Worst tippers in Asia revealed
2012-07-30 12:31
People from Japan are apparently the worst tippers, while the Thai know how to reward good service, according to a new survey from MasterCard
Worldwide that asked around 7 000 people this year about their tipping
behavior.
A massive 89 percent of Thai bar and restaurant-goers
regularly tip, while a paltry 3 percent of Japanese said they do the same.
A tenth full, or nine-tenths empty?
Depends if
you're in Thailand or Japan. CNNGo's Japan editor, Mark Hiratsuka, sheds a
little light on why the Japanese come bottom of the tip jar: "Tipping just
isn't part of the retail landscape here," he says.
"You pay for a service, close your wallet and that's
it.
"That old saw about gratuities causing confusion in
Japan is actually true -- if you leave a little behind in a restaurant, bar or
wherever, someone’s sure to chase you down and return it.”
In Thailand however, the reverse is true. It would appear
tipping comes as naturally to Thais as the spectacular food.
Making up the top three are the Philippines and Hong Kong,
with 75 percent and 71 percent respectively saying they consistently tip.
“The research indicates what a diverse set of markets make
up the Asia/Pacific region," said Georgette Tan, at MasterCard.
"It is a truly remarkable mix of cultures and
understanding them is a big challenge for global businesses.”
Men said they would tip more often than women, except in
Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore. Maybe that has something do with another
survey conducted by MasterCard that found women are more money-conscious than
men.
Here is the top ten list of the most consistent tippers in Asia-Pacific:
1. Thailand -- 89 percent
2. Philippines -- 75 percent
3. Hong Kong -- 71 percent
4. India -- 61 percent
5. Australia -- 55 percent
6.= Malaysia -- 40 percent
6.= Indonesia -- 40 percent
8. Singapore -- 33 percent
9. Vietnam -- 30 percent
10. China -- 28 percent
