Did you travel abroad during the holidays? As it is becoming easier to get visas (签证) to foreign countries, more and more Chinese people are traveling abroad. However, some countries are not so welcoming to Chinese tourists.
A recent survey of 5,600 people from five countries showed that the Chinese people are the second most unpopular tourists, just behind the USA citizens. What's wrong with us?
“Some Chinese like changing seats before the plane takes off and reaching for luggage while the plane is landing, others even take shoes off during a night.” Julia Roberts, an air hostess from Singapore Airline, told Chinese media.
In fact, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Chinese tourists have a bad reputation (名声) abroad for many reasons. Kelvin Zhang, a tour guide, had an unpleasant experience when he led a group of Chinese tourists to Singapore. “A young man spat (吐) his gum onto the street. When he was about to leave,the police caught him and fined him 20 Singapore dollars (102yuan),” he told the reporters.
Some Chinese also litter everywhere and jump queues (插队). Some like to write on famous buildings. In Hong Kong, many local people complain that tourists from the Chinese mainland spit and smoke in non-smoking areas. None of these problems help the reputation of Chinese people travelling abroad.
However, there are plenty of thoughtful Chinese tourists, who behave respectfully when visiting famous places, taking a few photos before moving on to the next spot.
Although we spend money to enjoy ourselves, it doesn’t mean we can do anything we want. All travelers should respect customs and take care of the environment.
【小题1】Are Chinese tourists welcomed while traveling abroad?