- Different Travel Preferences, Introduction
- Different Travel Preferences, Part I (Pam Pastor)
- Different Travel Preferences, Part II (Pam Pastor, cont.)
- Different Travel Preferences, Part III (D. Brinkmann)
- Different Travel Preferences, Part IV (Tim Arai)
- Different Travel Preferences, Part IV (Tim Arai, cont.)
...continuation of our interview of Takuya (Tim) Arai, Director of International Product Development for an ECM (Enterprise Content Managament company.
Tim's bad experience is not due to an airline delay. Nor, is it about a hotel booking gone wrong. Instead, it's all about fellow travelers -- particularly, culturally insensitive ones.
"There is one experience that I cannot stand. Meeting and/or seeing rude American businessmen/tourists. I'm sure there are other "rude travellers" out there but since I can only speak and understand English and Japanese...well...I'll focus on them.
Too many times I will be in line at the airport ticket counter or in
the lounge and I will be unfortunate enough to be near, what I can
only describe as, a stereotypical American businessman. Usually in a big group, they are loud and obnoxious and, I suppose they think no one can understand what they are saying, will start to openly make comments about Japan and the Japanese. It both embarrasses and angers me when I see them. They got pampered and taken care of for the entire duration of their trip yet all they can focus on are the negative or the stereotype.
I have also run into college age kids as well who shows utter
disrespect to the country that they are in.
Here is an exampe from a previous post:
http://www.timarai.com/blog
Though none of these affected me directly, it still ranks up there as
one of the more unpleasant things that I have been exposed to. I
suppose it's something that I never really noticed until now and it's
sad to see that this exists."
I can imagine how annoyed Tim felt that time. Culturally insensitive travelers -- whether they are aware of it or not -- offend not only the locals but also their fellow foreigners. Don't be one of them!
The Different Travel Preferences Series will be an ongoing FEATURE here at Road Gladiator which will be published every Monday.
Should you be willing to share YOUR OWN TRAVEL PREFERENCES, let me know. You can:
1. Blog about it. Send me the hyperlink and we will write an introduction here and show our readers the way to your blog.
2. Send us an email (melissa.petri@gmail.com) and tell us your own travel preferences. We will then include your answers in our Different Travel Preferences Series.
I am currently doing a research project on leisure and business travel trends.
-most popular types of travel (flying, driving etc)
-popular destinations
-activities
-lodging
etc...
i'd like more a personal perspective than just the basic information that websites provide. maybe some good/bad experiences, or pet peeves, etc. any takers?
Posted by: Anonymous | February 19, 2007 11:24 AM | Permalink to Comment