In your experience, which country's tourists are the least well-behaved whenever you have seen them out and about?

I travel frequently (once a month minimum) for business all around APAC and without a doubt it is the Chinese. I was just in Phuket and was often disgusted with the absolute disregard for even basic decorum. If I had been there on vacation, I would’ve moved to a more obscure location even if it meant paying penalties. That bad.

In no particular order, based on personal experience in the UK, while travelling and in Japan;

Chinese - no manners, zero respect for local customs and norms, thinks waving money about makes them special

Japanese men - belligerent and ignorant when drinking

Australians - as above

British - as above, usually in groups

Americans - ignorant of local customs and norms, thinks the world is US lite and can't cope with the culture shock whenthey realise this isn't the case

Korean tour groups - rowdy and pushy, worse when they have booze

Being in a group always exacerbates unacceptable behaviour in any tourist group, where ever they are from.

Them as come over the Pennines, laugh at our cuisine, claiming that the fish and chips are better in Whitby and the beer's better in Sheffield or Leeds. Nevertheless, they drink enough to start fights and cause mayhem in town centres and then go back to Skipton or wherever, complaining that nobody likes them. True.

Israelis

Chinese - no manners, zero respect for local customs and norms, thinks waving money about makes them special

Japanese men - belligerent and ignorant when drinking

Australians - as above

British - as above, usually in groups

Americans - ignorant of local customs and norms, thinks the world is US lite and can't cope with the culture shock whenthey realise this isn't the case

Korean tour groups - rowdy and pushy, worse when they have booze

Pretty good. I’d say for pissed-up belligerence and stupidity, the Russians can outdo the Brits or the Aussies, and I’ve seen behaviour in Spain ( Brits ) and Bali ( Aussies ) which belonged in a zoo.

luca’s point about Yorkshireman is a given but I’ve always found Yorkshirewomen delightful.

Chinese country bumpkins cutting in line and being loud. Americans who are proud and loud especially back in the days of defending Bush/Iraq War - did you ever find your weapons of mass destruction?

Japanese who are loud in their exaggerated reactions. Japanese love to see people’s reactions and we love to overreact ourselves. The fighting Irish in Shinjuku pubs. Any nationality drunk, loud and boisterous. I try to be positive but tend to believe people say what they really think when drunk. That’s how you know who’s racist.

Pssst, zichi - There are Japanese tourists in Japan.

Zichi

Most Japanese people who traval outside Japan are tourists.

And clearly, I must stress, I'm sure those I have encountered are not representative of their fellow compatriots.

Well said. As ALWAYS

Here’s my take on Chinese tourists. I have spent over a year in China all in all, and I have many dear friends there. I had the pleasure of helping a lovely Chinese couple near my office who were incredibly thankful to me for giving them directions in my appalling Mandarin and their young daughter in confident English said “thank you very much”. Obviously a well-brought up and well-mannered girl.

I also work with a Chinese guy, an absolute gent, who winces at the behaviour of some of his compatriots abroad. The Chinese government saw fit to issue a statement asking ( not sure if that’s the right verb ), Chinese tourists to show better manners when abroad.

Not all Chinese people show bad manners when abroad, but it does seem to be a problem. Let’s say it seems to be more of a problem for Chinese tourists than Swiss tourists.

Any at least half-witted or half-decent person knows not all Chinese people are ill-mannered.

We are not idiots and we are not children here.

Not to generalise, or anything etc.

In my experience - because it's only from an individuals perspective - there's a few people who just don't know how to comport themselves.

Russians, Chinese, Americans and English.

And clearly, I must stress, I'm sure those I have encountered are not representative of their fellow compatriots.

I think most people have been forward and honest and given reasons.

That said, it's all down to personal experience. These are just views and anecdotage, I wouldn't say the views here should be writ in stone. Or taken too seriously.

My own people (if I must be a bit more specific) are oft stereotyped and most of the time, I don't mind. If it comes from mates, that's fine. It's not meant to be malicious. If it comes from strangers and random internet nasties, I just feel pity for them. Ignorance plays a big part when it comes to the latter group.

Other opinions are available, natch :-)

Loud and ignorant Americans.

My limited experience is Israeli Backpackers and rich Indian people and Japanese retired men. Of course Chinese and Americans are so loud and from some places obnoxious. it is just their culture so we all have to be a little bit more accepting. China's has one and six people so how can you classify everybody with the same tar？

Japanese men.

above

+1

People making comments about Japanese would care to remember that they are not tourists.

Of course they are, both in and outside Japan.

Agree with the above posters 100%.

However, IF there is an international football match in the area, the English have everyone beat hands down.

I've never seen such tourists from foreign countries. Also, I think each tourists from each country has different cultures or habits, so it is difficult for them to completely follow certain countries' manners. Of course, visitors themelves have to learn at least fundamental manners of the country they visit, for example, in case of Japan, "it is necessary to take off shoes before entering into the house," "it is prohibited to soak your towel in a hot bath at the hot spring," etc. Therefore, I hope tourists to be careful for the foreign countries' manners a little, and people welcoming them might as well be generous about the cultural differences between your countries' culture and others.

Chinese are the worst. By far. Followed by Australians and Indians.

I think this is twice now that I agree with Toasted Heretic. ;-)

I hate seeing fellow Americans while in Japan, they're almost always being loud and obnoxious, pretty much making sure everyone around knows their American. It's embarrassing.

But I'd have to say the Chinese have us beat though. I mean, at least Americans don't have their kids poop on the sidewalk...

Japanese. Speak in their native tougue with exagerated volume.