Why you need to know the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ in a foreign country
Wednesday, 17th June 2009
With the holiday season in full swing, the Foreign Office is urging people to check out local laws and customs before they head to foreign shores.
There does seem to be a general attitude that being a tourist makes you exempt from having to abide by local laws and customs when you go abroad. Granted, this is not always the case, and in actual fact it is often those who are abroad expressly to learn the language and culture of a certain country who are more respectful of these types of things. However, several instances involving British holidaymakers over the last few months have highlighted that there does seem to be a need in general to address these issues.
It is especially pertinent that reading up on laws and customs abroad should be given more emphasis this year given that many people are choosing to take their holiday in countries like Egypt, Turkey and the UAE rather than the usual Mediterranean destinations in the Euro zone. Whilst things like drinking alcohol on the beach, or sunbathing topless may be fine in Spain or France, it’s a different story in these alternative holiday destinations that have stricter beliefs and regulations about drinking alcohol and exposing too much flesh to name but a few.
Although it seems generally to be assumed that foreign misdemeanours like these might only result in a stern talking to, or an official warning, in some cases they can actually lead to a hefty fine, short-term imprisonment or even deportation.
It is good advice, no matter where you are travelling to, to do your research first. Knowing what you can and can’t do will mean that you can be safe in the knowledge that you can relax and have a good time without coming up against any problems.
Whilst rules and regulations in a certain country can be easily researched on the foreign office website, culture and customs can sometimes be a bit harder to ascertain. Travel guides can be a useful resource for this kind of information, but there are also cultural training and awareness courses that can be really helpful - especially when they are taken alongside a few lessons in the foreign language.
Whilst this type of course is useful for all travellers, it is especially beneficial to anyone who is going abroad on business. Demonstrating cultural awareness in a commercial environment is integral to the success of any international business venture.
More on cultural training courses
Tags: course, language, tailor-made, italy, france, spain, italian, culture, german, french, spanish, guide
Posted by Laura Harrison 2009-06 under Experience Cultures,
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