How SafariBookings' 192 Operators Ranked Global Travellers

A new poll from safari booking platform SafariBookings.com asked 192 tour operators to name the nationalities that stood out in five travel habits: courteousness, tipping, spending, adventurousness and interest in local food. The results offer a perception-based snapshot of how safari operators view visitors from different countries, rather than a statistical portrait of global tourism.

Japanese travellers came first for courtesy, cited by 21.1% of operators. Norway (10.6%) and Switzerland (10.4%) completed the top three, with Canada and the United States also in the top five; Italy was at the bottom at 1.3%. On the financial side, Americans led both tipping (29.5%) and overall spending (24%). German tourists were second for tipping at 13.1%, followed by Canadians at 10% and the Swiss at 8.6%.

When asked about activity and adventure, operators put Germany first with 21.1%, ahead of France at 17.8% and the Netherlands at 11%. British and Indian tourists each received 4.5%, and Spain 4.3%. For interest in local cuisine, the ranking was dominated by Asian nationalities: India first, Japan second, China fourth, with France third at 12.4%. The Netherlands ranked fifth at 7.7%, just 0.1 percentage point above Italy.

What the Rankings Reveal About Spending, Courtesy and Food Tourism

The SafariBookings Sample Shapes the Findings

The survey reflects the impressions of 192 tour operators on an Africa-focused safari platform. That means the results are best understood as how that specific segment of the tourism industry perceives its customers, not as a comprehensive ranking of all travellers. Operators serving different regions or types of travel might rank nationalities differently.

US Travellers' Financial Dominance Has a Cultural Explanation

Americans were named the most generous tippers by 29.5% of respondents and the biggest spenders by 24%, leading both financial categories. The article links this to the strong tipping culture in the United States, where gratuities are often treated as part of service compensation. That habit may carry over when Americans travel, especially in service-heavy settings such as guided safaris.

Germany's Adventure Edge and Asia's Food-Driven Travel

Germany's first place for adventure and activity (21.1%) and the strong showing by France and the Netherlands suggest operators associate Western European visitors with physically active itineraries. The local-food ranking, led by India and Japan with France in between, points to a distinct interest pattern: Asian travellers are seen as especially food-motivated, while France's third place also reflects a strong culinary culture.