Reply #12: These "etiquette tips" are not necessary for most traveling Americans. [View All]

[Divernan]

If you read between the lines of this article, you see hype for some outfit marketing themselves to American corporations and businesspeople.
Quote: •Keith Reinhard, one of New York's top advertising executives, who heads BDA, said: "Surveys consistently show that Americans are viewed as arrogant, insensitive, over-materialistic and ignorant about local values. That, in short, is the image of the Ugly American abroad and we want to change it."

My comment:
American foreign policy and corporate practices, and the people who implement them ARE seen as and actually for the most part ARE arrogant, insensitive, over-materialistic and ignorant about local values. This is NOT true of the Americans how visit foreign lands for pleasure and out of personal interest. And this is NOT how the local people I have spent time with in Europe, Asia, or Central America view American tourists.

This negative views alluded to by the BDA reflects the typical greedy, high level corporate executive - the kind of person whose job is his/her whole life, and who measures the value of his/her life by winning at the sick game of who can make the most money and accumulate the most possessions. These are people with such a narrow minded focus that they have no interest in and derive no pleasure from visiting foreign lands, learning about different cultures, etc. If they accumulate fine art it is as an investment and based upon what others tell them will appreciate the most. They dash back and forth on business trips to the most interesting and exotic cities in the world and are limousined from airport to hotel to business meeting and back to the airport. They do NOT bring spouse or children with them and stay for vacation time to really experience new places and people.

Next quote:
"The guide also offers tips on the dangers of dressing too casually, the pluses of learning a few words of the local language, use of hand gestures and even map-reading."
My comment: This just reinforces my belief that the negative views of Americans claimed by the BDA refer far more on corporate types than tourists. I travel a lot, sometimes with my S.O., sometimes on my own. One of the joys of traveling is meeting other tourits/Americans at hotels, on planes & in airports, and on mini-excursions I may sign up for once I am at some world renowned location. These are some of the nicest, most interesting, culturally educated, well-traveled people I've ever met. They have prepared to visit countries by learning the currency system, the rudiments of the language & local culture; they have language guides and maps with them. There is a tremendous market for travel guides for American tourists.In contrast, you can always tell a corporate traveler, because they are too busy working on their laptops or reading documents on the plane or in the airport to interact with other travelers. They are met at the airport with a limo and never have to interact with locals at all.
Final quote:
Of course, US foreign policy - and perceptions of it - currently has the biggest impact on the image of Americans abroad. However, a spokesman for the National Tourism Agency for Britain said last night: "Americans have a certain reputation which, for the majority, is undeserved. These guidelines sound like good common sense but they're not something the majority of our American visitors need. As tourists, they're out to enjoy themselves and have a good time. We continue to welcome them."

My comment: In violation of one of BDA's "commandments", I invariably get into political discussions with locals wherever I travel. It's a simple matter of saying, I'd like to ask you a question, but you don't have to answer if you don't wish to. What do you think of Bush's foreign policy? or What do you think of Bush's War on Iraq. The locals I meet, whether doctors or waiters, sales people or taxi drivers are not shy about expressing their opinions. And I welcome the opportunity to let them know that the majority of Americans disapprove of Bush's policies, and that I worked for Kerry in the last campaign.