The British- the world’s worst tourists

A recent shows that the British are seen as the world’s worst tourists. Tourist offices in 17 countries worldwide were asked to fill in a questionnaire including these topics: behaviour, politeness, tipping, learning the language and trying local food.

Overall the British came in last of 24 nations after the Indians, Irish and Israelis. The survey claims that the British were the worst-behaved and the best-behaved.

Tourist guide Jens Kees takes mixed-nationality groups to some of the remotest parts of the world. What does he make of the survey? “It’s time the British woke up to reality!” he says.

“Just because they speak English it doesn’t mean that they own the planet. And they are never properly prepared. When something goes wrong a long way from home they expect to have everything done for them. Why? If you’re taking your car across Europe, you have it serviced before you go on a round-the-world trip it makes sense to get your eyes tested and your teeth checked. Because it may not be so easy to do these things in the middle of the Kalahari Desert!”

The survey also found the British to be the worst at learning the local language as well as the rudest tourists.

The Germans weren’t the best at everything, however-they gave the worst tips and were described as the meanest nation (closely followed by the British).

“It’s time that people realised that their behaviour abroad is important. It’s up to each individual to behave responsibly,” says Jens. “I don’t expect the British to turn into perfect tourists overnight. But they could take in this feedback and start to change.”

6.6 Comment the picture

6.6.1 Work in groups and make a story explaining how this man was arrested.

6.6.2 Make up a dialogue in a police station. Student A is the man from the picture. Student B is a police officer who interrogates the man.

6.7 There is the “Contract for tourist service” [2]. Translate some items into English language.

Во время совершения путешествия, включая транзит, Потребитель обязан:

1) соблюдать законодательство страны (места) временного пребывания;

2) сохранять окружающую среду, бережно относиться к памятникам природы, истории и культуры в стране (месте) временного пребывания;

3) соблюдать правила въезда и пребывания в стране (месте) временного пребывания, а также выезда из страны (места) временного пребывания и в странах транзитного проезда;

4) соблюдать во время путешествия правила личной безопасности. Потребители, предполагающие совершить путешествие в страну (место) временного пребывания, обязаны проходить профилактику в соответствии с международными медико-санитарными правилами.

Иные обязанности определяются законодательством страны (места) пребывания.

6.8 Writing

Write ‘10 tips’ to encourage visitors to your country to behave responsibly.

7 .Transport in tourism

7.1 Vocabulary

Fill in the Table 3 with the words below

Table 3

Travel	Journey types	Transport types	Places and features	Tourism professionals

Air, airplane, airport, bicycle, bus, cabin, car, carriage, coach, conductor, cruise, crossing, cruise ship, drive, driver, ferry, flight-attendant, guard, harbor, helicopter, hovercraft, hydrofoil, jet, journey, land, light aircraft, liner, long-haul flight, motorbike, motorway, pier, pilot, port, purser, ride, runaway, short-haul flight, station, steward, terminal, terminus, tour, tour guide, track, train, water,

Can you add any other words? Which section would you put these words in?

Taxi, ticket collector, hire car, captain, freeway, yacht, marina, jeep, service station, scentic route, shuttle, tunnel.