Paris is hoping a little profiling might go a long way. Tourist board heads are trying to overturn the city’s reputation for rudeness by focusing on what travelers from specific countries want.
Britons, for example, “like to be called by their first name,” the new tourist guide states, the Telegraph reported. They prefer their breakfasts between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., their lunches between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., and their evening meal between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., the guide states.
“The aim is to fight against the poor reputation for welcome in Paris and the Paris area,” said Jean-Pierre Blat, the general director of the Paris area tourist board, in the Telegraph report. “You don’t welcome a Japanese tourist the same way as an Italian one. There are codes to take into account.”
The cultural differences are marked, and could prove the deciding factor between a satisfactory tourist experience versus an unhappy one.
Some more pearls of wisdom, in the new guide: Japanese are the biggest spenders, but need constant pampering and reassurance. They’re also “discreet and demanding,” the guide states, in the Telegraph. “They never complain straight away when they are not satisfied but will criticize once back in their own country.”
British expect “smiling and friendly staff,” and “authenticity and relaxedness” as part of their service, the guide said.
The Chinese have an “idealized and romantic” view of Paris and visit “above all, for luxury shopping,” the Telegraph reported. The Italians are “impatient tourists,” the Spaniards are on the “lookout for freebies,” the guide states. And Brazilians — they are “easily tactile” and want a “totally poetic experience,” the guide states, the Telegraph reported.
Paris need only look inward to find the most difficult-to-please tourists. The guide states that the French are “particularly demanding” guests who “don’t want to be considered as tourists,” the Telegraph reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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