French holidaymakers seek budget food, Italians have the most sex with strangers, the Spanish splash their cash, Indian women eat fast food, and the Swiss loathe topless sunbathing, while sustainability and eco-tourism are most important to Swedes.
These are some of the cross-cultural behavioural differences highlighted between 12 disparate markets when on holiday.
They are explored in tour operator Kuoni’s Global Holiday Report on behaviour before, during and after a trip. The report was launched at ITB in Berlin yesterday.
Twelve markets, 21 questions, hundreds of answers from over 12 000 people have filled the company’s first ever Global Holiday Report.
The report highlights that Indian holidaymakers dress more provocatively (25%), the French dress down (55%) and Brits wear less (15%) when abroad – and Italians are voted as top fashionistas (33%).
Holidaymakers aged 25-65 were asked about what they eat and drink, what they wear, how they prepare, what they enjoy and whom they make friends with.
“Many respondents like to be someone different on holiday,†said British psychotherapist and writer Christine Webber.
“It’s as if getting away allows people to experiment with a different persona and to ‘try it on for size’.â€
