Bad Tourists: The Worst-Behaved Countries

Travel is all about trying new things, having exciting experiences and making memories; however, at the same time, tourists are also representing their country for better or worse.

A survey by Triposo asked 700 respondents from 62 countries about the behavior of tourists. The travel site’s survey covered things like travel etiquette, manners, drunken misbehavior and fraternization.

Tourists have let alcohol get the better of them — 60% admitted to some sort of alcohol-fueled adventure with 11% ending in injury for themselves or someone else. Some other unsavory drunken public behavior:

• 20% urinated in public

• 10% vomited in public

• 5% admitted to public nudity

More than 20% have stolen, even if it was just from the hotel (like a towel), but some of the misbehavior was even more illegal. For instance, 6% have smuggled contraband and 15% have bought or sold drugs. And while less than 2% have been arrested, 10% reported being held at the border.

Business Insider published the top 10 worst-behaved tourists and broke down why they are viewed as such, based on Triposo’s survey. While some of the answers might surprise you, it’s likely that the country with the worst-behaved tourists (according to respondents) won’t come as any shock.

10. Brazil

Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro

While respondents already feel that Brazilians are naughty, Business Insider expects that will only get worse during World Cup season.

Octavio Frias Bridge in Brooklin, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Copyright RobertoZimme | Wikipedia.org

9. Italy

Carnivale in Venice. Frank Kovalchek | Wikipedia.org

Apparently, Italian tourists have a solid reputation for being rude and lewd while they’re traveling abroad.

Shopping at Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. MarkusMark | Wikipedia.org

8. France

Stade de France during a rugby match. Wikipedia.org.

Respondents claimed that French tourists are the most likely to engage in rude or scandalous behaviors.

Harbor at Nice. Wikipedia.org.

7. India

Holi celebrations in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Wikipedia.org.

A close race with Italy and France, Indian tourists came out ahead (or behind?) as being worse behaved when they travel.

Connaught Palace in Dehli. Wikipedia.org.

6. Germany

Oktoberfest, Munich.

Not only are Germans poor tourists, but they also rank high when it comes to travel-related complaints.

Dresden. Copyright Mylius.

5. Australia

Rugby final. Attribution MDM | Wikipedia.org.

Australians travel a lot, according to Business Insider. “At any given time, a large proportion of Australians are out and about traveling abroad, which might explain their performance on this top-ten list.”

Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. Diliff | Wikipedia.org.

4. China

Torch Festival in southwest China. Copyright English.Sina.com.

As the most populous country in the world, perhaps China is a victim to sheer numbers. Business Insider questions whether Chinese tourists are actually ill behaved or if there are just more of them, perhaps making them more noticeable.

Shanghai. Wikipedia.org.

3. Russia

St. Basil Cathedral in Moscow.

While overall survey respondents say that Russians are difficult and drunk travelers, they might be hardest on themselves. According to the survey, 42% of Russians named their country’s citizens the worst tourists.

An earlier World Economic Forum survey also named Russia as one of the least-welcoming countries to tourists.

Hockey in Medeu. A.Burgermeister | Wikipedia.org.

2. United Kingdom

Arsenal fans.

Although the British came in second, they had a third of the votes that the number one country did. Still, the British are well known for their “bawdy bar behavior,” according to Business Insider.

Buchanan Street in Glasgow, Scotland.

1. United States

South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas. Copyright Statesman.

The stereotype, according to Business Insider, is that Americans are loud, rude and fat and 33% of Triposo’s respondents agreed.

Even Americans believe that they’re fellow countrymen and women are the worst tourists, according to 44% of American respondents. And this is nothing new. Last year a LivingSocial survey also placed Americans as the worst tourists.

Chicago.