Poland has been named one of the least hospitable countries in the world for tourists, alongside Czechia and Hungary, in a report on the world's most unfriendly holiday destinations published by the British newspaper Daily Mail.
According to the newspaper, tourists often complain about rudeness, distance or codes of behaviour they find unfamiliar while travelling abroad. Etiquette expert Jo Hayes said that what visitors often perceive as disrespect is, in most cases, simply a cultural trait that tourists were not prepared for.
Paris tops the list
The Daily Mail named Paris, the capital of France, as one of the most problematic destinations for hospitality. Hayes said Paris was at the top of the list of cities unfriendly to tourists, particularly for visitors who do not speak French. She added that this attitude was not typical of France as a whole, saying she had received a very warm welcome in other regions of the country.
Italy's queues and Germany's brusque service
British tourists accustomed to standing in orderly queues have reportedly been shocked by Italians' habit of ignoring queuing etiquette. The newspaper cited one traveller who complained that people who arrived later at an attraction pushed in front of his group while they waited, and that the local Italians around them did not treat this as unusual.
Germany also appeared on the list despite its reputation as a country that values order, based on the experiences of individual tourists. One visitor to Berlin said his trip had been spoiled by the behaviour of staff at tourist information points, train stations and shops. He said straightforward interactions with Germans in these places were, in most cases, accompanied by considerable rudeness. He also recalled surprised looks, silence, or replies in German even after he had explained in advance that he did not speak the language.
Seoul, New York and Montenegro
In Seoul, tourists complained about being jostled on the street and on public transport, a lack of personal distance between people, and staff who were not always friendly, according to the Daily Mail. One tourist described locals as sharp and said he often felt people reacted to him too harshly, though he acknowledged he may have misread local body language and directness.
Part of New York's negative reputation among tourists comes down to a cold manner of communication, the newspaper reported. Travellers on social media have asked why the city has so many rude people, though the report noted that for residents of the fast-paced city, such behaviour may simply be a product of the pace of life rather than a deliberate attempt to offend visitors.
In Montenegro, some tourists complained about a sense of detachment in everyday interactions. One traveller said he sometimes felt that tourists were regarded primarily as a source of income, and described a case in which a member of staff who had served him and taken a tip the day before did not acknowledge him the following day.
A regional trait, not personal dislike
Hayes said the presence of Poland, Czechia and Hungary on the list of least welcoming countries was mainly down to the historical and cultural characteristics of the region. She said what people in Britain, the United States or Australia would call coldness is simply the norm for many of these nations. According to the expert, locals in these countries can behave the same way even towards people they know well and like, so tourists should not automatically interpret reserve as personal dislike.
More travel news
Separately, UNIAN reported that experts had named ten little-known destinations ready to welcome more tourists, chosen using three criteria: low popularity, readiness of infrastructure and novelty in 2027.
UNIAN also reported on what it described as the world's longest cruise, a 371-day voyage around the world calling at more than 220 ports. The trip takes place aboard the all-inclusive liner Regatta, with prices starting from 56,000 British pounds.
