Most Obnoxious Tourists? The French.

Yahoo! ^ | 07/07/2008 | Bruce Crumley

[Ultra Sonic 007]

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.

[Lady Jag]

Oh, but I love their combat boots!

[MNlurker]

Its called cueing and somehow Europeans think that’s its a civilized way to go about things (never understood it). I always get a kick out of watching them plow into each other and take it...and we are the ugly tourists to them?

I’ve started to see it happen more here, but a swift “get your butt (another word is subbed ;)) to the back of the line and wait like everyone else” still works.

[rlmorel]

Oh yeah. People from where you live, particularly the ones of the “Irish Persuasion” never are obnoxious, are they, Clemenza? I’m sure not, right?

[Clemenza]

Plenty of obnoxious folks of the Italian, Jewish, East Indian, and Puerto Rican persuasion, especially at the Shore in the summertime. Massholes, however, take the cake. ;-)

[buccaneer81]

Its called cueing

Queuing.

[Exit148]

Back in the 70s, my daughter’s friend worked for the YMCA hotel in NYC — as a guide for foreign visitors.She took them around the city showing them how to use the subway system and buses. She said the worst were the French, male or female, but mostly the males —— followed by male Middle Easterners.

The best? Scandanavians.

[Toki]

And while living in Italy I still get called a rude American (Sometimes with good reasons to them: I can't tell when I'm getting loud and have to be told when I am.) And according to my roommates they hear a lot of people who are grumbling about me due to this. (Though most of the people are so nice!)

However, we have been treated rudely other times too, especially when grocery shopping (when I'm actually quiet).But the funny thing is I'm in Florence, a town run for tourists.

[rlmorel]

Uh huh. Those who think theirs doesn’t smell are usually the stinkiest of all...:)