Cultural Etiquette Around the World: How Not to Be a Tourist

Understanding local customs can transform your travel experience from that of an observer to a genuine participant. While it's impossible to master every cultural nuance before visiting a new country, learning key etiquette practices shows respect and often leads to more meaningful connections with locals.

The Art of Greetings Across Cultures

First impressions matter everywhere, but how we make them varies dramatically across cultures. How you greet someone can set the tone for your entire interaction—and potentially your reputation in a community.

Japan: The Proper Bow

In Japan, bowing (ojigi) is an art form that communicates respect, gratitude, apology, or greeting. The depth and duration of your bow conveys your relationship to the other person and the formality of the situation.

For foreign visitors, a respectful 15-degree bow is generally appropriate. Avoid the common mistake of simultaneously extending your hand for a handshake while bowing—this creates an awkward moment. Instead, follow the lead of your Japanese counterpart; many Japanese businesspeople are accustomed to shaking hands with foreigners.

The depth and duration of a bow in Japan communicates different levels of respect and formality.

Middle East and Parts of Africa: Right Hand Etiquette

Across much of the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of South Asia, the left hand is traditionally considered unclean, as it was historically used for hygiene purposes. When greeting, eating, or passing objects:

• Always use your right hand or both hands together
• Never eat with your left hand
• Receive gifts with both hands or the right hand as a sign of appreciation

This practice extends to handshakes and even paying in markets. Being mindful of this simple courtesy shows cultural awareness that locals will appreciate.

Thailand: The Wai

The wai—pressing your palms together in a prayer-like gesture with a slight bow—is Thailand's traditional greeting. The height at which you hold your hands and the depth of your bow indicate the level of respect:

• For everyday greetings, hold your hands at chest level
• For elders, monks, or people of high status, raise your hands higher (to chin or nose level)
• Wait for someone of higher status to initiate a wai before returning it

While Thais don't generally expect foreigners to initiate the wai, learning this graceful greeting and using it appropriately demonstrates respect for Thai culture.

Dining Etiquette: When Table Manners Cross Borders

Food brings people together across cultures, but dining customs vary dramatically. What's polite in one country might be shocking in another.

Italy: Pasta Protocols

Italian cuisine has spread worldwide, but authentic Italian dining etiquette often gets lost in translation:

• Never cut pasta with a knife - Twirl it against the side of your plate using just your fork (in northern Italy) or a fork and spoon (in some southern regions)
• Don't ask for parmesan for seafood pasta - Italians consider this a culinary sin
• Cappuccino is a morning-only beverage - Ordering it after 11 AM immediately identifies you as a tourist

Respecting these customs shows appreciation for Italy's food culture, which is central to its national identity.

China: Chopstick Etiquette

Using chopsticks correctly in China goes beyond basic functionality—it demonstrates respect for ancient traditions:

• Never stick chopsticks upright in rice - This resembles incense sticks at funerals and is considered extremely unlucky
• Don't tap your chopsticks on the bowl - This is associated with begging
• Use serving chopsticks (or the opposite end of your chopsticks) when taking food from shared dishes
• When not using chopsticks, rest them on the chopstick rest or horizontally across your plate/bowl

In Chinese culture, proper chopstick etiquette shows respect for the meal and your dining companions.

India: The Art of Eating with Your Hand

In many parts of India, eating with your hands—specifically, your right hand—is traditional and considered to enhance the dining experience:

• Use only your right hand (following the right-hand rule mentioned earlier)
• Use your thumb, index, and middle fingers to pick up food and mix it
• Don't let food touch your palm; keep it on your fingertips
• Don't lick your fingers during the meal (although this has become more relaxed in modern settings)

While utensils are common in restaurants, particularly in urban areas, learning to eat properly with your hand can be a meaningful way to connect with Indian culture.

Middle East: Communal Dining Practices

In many Middle Eastern countries, communal dining is central to hospitality culture:

• Take food from the communal dish from the section nearest to you
• Bread is often used as a utensil to scoop up dips and other foods
• Accept offers of second and third helpings—refusing may suggest the food wasn't enjoyable
• Leaving a small amount of food on your plate indicates you've had enough; a clean plate suggests you're still hungry

Sacred Spaces: Showing Respect in Places of Worship

Religious sites are often major tourist attractions, but they remain places of worship for local communities. Appropriate behavior is essential.

Buddhist Temples

Buddhism emphasizes mindfulness and respect for all living beings, values that extend to behavior in temples:

• Remove shoes and hats before entering temple buildings
• Dress modestly - Cover shoulders and knees
• Speak quietly - Many temples are places of meditation
• Don't point your feet toward Buddha images - In Southeast Asian cultures, feet are considered the lowest, least sacred part of the body
• Ask permission before taking photographs - Some areas prohibit photography
• Walk clockwise around stupas (dome-shaped structures) as a sign of respect

Mosques

Islamic places of worship have specific protocols for visitors:

• Remove shoes before entering prayer areas
• Women should cover their hair, arms, and legs - Many mosques provide scarves and robes for visitors
• Men should wear long pants - Shorts are generally inappropriate
• Avoid visiting during prayer times unless you're participating in prayers
• Don't walk in front of someone who is praying
• Check if photography is permitted - Rules vary by location

Churches and Cathedrals

Christian places of worship vary in their customs, but general guidelines include:

• Dress modestly - Particularly important in more traditional denominations and countries
• Speak quietly and be mindful of services in progress
• Remove hats (for men) in most Christian traditions
• Follow signs about photography - Flash photography is often prohibited
• Observe local customs about seating - In some Orthodox churches, there are separate areas for men and women

Body Language and Gestures: Avoiding Unintentional Offense

Seemingly innocent gestures can have startlingly different meanings across cultures. Awareness of these differences can prevent awkward or offensive situations.

Hand Gestures to Avoid

• Thumbs up - While positive in Western cultures, this is offensive in parts of the Middle East and West Africa
• "OK" sign (thumb and index finger forming a circle) - Considered vulgar in Brazil, Germany, and several Mediterranean countries
• Beckoning with index finger - In many Asian countries, this gesture is reserved for calling animals or is considered rude
• V-sign with palm facing inward - While the peace sign (palm outward) is universally friendly, reversing it is highly offensive in the UK, Australia, and Ireland

Common hand gestures can have dramatically different meanings across cultures.

Personal Space and Physical Contact

Comfort with physical proximity and touch varies dramatically between cultures:

• Mediterranean and Latin cultures typically maintain closer conversational distances and incorporate more touching
• Northern European and East Asian cultures generally prefer more personal space and less physical contact
• Gender considerations are important in many Muslim-majority countries, where physical contact between unrelated men and women may be inappropriate

Observe local interactions and follow the lead of people from the culture you're visiting.

Head and Feet Awareness in Southeast Asia

In Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and other Buddhist countries in Southeast Asia:

• The head is considered sacred - Avoid touching someone's head, even children's
• Feet are considered lowest and impure - Never point your feet at people or religious objects, and don't prop your feet up on furniture
• Stepping over someone is considered extremely rude - walk around people who are seated on the floor

Photography and Social Media: Ethical Considerations

In our digital age, photography and social media sharing have become integral to travel experiences, but they require ethical consideration across different cultural contexts.

Asking Permission

While street photography is generally accepted in public spaces in Western countries, many cultures have different perspectives on being photographed:

• In many indigenous communities, photographs may be believed to capture a person's spirit
• In some religious contexts, creating images of people may violate spiritual beliefs
• In certain countries, photographing government buildings, police, or military installations can result in legal issues

Always ask permission before photographing individuals, especially in rural or traditional communities. Learn how to ask in the local language, and respect refusals graciously.

Sacred Sites and Ceremonies

Religious ceremonies and sacred sites have varying rules about photography:

• Never interrupt a ceremony or ritual for a photo opportunity
• Look for signs indicating photography restrictions
• Turn off flash when permitted to photograph in museums, temples, or churches
• Avoid posting inappropriate or disrespectful content from religious sites on social media

Cultural Humility: The Most Important Etiquette of All

Beyond specific customs and taboos, perhaps the most crucial aspect of cultural etiquette is approaching travel with humility and openness:

• Be prepared to make mistakes - Everyone does, and most locals appreciate sincere efforts
• Apologize when you realize you've made an error - Learning how to say "I'm sorry" in the local language is invaluable
• Ask questions respectfully rather than making assumptions
• Observe before acting - Watch how locals behave in unfamiliar situations
• Remember you're a guest in someone else's home culture

Conclusion: From Tourist to Respectful Traveler

The difference between being a tourist and a traveler often comes down to how we interact with the cultures we visit. While tourists observe from a distance, travelers engage meaningfully with local customs and perspectives.

Making the effort to understand and respect cultural etiquette transforms your journey from a series of photo opportunities to a genuine exchange of ideas and experiences. You'll likely find that locals respond to your efforts with increased openness, creating opportunities for authentic connections that might otherwise remain inaccessible.

At Drift Fenland, our guides provide cultural orientation before and during your journey, helping you navigate unfamiliar customs with confidence. We believe that respectful cultural exchange lies at the heart of truly transformative travel experiences.

Remember that cultural practices are not just exotic curiosities but expressions of values, histories, and worldviews that deserve our respect. By approaching each destination with cultural humility, you'll not only avoid offense but also enrich your own understanding of our wonderfully diverse world.

About the Author

Michael Thompson

Michael is Drift Fenland' Cultural Specialist with a background in anthropology and over a decade of experience leading culturally-immersive tours across five continents. He specializes in facilitating meaningful cross-cultural experiences that go beyond surface-level tourism.