Ugly XXX tourists (Asia)

I have been traveling for 25 odd years and a common refrain every few years is demonization of a particular country’s people as the worst tourists - The Indians, Chinese, Russians, Israilies, the Koreans and perhaps the country that is just next to you.

Every half decade a large segment of a  particular region or country will become more affluent and will start sending out mass tourists. For many, it is their first overseas trip. Mass tourism organisers rarely do any orientation for their group to tell them about the do’s and dont’s of their destination. Then there is a group euphoria, you tend to cut yourself off from the surrounding people and don’t realize if you are distubing someone else. There are misunderstandings galore. There are stereotypes on both sides. Tourists think locals are out to rip them off. Locals wonder why tourists are so stingy. People on both sides are more eager to amplify negative encounters.

Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions.
George W. Bush

My personal hacks

A lot of keystrokes are wasted on Reddit or forums scolding the tourists from the said group but it is mostly pointless as there is a low chance that the tourist will ever read it. It mostly end up inviting other snide remarks. People enjoy putting down another group.

I have more actionable suggestions.

Escape the mass tourist area: Very early on I had the realization that it is more fun talking to people than scenery or famous spots. Even if I go to a tourist city, I stay in neighbourhoods away from the tourism hotspots. The experience is always better. These days many young people in most cities have decent English.If I miss talking to people from other countries, I will usually set up a meet on some traveler’s forum and show them my secret places.

Join them: Some of the best fun I have had is crashing tourist groups. All you need to know is some famous songs from the said country, or the latest of some sport, movie star or rock star scandal. Then they accept you.

Be an example: Not trying to virtue signal or anything, I just don’t like being a nuisance. I try to clean up my space before I leave - it’s a game I play with myself - I pretend to be a spy or an assassin,I  don’t leave anything that will signal that I had ever been there. Also, I am super courteous to the service staff. There is a small chance that my cleaning up or politeness has a  positive effect on other tourists and they will copy it.

Be a polite spoilsport:  If I find people from my country/region stereotyping some other group, I will politely offer my positive experiences with that group and urge people to be a bit more understanding. This may sometimes not go down well but I still try to do it whenever I can.

Life is short. There is already too much hate in this world. Let folks be.