Not-As Ugly Americans
You can take us anywhere!
Source: iStockphotoHey hey, remember this guy? Clark and the Griswolds took Europe, and left the continent aghast at the American tourist. Americans have long had this Griswoldesque reputation -- as tourists, we're well meaning, but, well, obnoxious. But not anymore! According to a new survey, those fabulous French have surpassed us! (So have the Chinese and the Indians, incidentally.) I know from personal experience that the stereotypes about the French that exist here in the States are at least as unflattering as "the ugly American," and while I don't agree (I adore France), it seems that even on their own continent, the French are now viewed as "impolite, prone to loud carping and inattentive to local customs... often unwilling or unable to communicate in foreign languages, and particularly disinclined to spend money when they don't have to." Yikes! If they'd like to turn things around, perhaps they should take some lessons from the Americans, who are now perceived as "trying to speak local languages the most," and who spend big and tip well. Well how about that! It's nice to know my horribly-accented "un pamplemousse, sil vous plait" didn't go unappreciated.
Tags: tourism
11:03 AM ET | 07- 8-2008 | permalink
