Tourists 'set to tip less'

People going on their holidays this year will tip service providers less in a bid to preserve their spending money, it has been found.

According to a survey carried out by the Post Office, 36 per cent of holidaymakers said they will only put their hands in their pockets if they receive service that is above the call of duty, while 13 per cent said they will tip less frequently.

Although 46 per cent said they will still tip waiters, only eight per cent plan to tip hotel desk staff and seven per cent will give gratuities to holiday reps amd tour guides.

People most likely to still tip were those in the east of England, as well as people in Scotland.

Helen Warburton, head of travel services at the Post Office, said that people should take care not to seem rude, as tipping is seen as more crucial in some countries than in others.

"When researching your holiday destination, do read up on the tipping etiquette for that country so that you can factor this into your spending budget," she remarked.

"Familiarising yourself with the tipping culture will lessen your chance of causing offence and stop you spending money unnecessarily."

Thailand is one country where tipping is not seen as essential, except perhaps in high-end hotels.

However, it is seen as essential in the US, where service staff are often paid only minimum wage and rely on tips.