What are the stereotypes about tourists from different countries?

“It is believed that on vacation, Russians behave loudly and are always visible and audible, but foreigners are another matter, they are usually cultured, know etiquette,” says Ekaterina Zurzya, a guide from Kaliningrad. As practice shows, it is often the opposite: foreigners, especially Germans and Poles, breaking out of a clear framework, on vacation behave extremely noisy and defiant.

 

According to her, residents of Germany in Kaliningrad can afford not to follow the rules of the road, which is not typical for them at home.

 

In Germany, a recent survey, and it became known that the greatest rejection of the Germans cause guests from Russia and the UK, who were accused of addiction to hard liquor. Hoteliers from Turkey note that the manners of Russians are the same as the behavior of vacationers from other countries.

 

G. Rusanov, a guide from St. Petersburg, says that there is an opinion about the great generosity of tourists from wealthy European countries. The German will at best give 100 rubles and be sure that you owe him everything after that. According to him, guests from Latin America have the broadest soul: they, like Russians, will easily part with money.

 

In George’s experience, Israeli citizens are often selfless, despite stereotypes. “During the tour, I sneezed, and the tourist immediately gave me a pill, as well as the phone number of her doctor husband and said that he would definitely consult me for free.”

 

According to the guide, "Chinese people do not know any languages except their own, and prefer Chinese guides when traveling, many of whom have not even heard of Peter the Great or Catherine the Great." There is a story about a guide from Russia, who accompanied the group from China and collected a thousand rubles from all, allegedly for a cannon on the Peter and Paul Fortress to shoot for them. I don’t think it’s true, but the Chinese are so gullible and misguided about our realities.”

 

A souvenir seller in Novy Arbat, Moscow, has confirmed another common opinion about the Chinese: they love shopping. “Often bought in small wholesale — five or seven identical items — and are very fond of gold and other precious metals. Tourists from Latin America for some reason buy Pavlovosad headscarves - maybe they have a special fashion for them.

 

A tourist from Mexico wanted to buy a nesting doll, but forgot the word and called her “a woman with big breasts without legs.” I cannot imagine a European saying that, they are very sensitive to gender issues.”

 

Then, Europeans may be offended if you hold the door in front of them, confirms G. Fokshansky, director of the tour operator for inbound tourism. “They believe that makes them second-class people. True, such a misunderstanding in my memory never led to scandals.”

 

Russian and European travelers learn more about each other’s habits and behavior. A couple of years ago, a member of the French group took a roll of toilet paper and several incandescent lamps to Russia in case of a shortage of these items in the country.

 

It is not only Russians who have stereotypes about foreigners. Experts involved in the tourist business say that foreigners consider Russians to be harsh and evil, some are surprised by the presence of foreign goods, the presence of world brands.

 

“Before visiting Russia, I was sure you had a high rate of crime and alcoholism,” says Alex, a British tourist. But in two weeks I have never met a very drunk person, and there was no question of crime at all - you do not even have graffiti in the underground passageways and on the subway cars.