Revealed: The world’s worst – and best – tourists by nationality

A new LivingSocial survey conducted among more than 5,600 respondents in five countries by Mandala Research discovered that Americans themselves believe they are the world’s worst tourists.

The survey found that Americans, Canadians and Australians all gave US tourists that dubious distinction, while the Irish identified their British neighbors as the worst, and the British called out the Germans for bad travel behaviour.

The list, which also includes, among others, the Indians, Chinese, Russian and French tourists among the worst behaved, ranks visitors from 16 nationalities on the basis of their behaviour.

Click here for a complete ranking of the World’s Worst and Best Tourists

Despite these self-doubts, respondents dismissed another common misperception: that most Americans have never travelled abroad. The survey found that 78 per cent of Americans have visited at least one foreign country, 61 per cent have visited multiple countries, and 36 per cent have traveled to four or more foreign destinations. The average number of countries visited was more than four.

Click here for Americans’ Top Ten Dream Destinations

“Our survey puts the old wives’ tale to bed that only 15 per cent of Americans own passports,” said Dave Madden, GM of LivingSocial Escapes, North America. “Americans turn out to be pretty active globetrotters, with the average person having visited at least four countries. Unfortunately, Americans have pretty low opinions of themselves as travellers, so it’s time to turn on that Yankee charm and improve our global image.”

When given their choice of dozens of world wonders to visit, Americans picked their top dream destinations as Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

The LivingSocial Vacation survey was conducted online in February 2012 among 4,000 Americans in the top 20 media markets (DMAs) and 1,600 additional respondents in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The survey was conducted by Mandala Research, LLC. Respondents were not limited to LivingSocial members.

Among other findings of the survey:

Sticky Fingers: Four in 10 US travelers (39 per cent) admit to having stolen something from a hotel during a visit. The most common items pilfered were towels (28 per cent), bathrobes (8 per cent), batteries (5 per cent), pillows (4 per cent), remote controls (3 per cent), sheets (3 per cent), bibles (3 per cent), and umbrellas (3 per cent).

Staycation Nation: Two-thirds of employed respondents (65 per cent) said they had taken at least one ‘staycation’ in 2011 by using vacation time to relax at home.

All Work and No Play Makes Jack an American: Americans reported far fewer vacation days from work last year – 16 days off – than their peers in Australia (27 days), Canada (21), Ireland (28), and the UK (23). Of those days off, Americans spent 10 days travelling outside of their home city and just under four outside the US.

Tough to Cut the Cord: Two-thirds of respondents (66 per cent) say they check their e-mail or cell phone while on vacation.

Click here for a complete ranking of the World’s Worst and Best Tourists

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