The common travel behaviour frowned upon by majority of Aussies
A massive part of travelling is seeing new places, and all the cultural differences that come along with that.
But when you're on holiday, to what extent do you have to live the way the locals do?
Is it OK to disregard local cultural customs or dress codes if they're at odds with your personal beliefs or comfort?
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In some countries, female travellers should keep their head covered with a scarf to be polite. Getty
In an exclusive Nine.com.au poll, we asked readers to weigh in with their thoughts, and the vast majority shared the same opinion.
A majority 81 per cent of respondents said that yes, we should conform to local norms while travelling to a country with a different culture.
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Examples of this include dressing modestly in more conservative countries, bowing in places like Japan, or tipping in countries where that is the culture.
One person pointed out that we expect the same thing from people travelling to Australia.
"We should show respect," they wrote, "in the same way that people from different countries and from different backgrounds, religions, and norms, who come to visit us should also respect our way of life, traditions, and laws."
Most readers say it's not OK to disregard local customs. Nine
Only six per cent of people said no, personal freedom is paramount, and we don't need to change our 'regular' behaviour.
The remaining 13 per cent said that it depends on the situation and how strict the custom is.
One reader sticks to the saying "it's their country and their rules, you abide by them without question".
"I grew up as a 'westerner' in Singapore," they explained, "and we had rock'n'roll [music] banned along with longer hair, gum, no drugs of any kind, and so on."
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Tipping is a local custom in some places that we should adopt while travelling. Getty
They say that sticking to the country's rules ensured "a happy childhood and adolescent growing up as a respectful global citizen in a multicultural society."
Another disagreed, and said that if you're only in a country for a short time, you should be able to stick to your own customs.
"Tourists should be able to abide by their own personal norms but permanent immigrants must abide by local culture," they shared.
Another said that it's an unavoidable part of travel. "It is a must; we should follow the cultural norms and laws of the country we are visiting."
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In Singapore, gum is banned. Getty
One of the best things about travelling is the chance it gives us to experience new ways of life and see the world outside our own borders. If you take the time to adapt to your surroundings and embrace the local customs, it can make your trip infinitely better.
It's worth taking the time to learn about the unfamiliar, and lean into the doors it can open for you while travelling.
Even just learning a few simple phrases, like "hello" and "thank you", in the local language can be a great sign of respect - instead of expecting everyone to understand English.
On Reddit, one user recommends taking the time to learn a little bit about the country you're heading to before you visit.
"It's amazing how folks seemingly just show up to a country not having researched anything about it," they wrote. "Watch a YouTube video for food and cultural differences in the country you're about to visit. Small gestures are important."
