Local Customs
Differences in dress, food, gestures and body language are all things that make a holliday great, but checking up on traditions and customs of your chosen destination will earn more respect from the locals and is just good manners.
Enhance your holiday experience for the better by visiting the tourist board for more information on the local customs of your featured destination.
Dress to Impress
The way we dress is important; the way we dress on holiday could be vital. Countries where tourism is a big industry are now mostly used to tourists and it isn't necessary to don a sari in India or a yashmak in Tunisia. But wherever you are, it's better not to offend the locals by strolling through the streets in just a pair of shorts or a bikini.
Food for Thought
Trying different foods is all part of the fun of being abroad. However, many countries, particularly those in the Far East, enjoy a kind of cuisine that tourists may consider highly inappropriate or offensive. When visiting such a country it is important to remember that you are a guest and should try not to offend anyone for doing something that they regard as perfectly normal.
Actions Speak a Thousand Words
Many differences with gestures and body language can be missed by tourists when visiting a place abroad. If you give the thumbs up in Saudi Arabia it won't go down too well - it's like giving someone two fingers over here. And things can get very confusing if you nod your head at people in Greece, Turkey or Bulgaria, as to some this actually means no and a shake of the head means yes!
Thomas Cook Team Tip - Local Customs
Take some time to learn some of the local language - even just a few sentences from a phrase book will show that you've made some effort. Most people are normally friendly and welcoming as long as they're given the right signals.
