How to be polite to eleven nationalities if you work in the tourism industry in Paris, France? Tourism officials in this global travel destination printed a guide for hoteliers and restaurant operators and their goal is to provide the best service possible to foreign visitors.
The guide entitled “Do You Speak Touriste?” is aimed at shaking off Paris’ reputation for snobbishness.
The handy guide includes sections on how to be polite to 11 nationalities, what visitors from particular countries are hoping to do while in Paris and the average amount of money they are likely to spend.
Here are some excerpts from the guide:
– The English: Lovers of French gastronomy, they like to be called by their first name and are looking for fun.
– The Americans: Spend most of their money on lodging and like to eat dinner at 6pm. Will not hesitate to introduce themself by their first name and love to see Paris lit up at night.
– The Chinese: Appreciate personalized suggestions about where to go shopping which is what they spend most of their money on. A smile and a hello in Mandarin or Cantonese goes a long way.
– The Spanish: Travel mostly with their families and eat dinner late so need to be warned about closing times. Often come by car and are interested in free events.
– The French: Don’t want to be treated like tourists and often eat foreign cuisine in Paris. Spend the least of 11 nations surveyed.
– The Italians: Can be impatient, a little attention to their children goes a long way.
– The Japanese: Expect comfort and cleanliness, but unlikely to complain. Do pass on criticism once home.
