did you know that many of these Chinese package tourists have been cheated or scammed on these package tours?)

[Niranahm]

When I and my guy was waiting for the rain stop at waiting area, my BF was walking to the empty table up stairs...The Chinese tourist group come from somewhere push my BF away (he was quite big guy) and took over that table.

When I first went to China, in every place that you had to queue for a ticket or a seat, you had to hold on the person in front of you to stop people from breaking into line.

And for popular spots at parks, swimming pools, tables at restaurants, yes, you had to run and push your way.. Too many people! Too few resources!

China has changed a lot, but even today people don't stand on ceremony when claiming a seat on a train or bus. Is this rude behavior, or something learned from childhood days and a necessary part of life? Both I guess...

[Loburt]

That's a keeper, Pandorea!

[Stu_thailand]

Of course Germans are the bloody quietist - they are always busy sleeping by the pool, on the sun loungers that they send their kids out to 'reserve' at 6am every morning!!!

[bigKus]

What about thai tourists ??

When i was doing my (last) shopping at Heathrow Airport, and the last item i wanted to buy was a bottle of Martini Rosso, so i went to Liquor shelf and found out that if you bought 1 bottle it's 8 GBP and 11.00 GBR for two. So i wont miss this great deal but i have only 10.50 GBP. in my pocket and some handred THB. I saw a pair of thai tourists female walk around the same zone with me i appoached ask for exchange from THB to .50 GBP. she looked at me from head to teo then made unfriendly face and said "that would be how much in THB." she asked her friend, that girl said 'dont be so stupid 1 GBP is 70 THB what would .50 GBP can be' then walked away left her friend stood awkwardly infront of me. I felt unfriendly situation then i said "kop khun ka, mai pen rai".

Na rak mai la ??

[Damnam1]

Of course Germans are the bloody quietist - they are always busy sleeping by the pool, on the sun loungers that they send their kids out to 'reserve' at 6am every morning!!!

of course we are the quitest and for sure we do occupy all the pool chairs at 6am in the morning. That is exactly the time, when drunk Brits fall asleep and peace returns to the hotel resorts

the early bird catches the worm..

[Dave40]

Bloody Aussie tourists are just as bad p***ed all the time on holiday, loud mouthed, no idea about culture, and many who cannot read!!!!!!!!!! :twisted:

But there are some good aussie tourists!!!!

[palmyfan]

I think hbkbkk points out the fact. ?Budget tourist? kind of the same (more or less). Once I went on ski vacations in France with Danish ?Budget tourist?. They were loud and some of them were heavy drinkers. Once you put 15 heavy drinkers in the same room all hell breaks loose..I thanked God that I wasn?t an air-hostess on that fight.

My husband and I used to spend a few breakfast with Chinese tourist at a hotel in Bangkok. The breakfasts were nightmare. Food was everywhere, literally, on the floor, on the chairs ?

Once I was standing at security control at Copenhagen airport and there were about 5-6 Thai tourists. They were loud..very loud. Everybody looked at them but the more people look at them the louder they get.

BTW I found this article? (http://www.eturbonews.com/2876/brits-are-bottom-tourist-heap) .. it might be a prove that Chinese tourists aren?t the worse after all.

IF YOU THINK THE WORLD'S WORST TOURISTS ARE LOUD-MOUTHED AMERICANS OR GERMANS WHO GRAB ALL THE BANANA LOUNGES, THINK AGAIN

Brits are bottom of tourist heap

Jun 04, 2008

The travellers that hoteliers everywhere say are a real nightmare are the British.

They are notorious for drunken behaviour, general rudeness and for not being able to speak a word of the local language.

The damning verdict comes from a survey of European hotel chains by the travel company Expedia.

Not only were Britons regarded as rude, messy and loud, they were criticised for eating nearly as much as Americans.

By contrast, the Japanese, American and German tourists were the best-behaved visitors.

The survey of more than 4000 hoteliers found that the British were still one of the worst at speaking the local language.

In spite of their shortcomings, Britons are often liked by hoteliers because they spend plenty of money. They were second only to the Americans in this category.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Americans were voted the loudest on holiday, followed by the Italians and the British; the Japanese and Germans were the quietest.

The Americans were also voted the least polite; the Japanese the most polite.

The behaviour of French, Chinese, Mexican and Russian tourists was also sharply criticised: hoteliers said they were loud, obnoxious and unfriendly.

The Germans were praised for their tidiness and for usually leaving their bedrooms spotless before the maid arrived.

Not sure about that,cause the survey are from an european chain,and few low budget chinese can go there.I think the survey will be really different if China allow their people to go to europe or america with less restriction :wink: .

[tonyP]

So sorry if you are Chinese... I'm not intend to look down you, if you are good Chinese people. Actually, I have Chinese blood as well. This topic is all about me and my friend perspective

I got phone call from my high school classmate lately, she just called to check what was going on in my life. She is a tour guide for Chinese tourists and Korean. She said she was so glad that my wish didn't come true. I told her my dream job was archeologist, if not I would be a tour guide.

She told me she was depressed from her job... she didn't like those kind of tourists. Most of them impolite, dirty, and noisey.

I don't know what you guys think but from my experience with the Chinese tourists, I didn't like their manners... I didn't say all of them were bad na ok?

I went to Vimarnmaek Mansion with my guy, there was raining outside, so I was waiting for an umbella from the mansion staff... a Chinese (big) guy just push me out of his way... If I didn't think they were guest and I was a host I might say something. When I and my guy was waiting for the rain stop at waiting area, my BF was walking to the empty table up stairs...The Chinese tourist group come from somewhere push my BF away (he was quite big guy) and took over that table.

Once I check in Ambassador Jomtien... I woke up cuz of the sound of spoons, forks, and knives. So I went off the room and checked where was the sound from...hrrrrrrr Chinese tour group.

Again at Pattaya, difference hotel. I went there with my classmate... our room was sea view, we could see the street in front of hotel as well. I woke up and saw the bus outside... and yes Chinese tour group again. So my classmate and I made up our mind to have breakfast before they finish check in. I didn't know why they always fast... and same circle again and again. It gave us big headache as usual.

I went to see Siam Niramit with my BF, there was package with dinner... We just bought the tickets for show and check the restaurant, we might eat there... but I could hear the sound from the restaurant and I have seen them.. Chinese for sure...I told my BF... "Can we go to eat at somewhere else?"

Ok that's my bad experience about some Chinese people...

I know some of you might think this is "nasty" topic but I wanna hear your comments, and your opinion.

The spitting is the worst... I used to work Night Reception years ago in an Australian group hotel. You could set your watch by the loud "hoking" noises that would start at 6.30 with the breakfast buffet - straight from the back of the throat... hhhrrrghhhhuuhkkkk... and into the ashtrays! Sounds a lot like a dog with kennel cough!

:x It still sends shivers down my spine (where is that puke emoticon)

[English_Bob]

I've found the same to be true about Chinese tourists...

And I have a theory (don't I always?)....

Before the Cultural Revolution, China was ruled by an Emperor and was very well-mannered and grounded in etiquette. (I have heard)

During the Cultural Revolution, the peasants were the only 'true' Chinese (according to Mao)... therefore, the upper classes, educated and well-mannered were either executed or 'rehabilitated'.

The current Chinese population is made from the survivors and the children of the survivors, who owe their lives to being uncouth and common.

I think there is something deep in the Chinese psyche that equates ill manners with respectability.

I HOPE the next generation will outgrow this behaviour and regain their dignity and manners.

[Chatty]

The spitting is the worst... I used to work Night Reception years ago in an Australian group hotel. You could set your watch by the loud "hoking" noises that would start at 6.30 with the breakfast buffet - straight from the back of the throat... hhhrrrghhhhuuhkkkk... and into the ashtrays! Sounds a lot like a dog with kennel cough!

:x It still sends shivers down my spine (where is that puke emoticon)

ahh you didn't see how they use tooth pick... ewww...

[Chatty]

I've found the same to be true about Chinese tourists...

And I have a theory (don't I always?)....

Before the Cultural Revolution, China was ruled by an Emperor and was very well-mannered and grounded in etiquette. (I have heard)

During the Cultural Revolution, the peasants were the only 'true' Chinese (according to Mao)... therefore, the upper classes, educated and well-mannered were either executed or 'rehabilitated'.

The current Chinese population is made from the survivors and the children of the survivors, who owe their lives to being uncouth and common.

I think there is something deep in the Chinese psyche that equates ill manners with respectability.

I HOPE the next generation will outgrow this behaviour and regain their dignity and manners.

hmm your theory might be correct... actually, they are harmless as nong Catebkk said... but I just don't like to be around cuz I don't wanna lose my temper. What if they push me I push them back?

[funky_house]

Which nation's tourists are most disliked?

Don't blame me. Just found this on Yahoo.

Most Obnoxious Tourists? The French

By BRUCE CRUMLEY / PARIS Sun Jul 6, 10:45 PM ET

Remember the tightwad tourist whose baggy shorts, frequent complaining and shouted questions about why none of the locals spoke any English made the ugly American the world's Visitor From Hell? Well, it's time for Archie Bunker to move over and make way for Petulant Pierre. According to a recent international survey, the French are now considered the most obnoxious tourists from European nations, and behind only Indians and the last-place Chinese as the worst among all countries worldwide. And it's not only the rest of the world that have a gripe with the Gallic attitude: the French also finished second to last among nations ranking the popularity of their own tourists who vacation at home.

But it's the unflattering image being reflected from abroad that may give pause to the millions of French travelers now heading off to summer vacation destinations across the globe. Will that move them to improve behavior the poll characterized as impolite, prone to loud carping and inattentive to local customs? If so, that's just the start: the study also describes the voyageur franÇais as often unwilling or unable to communicate in foreign languages, and particularly disinclined to spending money when they don't have to - including on those non compris tips. Over all, French travelers landed 19th out of 21 nations worldwide, far behind the first-place Japanese, considered most polite, quiet and tidy. Following the Japanese as most-liked tourists were the Germans, British and Canadians. Americans finished in 11th place alongside the Thais.

The survey was carried out among employees in 4,000 hotels in Germany, the U.K., Italy, France, Canada and the U.S. for the French travel website Expedia.fr. The study asked respondents to rank clients by nationality on criteria of general attitude, politeness, tendency to complain, willingness to speak local languages, interest in sampling local cuisine, readiness to spend money, generosity, cleanliness, discretion and elegance. Many replies simply conformed to long-established reputations: Italians, for example, were described as the best-dressed tourists, with the French not far behind.

American tourists fared well in some surprising ways: despite being notoriously language-limited, for example, they top the list of tourists credited with trying to speak local languages the most, with the French, Chinese, Japanese, Italians and Russians coming in last in the local language rankings. Does that mean Americans are the most polyglot tourists on the planet? Maybe not, says Expedia's marketing director for Europe, TimothÉe de Roux, who notes the poll's focus on hotel operators may explain the counterintuitive outcome.

"Most hotel staffs around the world speak English, meaning they'll communicate far more easily with native English-speaking American or British clients than with French or Italians who - it's true - are pretty bad with foreign languages," de Roux says.

De Roux explains how external factors similarly account for why Americans wind up as the biggest-spending and best-tipping tourists, while Germans and the French are among the worst penny-pinchers. "Our findings show the average French employee will get 37 vacation days spread over seven trips in 2008, versus 14 for an American - who won't even take them all," de Roux believes. "That means the French tourist will more tightly budget his or her spending over more trips, while the American spends freely on the one or two vacations taken all year."

By contrast, poll finds the French and Americans similar in being perceived as critical and rude when they travel - though for different reasons. The same local attractions that make France the world's top destination for 92 million foreign visitors each year, says de Roux, also explains why over 85% of French vacation in-country - and wind up spoiled by it when they leave. "When they go abroad, French travellers demand the same quality they'd get at home," de Roux says. "Americans, by contrast, demand the same exceptional service they are used to at home, which is why they rank as the loudest, most inclined to complain, and among the least polite." View this article on Time.com

[funky_house]

and before any Frenchies think that I am singling them out, take a look at some of my countrymen:

Mayhem in Malia: The Crete resort where 100 British girls a day get the morning after pill

Exclusive by Rebecca Evans In Malia, Crete 28/07/2008

We join the binge-drinking teens shaming our country on the streets of Crete

Instead of heading for the beach and the sunshine, she makes for the medical centre.

Extremely embarrassed and suffering from a crippling hangover, the young woman mumbles she needs a morning after pill, please.

After a night of drinking heavily and taking ecstasy in the Greek holiday hotspot of Malia, she had woken in a bed beside four men.

Like her, they were all British. Ripped and worn condoms were strewn on the floor, but the 24-year-old can't remember if she'd had sex ... or even used the protection.

This is just another Sunday afternoon at the Cretan Medicare Centre on the Greek island, one more holiday heaven turned into a hellhole by drunken, loutish Brits.

The clinic's manager Dr Emmanuel Katsulis says: "Each day, around 100 girls come here to get the morning-after pill.

"Many have slept with three or four boys in a night without using a condom. Mainly, the girls are only about 18 or 19.

"It's shocking, but it is quite common for British girls to wake up with men they don't know and find themselves unable to remember the night before.

"Last week I had another girl tell me that she'd had sex with three men in one night, but had no idea who they were. So she had no choice but to come and get the morning-after pill."

The Daily Mirror was given exclusive access to the clinic, nestled in the heart of Malia, Europe's latest holiday party capital.

More than a million British teenagers will head for Crete this summer, and most will make for the notorious Malia Mile.

It is every parent's nightmare. More than 80 clubs and bars are crammed into this strip, all competing for custom with buyone, get-one-free offers and outrageous cheap cocktails, such as "head f***er" - an appalling concoction of Baileys, chilli powder, tequila, absinthe, ouzo, vodka, cider and gin. It comes in a huge fishbowl and works out at about £3 per person.

And irresponsible sex is just one of the after-effects of the dreadful drunkenness the clinic must deal with.

Last week the owner of a local supermarket was attacked by six British youths who beat him "black and blue" because he dared to ask them to drive less recklessly on quad bikes through the resort.

Dr Katsulis, 53, who has worked in Malia for 11 years and watched it's ugly transformation, says: "Ninety five per cent of the patients we treat are British teenagers.

"They are like animals. They fight, smash windows, urinate in the street, expose themselves and have unprotected sex on the beach and even in the cemetery.

"The girls all wear very little. The Brits come here for a week or so and in that time will have many sexual partners. When these teenagers are in Malia, anything goes."

We joined the medical centre staff on the Saturday evening as they braced themselves for the worst. In the next few hours I witness a shocking procession of injuries, all caused by binge-drinking.

James Wierzeicki, 20, a sales assistant from the Isle of Wight, has dislocated his shoulder on the first day of his holiday after suffering from a fit - triggered by a day of drinking and lack of sleep.

Sweating and trembling, he admits: "I arrived here at 7am this morning and hit the bars straight away with my friends."

Two young teenage girls in miniskirts and blood-soaked flip-flops stagger into the clinic, holding each other and crying.

They have shards of glass wedged in their feet, a painful consequence of walking between bars in the bottlestrewn streets.

The nurse cleans their wounds and a doctor gives one stitches, before they set off again on their pub crawl.

As they leave, a teenage boy vomits outside the hospital doors, surrounded by a jeering group of lads who chant "Light weight" at him.

One of the group drops his trousers and flashes a party of girls who stagger passed in stockings, suspenders and corsets.

As the night wears on things become even uglier. At 4am an unconscious boy is carried into the building by three girls who have found him lying in the gutter.

Vomit and blood dribble from his mouth. His eyes roll open but he is totally comatose. He is placed in the recovery position, put on a saline drip and his airway is cleared. A driving licence shows he's British.

By 5.30am many of the bars have shut and drink-fuelled fights erupts in the street.

Around 20 yobs start attacking each other, before the police arrive and everyone flees. One teenage boy is left unconscious.

Paramedics fit a neck brace on to him, lift his body on to a stretcher and take him to hospital 40 minutes away in Heraklion.

Another boy, 17, from Leicester, was caught in the crossfire. His nose is broken and he needs stitches, but he doesn't have health insurance or the E140 (£110) needed to cover the cost.

With a swollen and bleeding nose, the PE college student says: "The doctor has told me that my nose is broken.

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"I don't have the money to get to the state hospital in a taxi. I'll just try and sleep it off."

Just 15 minutes later a comatose girl, barefoot and in a black mini-dress, is carried into the health centre in the arms of a worried-looking teenage boy who is shouting aggressively for help.

She is rushed into an examination room, next to the other unconscious boy, and placed on a saline drip in a frantic bid to sober her up.

Tour operators describe Malia as a "famous full-on party resort for the young", and a week-long stay in one of the town's 200 apartments and hotels can cost less than £200 - flights included.

The heaving bars are full of teenagers downing drink after drink, while semi-naked girls drunkenly gyrate on top of bars and pool tables.

Some pubs will even pour a litre of cocktail into your mouth through a giant funnel - a spectacle guaranteed to get the crowds cheering. Dr Katsulis says: "A common injury is burns, caused when young men pour drinks down their chests and set them on fire in a bizarre test of manhood.

"They see how long they can last before the pain is too much - but when you are drunk, you do not feel pain as acutely, so they can be quite burned.

"Beneath the booze, they are just children - but when they are drunk, they can be lewd, aggressive and disrespectful.

"When they are sober, they are embarrassed and apologetic. And when I say I might have to phone their parents, they plead with me not to."

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Katsaros Nikos says most of the drunken accidents happen on the first day of holiday.

"They drink too much because they are excited to be free from parental restraints, so go wild," he says.

"But this is dangerous as they often cannot remember where their hotel is and end up sleeping in the street."

For Malia's locals, British tourists are a source of comfortable income, but are becoming a growing problem.

As one taxi driver told me: "They bring a lot of money here, but they have destroyed Malia."

Last year, a mass demonstration was held against the British yobs, with local protesters demanding a government crackdown on tourist agencies promoting sex and fun for young holidaymakers in Malia, more police to maintain order, and more controls on nightclubs, which they say encourage excessive drinking.

Local cafe-owner Andre Bardhi, 29, who's lived in Malia for seven years, says: "The British tourists here are a bad icon for their country. They show no respect for Crete.

"They take off their clothes and run through the streets... without giving a second thought to the local people.

"They urinate and vomit and start fights.

"In the time I have been living here it has got much worse."

Mayhem in Malia

Last month Rob Hughes, a 27-year-old Briton, was beaten up by fellow UK tourists outside a nightclub in Malia. He was in a coma for two weeks and is still recovering in hospital in Crete.

In 2006 a British woman narrowly survived when she was impaled on a spike after falling from an apartment during a drunken argument with her boyfriend.

In 2003 a British tourist bit off the nose of a bartender who asked him to leave.

In 1999 a local man died after brawling with two British tourists. fellow countrymen:

[Loburt]

I've found the same to be true about Chinese tourists...

And I have a theory (don't I always?)....

Before the Cultural Revolution, China was ruled by an Emperor and was very well-mannered and grounded in etiquette. (I have heard)

During the Cultural Revolution, the peasants were the only 'true' Chinese (according to Mao)... therefore, the upper classes, educated and well-mannered were either executed or 'rehabilitated'.

The current Chinese population is made from the survivors and the children of the survivors, who owe their lives to being uncouth and common.

I think there is something deep in the Chinese psyche that equates ill manners with respectability.

I HOPE the next generation will outgrow this behaviour and regain their dignity and manners.

hmm your theory might be correct... actually, they are harmless as nong Catebkk said... but I just don't like to be around cuz I don't wanna lose my temper. What if they push me I push them back?

then you might find out they are not so harmless.

[Stramash]

Which nation's tourists are most disliked?

Don't blame me. Just found this on Yahoo.

Israeli tourists by a mile!!!! :twisted:

[Loburt]

Really?

That's certainly not the case here in Thailand. Nor is that what any of the previously posted articles are finding either.

Maybe you shouldn't let your political biases influence how you judge people.

[Stramash]

Really?

That's certainly not the case here in Thailand. Nor is that what any of the previously posted articles are finding either.

Maybe you shouldn't let your political biases influence how you judge people.

Absolutely nothing to do with politics Lo, and would disagree that it is not the case in Thailand as I base that opinion partly on my 2 years in Samui. I, and many of my Thai friends, found the Israeli tourists rude and arrogant. The words 'please' and 'thank you' were non-existent, and I have often seen clicked fingers used as the main way of communication with staff in bars, hotels and restuarants.

I will make one observation though; this behaviour was most common in young Israelis under 25 - the Israelis I met above that age tended to be absolutely fine, and I even had a mad 30 something Israeli trance head stay in my house for 2 months.

It may be something to do with national service - I can remember there being lots of problems in Goa in the 90's with young Israelis, and when I worked for TUI throughout the Med, there were lots of gripes about this age group.

But there should be no excuses. Good manners cost absolutely f**k all. Please or thank you should be par for course, no matter what nationality you are.

Back to the political point; just because I have a problem with a country's politics or policy does not mean I will judge every individual from that country on that basis. I know all Americans arent stupid or hate Muslims (just a lot of them) etc etc.

:twisted:

[zeusbheld]

i don't see the point of singling out tourists by ethnicity.

ALL tourists are incredibly obnoxious, at least the ones you can identify by behavior or fashion sense. sure, there are non-obnoxious tourists, but the non-obnoxious ones you can't tell from business travelers or expats unless you ask.

it amazes me, with all the traps set, there are still so many of 'em. tourists must breed incredibly fast.

[Stramash]

would maybe change ALL to MOST Zeus. I used to work for TUI (very large travel company) and would probably agree that around 80% of all tourists are pretty obnoxious!! People complaining about food (awwww - no fish and chips), lack of people able to speak English (you are in a foreign country for god's sake) or heavy handed police (well if you will drink 20 tequilas and walk down the main street naked, you will get arrested!!)

I switched from travel back to my original career of drugs work - guess which clients are easiest to deal with!!!!! :twisted:

[English_Bob]

Really?

That's certainly not the case here in Thailand. Nor is that what any of the previously posted articles are finding either.

Maybe you shouldn't let your political biases influence how you judge people.

Absolutely nothing to do with politics Lo, and would disagree that it is not the case in Thailand as I base that opinion partly on my 2 years in Samui. I, and many of my Thai friends, found the Israeli tourists rude and arrogant. The words 'please' and 'thank you' were non-existent, and I have often seen clicked fingers used as the main way of communication with staff in bars, hotels and restuarants.

I will make one observation though; this behaviour was most common in young Israelis under 25 - the Israelis I met above that age tended to be absolutely fine, and I even had a mad 30 something Israeli trance head stay in my house for 2 months.

It may be something to do with national service - I can remember there being lots of problems in Goa in the 90's with young Israelis, and when I worked for TUI throughout the Med, there were lots of gripes about this age group.

But there should be no excuses. Good manners cost absolutely f**k all. Please or thank you should be par for course, no matter what nationality you are.

Back to the political point; just because I have a problem with a country's politics or policy does not mean I will judge every individual from that country on that basis. I know all Americans arent stupid or hate Muslims (just a lot of them) etc etc.

:twisted:

Interesting...

I've never met any rude Israelis, but I once saw a sign in a Khao San Road Hotel that barred Israeli tourists... so something must have prompted that reaction.

[Niranahm]

On the subject of Israeli tourists, I think the issues are with those young Israelis who have just completed their military service and are backpacking around the world, perhaps selling jewelry to fund their travels.

I don't know why, but it is definitely the case that they don't mix easily with other backpackers and sometimes their "pack mentality" can be pretty aggressive.

Like other posters, I haven't had negative experiences with Israelis generally, but in my backpacker days I used to sell hot dogs and jewelry on the streets around Asia and had a lot of problems with Israeli "mafia". These same groups travelling would often get into shouting matches over something small with Asian guesthouse owners -- sometimes their accents caused a language barrier.

I'm not sure of the underlying reasons for this, but certainly if you ask around among Europeans/Americans/Aussies who have budget travelled around Asia, you'll definitely not hear them classified as the most friendly nation.

I guess it comes down to significant differences in the type of travellers among ages and socio-economic brackets?

[Stramash]

Hoorah!! Someone sees my point!! When I lived in Samui, I worked a lot over on Phan Ngang. Now this can be the worst example of tourists anywhere in Thailand; litter everywhere, pi**ing in the water, broken glass etc etc. Now I never went for prima donna DJ behaviour; I used to get out with some bags and clean up all the crap people left on Haad Riin beach - the only nationality that ever knocked back helping me were...guess who.

(though again my mad Israeli trance head friend made up for this by filling on average 6 - 10 bags every time we partied!!!)

:twisted: