Hotels.com Reveals Bashful Brits Get Tongue-Tied Overseas
Released on: September 24, 2010, 6:58 am
Author: Hotels.com
Industry: Travel
According to new findings from Hotels.com, 61% of British
holiday-makers admit they don't try to speak the local language when
travelling abroad for fear of embarrassing themselves.
The research reveals that even though popular holiday destinations are becoming more
exotic, Brits are still not learning basic foreign words or phrases before they go
away. Happy to rely on English and hand gestures to get by, 35% of respondents said
that while they often intend to try the local lingo, when it comes down to it they
are just too embarrassed. 28% of those surveyed admitted to having no desire or
intention to learn any local language at all.
The trusty phrase 'Do you speak English?' proved to be one of the most important
travel language staples with 20% of Brits defaulting to their own native tongue
whenever possible.
When asked to look at given phrases in languages ranging from Thai and Greek to
Arabic and Indonesian, the majority of respondents were unable to identify words for
'hello' and 'goodbye', while asking for directions to the beach or ordering a
glass of wine proved difficult.
But while the languages of newer holiday hotspots may be too challenging, over half
of Brits are more comfortable dusting off GCSE and O-Level language skills to chat
in French or Spanish.
Alison Couper, Communications Director, Hotels.com, said "People have become more
adventurous in where they travel in recent years, but it seems the language skills
have yet to catch up. Our survey shows that while we're prepared to travel to more
exotic destinations, we're not so comfortable trying less familiar languages".
Additional findings from the survey include:
- 74% of Brits believe 'hello' and 'thank you' to be the most essential phrases
to know when abroad
- Londoners are least likely to try to speak the local lingo as 62% claim to have no
intention of learning any foreign words
- Holidaymakers from the South West are most likely to try with 52% saying they'd
attempt to learn some vocabulary
- 61% of Brits would feel more comfortable navigating themselves when driving
abroad, rather than admitting to being lost and asking a local for directions
- Those aged between 18 and 21 are the least likely to try a foreign language when
on holiday with 20% of those polled believing they can rely on English abroad
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
UK research conducted online between 5 July and 19 July 2010. The total sample was
1,246 respondents.
About Hotels.com
As part of the Expedia group which operates in all major markets, Hotels.com offers
more than 120,000 quality hotels, B&Bs and serviced apartments worldwide, including hotels in LA,
London hotels, San
Francisco hotels
and hotels in Boston. If a customer can find the same deal for less on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com will
match it. Hotels.com benefits from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the
industry negotiating the best rates for its customers, plus there are 1.8m reviews
from users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers make an
informed choice when booking. Hotels.com has recently launched its Welcome Rewards
customer loyalty programme in the UK, where customers can earn a free night for
every ten nights stayed (subject to Welcome Rewards terms and conditions).
Hotels.com won the Gold Award for best hotel booking site in Webuser magazine in
February 2009.
For more information or to request interviews, please call:
Kate Hopcraft
Expedia.com Ltd
42 Earlham Street
London
WC2H 9LA
020 7019 2165
http://www.hotels.com
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