The Scots may have acquired a reputation for frugality at home, but when abroad they’re the UK’s biggest tippers – far more generous that their English or Welsh counterparts.
With 49% of Brits – particularly the over 50s – favouring off-peak autumn and winter holiday breaks to avoid the crowds, the new survey by InsureandGo reveals that whatever the post-Budget hardships at home, 28% of Brits like to tip generously when they’re abroad – at a bar, restaurant or on excursion. People in Scotland are most likely to be generous with tips (35%), followed by those in the North East (34%) and Wales (33%). Conversely, people in the South West and Yorkshire are least likely to tip well (22% each).
These findings form part of a broader piece of research carried out by leading specialist travel insurance company InsureandGo, which explored the views of UK holidaymakers on supporting the communities they visit when on holiday abroad. After a year of protests against over-tourism in many European holiday hotspots, the InsureandGo survey revealed that 89% of British tourists recognise the issue and want to positively contribute to the economic sustainability of the places they visit.
From the nationally representative poll of 2,000 adults, the top five positive steps that UK tourists would adopt to support the communities they visit included:
- To consciously choose to visit local restaurants or artisan eateries in order to directly support local family businesses (44%).
- To be mindful of their environmental impact – by not creating litter, waste and needless pollution when abroad (42%).
- Choosing to stay in a hotel instead of using an Airbnb. This was based on many UK tourists wanting to do their bit to ensure local people were not priced out of buying their own homes as a result of tourism (34%).
- Making sure they tip the locals well in local bars, restaurants and on excursions (28%).
- Booking accommodation direct, rather than going through a travel company (21%).
The research also dashed assumptions that young people were the most sustainability-conscious travellers. In contrast, InsureandGo’s study revealed it was the over 55s – those that enjoy autumn and winter breaks the most – that emerged as the age group leading the move to respect and economically support the local communities they visit on holiday.
The over 55 age group was most likely to:
- Consciously opt to eat in local restaurants to support the local businesses (57% Vs. a national average of 44%).
- Be careful not to create litter, waste and pollution at the resort or destination (54% Vs. a national average of 42%).
- Avoid big all-inclusive holidays, querying how well they directly supported the local communities in which they operate (21% Vs. national average of 15%).
Garry Nelson commented: “In a year when Ibiza and Mallorca said no to tourists coming to party, when Venice started charging entry fees to visitors and when thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid to protest against over-tourism, it’s important the holiday hotspots that benefit from tourism are also supported as sustainable and thriving local communities. It’s positive to note from our new research that UK holidaymakers want to positively support the communities they visit. Using local restaurants, tipping the locals well and booking accommodation direct are little but important steps that can make a difference – and they demonstrate a respectful mindset.”
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