Locals attitude toward tourists

In all my trips to Spain, I’ve had very few experiences like you mentioned. I wouldn’t make generalizations based on one or two curt or snarky responses from only a couple people. I hope you didn’t let it ruin your trip.

No idea where it happened, but maybe it was just a bad day or the person was very busy or not feeling well. Maybe it was a simple communication misunderstanding.

“Programmed”? These are people not androids.

In all my years of visiting Spain (I cannot recall how many occasions) I have never experienced any anti tourist sentiment and I regularly visit the tourist hotspots. My most recent visit was to the Costa Del Sol just before Christmas and didn't encounter anything but friendliness. Be aware that despite being a major tourist destination English is not widely spoken by many Spaniards. Whilst restaurants, bars etc may employ staff who can speak English many shop workers for example do not or may only know a few words. If you're receiving shrugged shoulders or no response and you're not speaking Spanish then it simply may mean that they do not understand you.

Spaniards generally "don't go the extra mile" in the service sector, like they do in the USA. If it's not in their job duties they'll shrug it off. English is not my first language, but I personally do not find this as a "hostile" response, maybe more "apathetic" which is the typical attitude towards tourists in the main touristy cities of Spain. Another reason to go off the beaten path in Spain, you will find locals more enthusiastic and welcoming.

Just back from 34 days in Spain....in the big tourist places too: Madrid, Sevilla etc. This is my fifth trip to Spain. My Spanish in practice is horrible but also this time I found people to be helpful and friendly when I asked something - language could be a problem. Also, what with reading about overtourism, maybe we are more vulnerable to people's attitudes when we travel - where I live in Italy I wouldn't especially expect the person at the supermarket checkout to say hello and smile at me in welcome, or a waitress to chat......., or read anything into it if they didn't. Just a thought.....

I’ve been to Spain many times and find people friendly and welcoming on the whole. I think the poster who said the issue is in different expectations of service level nailed it. I’ve definitely had some curt interactions with serving staff in Spain but both times it was when I was trying to get a table at an extremely busy time and they simply didn’t want to deal with me. The same can happen here at home so I wasn’t shocked or bothered by it.

I don’t know the social rules at play in Spain but in the UK you have to extremely non direct if you expect a polite response from a person in the service sector, ‘I’m sorry to bother you…I wonder if you happen to know where the tourist information is?’ Direct questions are seen as being quite rude here, eg if you simply asked ‘Is the tourist information left or right?’ you probably would not get an agreeable response. In general Americans are viewed as being way more direct than most Europeans except the Germans.

for example, after spending 45Euros for lunch...

If someone works at a restaurant, their job isn’t to give you directions around the city, so I don’t see the problem. In Spain I think the cultural expectations of a restaurant waiter are just different. You’re supposed to do your actual job, not act like the patrons’ friend to get tips. Even if you paid 45 euros, you paid that for food and a place to sit, not directions to the tourist office.

And everyone has a smart phone these days, you can easily find your way around.

Granted my experiences in Spain were almost 6 years ago but I found that first speaking my heavily accented Buenos Dias, por favor donde esta.... got me a polite answer in English. And in Barcelona if I said sis plau I got a smile and a friendly response. Shout out to Carlos for the Catalan help.

@Helen, you nailed it. Also, in my own experience, having lived in several major cities in Europe, hectic places tend to have less friendly people, and it's totally understandable... one probably gets a zillion questions every day. So, much like Parisians or Londoners, (true) Barcelonans, we can be perceived as distant or cold at times. It all depends on how one's approached, or the moment's level of stress. But it's equally true that the typical directness from Americans or Dutch, to put two examples, can be perceived as rude hence the response might be indifference.

Also, important to note that meeting someone in a city -even if he/she is living and working there- doesn't imply that person is from that city, meaning his/her cultural upbringing doesn't need to match that of the autochthonous people (culture). In fact, one is very (very!) likely to meet more "non-locals" than "locals" when in a major metropolis. With this, I am not implying that rudeness or indifference is to blame for this or that, simply that one cannot judge a collective without knowing all the facts.

PS: And yes, there are also rude Catalans among us, of course.

hdsteelejr, sometimes it happens, and it happens for real and it can mess up an otherwise pleasant holiday. Sorry it happened to you. But I also know that these sorts of things are not necessarily the norm any place in the world, so be unhappy about it, but do keep some context and an open mind for the next holiday.

Most of the time I do not bother responding to posts from tourists on travel forums, because sad to say many questions can be annoying and simplistic--it is as if people want answers dropped in their lap (SO easy to research these days!), and they expect their (cultural) way to be the right way.

I am a multilingual world traveler who has lived in different countries, and I learn as much as possible about wherever I am going in advance. Spain has a special place in my heart, so I am always willing to support and provide feedback to interested travelers. When I travel to Spain, I feel like I am in my second home, and I never have negative experiences interacting with people. I have been visiting the country for decades, and I was just there again this Summer in Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Barcelona, Mallorca, and Valencia, along with swarms of other tourists.

What is a "local'? What is an "attitude"? What does "being welcomed" mean? Do you treat workers like staff/servants, or friends who just have a different job from you? Do you speak only in English and expect everyone to understand you and respond to you also in English? Just spending money does not mean that you have created a friendly environment. I agree the Spanish are getting overwhelmed with non-stop tourism, and may become frustrated with ongoing needs from unprepared tourists.

Yes, the waitress' answer does see a little flippant--I would have had to see what happened during lunch to see why the relationship deteriorated like that. That is not a rehearsal--that is her telling you that she is not going to help you, who knows why.
Your negative experiences are more about you, perhaps, than about Spain and its people.

There is a reason high-level business people take cross-cultural training courses to increase their global awareness and abilities. Spain is its own nation with its own values and traditions. There was a travel campaign at one time that said, "Spain is different." I think that tourists must understand every place is different, and it is we who must adapt as we visit the world.

Just to take the other side, did it ever occur to you that she might not know where the TI is located? Lots of locals might be hard pressed to tell you where it is cause they never use it.

Having spent about 20 weeks in Spain over the past few years in many smaller towns and cities, but also a few large cities, have yet to have anyone be less then friendly to me. I greet them when I come in the door, I try and speak Spanish as well as possible, (I do not speak it really) and say por favor and denada when being served.

Being kind goes a long way.

Oh, by the way, do you know where the TI is located in your city?

There is a reason high-level business people take cross-cultural
training courses to increase their global awareness and abilities.
Spain is its own nation with its own values and traditions. There was
a travel campaign at one time that said, "Spain is different." I think
that tourists must understand every place is different, and it is we
who must adapt as we visit the world.

So if an person from India shows up in San Antonio, Texas and acts differently than the norm, asks a lot of stupid questions, I should tell her to go get cross-cultural traing? No, there is never an excuse for being rude. Period.

Oh, by the way, do you know where the TI is located in your city?

Personally yes, and not only in my own town (our TI closed years ago, but we have an unheralded substitute TI- it is a very regular tourist question), but in the whole County of Cumbria in England- and further afield into Northumberland, Lancashire and South West Scotland.

It’s very easy to cause or take offence when interacting with alien cultures. A major one for Brits is queue etiquette. We think it’s absolutely intolerable not to form a strict line where everybody takes their turn. Every summer at hotel buffets across the Med a huge amount of tutting and offence is taking as holidaymakers from other countries push in, as we see it. Trying to catch a bus invokes similar reactions. And I include myself in this. I just cannot understand that it’s acceptable not to know who’s in front of you and wait your turn!

I’m writing from Madrid where two different tour guides have told us that waitstaff here are efficient, and no nonsense. It’s their job and they are NOT looking for tips, nor new friends, nor schmoozing nor gushing. But they expect respect, which includes the correct salutation and wording for requests. This is exactly what we’ve noticed. We treat the people serving us with respect and we get a no nonsense, no gushing service in return. No need for anyone to take anything personally.

"So if an person from India shows up in San Antonio, Texas and acts differently than the norm, asks a lot of stupid questions, I should tell her to go get cross-cultural traing? [SP] No, there is never an excuse for being rude. Period."

Rudeness is defined only by your own cultural experiences, perspectives and responses. If you learn about a culture then you can know how to behave appropriately. The issue is not asking a lot of stupid questions, which all tourists do, the issue is HOW you ask the questions in the manner that the people of that country feel comfortable with you. Experts in cross-cultural communication can understand multiple perspectives and behave appropriately without alienating others.

The last time I was in San Antonio looking at a model of the Alamo a school group of young children ran in, all pushing and happy to see the exhibit. They did not want to wait in line, and all of them wanted to be up front at the glass. Yet they were all speaking Spanish and asking, "Where did we win? Where did we beat the Americans? How did we do it?" Probably not the response Americans would have liked to hear. I laughed and moved out of the way.

Husband skied twice in Switzerland this year, and people did not wait in line to get on the ski lifts like they do in the US. You just move forward as soon as possible to go again. As he said, "You just get used to it."

Different is different, not better, not worse.

Rudeness is defined only by your own cultural experiences,
perspectives and responses. If you learn about a culture then you can
know how to behave appropriately.

So you DO think the Indians should have learned before they came and that I would be appropriate to be rude. I will disagree.
Or, wait, As an American I should understand the culture of every prospective visitor to the US so I understand their attitude, but when I travel no locals in any foreign country should understand my norms and understand me? WAIT, too many rules. Too complicated. I will stick with, there is never an excuse for an individual being rude .. a rule one applies to ones self regardless of what other are doing. I dont need cross cultural training to know not to snap at someone, look down on someone, push someone out of the way. As much as we dont want to believe it, some things are for all practical purposes universal.

... despite being a bit outdated (and full of stereotypes and generalisations) I still strongly advise https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Your-Manners-Managing-Business/dp/1857883144

And yes, as @PhilaLady suggested, one major problem lies in some tourists' entitlement attitude. I've travelled extensively (and lived plenty of times abroad) and never forgotten one golden rule: "I am a guest in someone else's turf, so I am expected to be the one adapting. Period".

Enric, thank you. I bet thats a facinating read.

I've been many places in Europe, and I can honestly say I can't remember ever having an encounter with a rude person. People are people wherever you go; they might be having a bad day, or they might be stressed out, whatever. I try to read someone's face or body language before I ask for something. I don't go anywhere expecting all the locals to be having a wonderful day.

We were in Barcelona for 2 weeks last year and I don't remember encountering anyone who wasn't completely friendly or helpful.

Imagine you are home here in the USA, rushing to get to work, or to get home from the grocery store, and you're worrying about something, and someone comes up to you and asks, "Do you speak Spanish?" And then "Donde esta [whatever]." You shrug your shoulders and say, "No tengo ni idea." And you continue hurrying down the street because you have a sick child at home, and they go back to Spain and say, "Watch out for those rude Americans."

PhilaLady has written exactly what I would have written here.

I, too, love Spain and have made dozens of visits beginning at age 19 (I'm a long way away from that age, now!)

A couple of thoughts about the original post:

1. Did you ask the wait person about the location of the tourist office in Spanish or in English?

2. What does the fact that you paid a very moderate-sounding 45 euro for lunch for two persons have to do with the situation? Are you thinking that because you paid that amount, you were entitled to more than someone who paid 10 euro in another place?

3. There are many immigrants who serve in restaurants in all countries, including Spain. Is it possible that these persons you asked for help were, for example, Bosnian, or Senegalese, and did not understand your question, whether it was asked in Spanish or in English?

4. I live in Manhattan. If someone asked me where the nearest New York City tourist office was, (if there even is such a thing) I would have no idea.

None of this excuses rudeness, but were you really "upset" by a few people not answering a question of yours? if all this were to happen in the US, do you think you would receive uniformly kind and helpful responses by everyone you asked? What about in France, or in China?

Here's my own experience in Spain; its what I've encountered more times than I could ever count:

I'm wandering around Madrid, let's say. I get lost (has happened many times, including, a few months ago, about 1am). Sometimes even with Google, I can't figure out where I am or how to get someplace. My first step is often to stop into the nearest shop (day) or bar or hotel (night). First I ask if the person in front of me speaks English. If yes, I proceed in English. If not, in Spanish,. I related that I am lost, or that I am looking for xxxx. address, or xxxx sight, or xxxx restaurant. The askee (?) proceeds with directions and, often, exits the premises, goes onto the street, and points me in the right direction.

If I can't find an open shop or bar, I work up my courage and stop someone on the street, and go through the same routine.

I remember last spring, I was looking for a food shop (Frinsa) in Santiago de Compostela.

I approached a group of about 5 teenaged boys. Not only did they tell me where to go, but they then told me to follow them and they walked about ten minutes out of the way taking me right to the door of the small shop I was looking for.

On that same trip (Galicia) I was driving my rental car and could not find a restaurant where I had a reservation. The streets were empty and I was really lost, despite the GPS. I pulled up in front of a private house where a woman was working in her garden. I asked her where was xx. restaurant. Can you imagine that this woman put down her gardening tools and GOT INTO HER CAR, and proceeded to lead me about FIVE MILES to the entrance of the restaurant??????

What did you tip her? Seriously. Maybe she thought it wasn't enough and that was her riposte.
What I do, even in the US in strange places, I will ask my question while I have a pen in hand and am ready to fill in "TIP". That usually gets me a useful response. Try it sometime, it works.
What gets me through situations is just remembering I too have given snarky responses when I am having a bad or hard day. Such is life.

I'll just add that I was a little interested, in the "original post," at how "45 Euros for lunch" had to be noted before proceeding to the issue of the indifferent waitress. The price of the lunch probably was not of high relevance to the waitress -- she was not going to get those 45 euros.

Also, in Spain's defense, I'll say that though my most recent visit (2019) was before what appear to be recent quantum leaps in mass horde tourism, I've always found my Spain visits to be very pleasant.

I also just returned from Spain - 14 days in Cordoba, Sevilla, Marbella, Estepona & Malaga.

Examples of not feeling welcomed - zero.

Examples of kindness - several.

Emotionally, this was a harder trip for me, and I noticed when locals were kind. Here’s a few:
- One of my hotel workers waited outside with me to make sure the taxi driver showed up.
- Wait staff were always very polite. When I asked the exceptional ones to add a couple of Euros to the bill for their tip, they were truly thankful. The one waitress who wasn’t as friendly turned nice when I told her the salad was excellent & asked her what time they serve breakfast in the morning.
- Even my taxi drivers were saying Gracias in response to an added tip.
- I don’t mind getting a little lost without immediately resorting to Google maps. Two times, locals were very kind when I asked if I was in the vicinity of a site.
- Hotel personnel were cordial, and the cleaning staff were quick, hard workers.