A tip (also known as a gratuity) is a small amount of money not included in the bill that customers give to employees to show their satisfaction with the quality of service. But whether tipping is a common practice or mandatory depends on each country.
While tipping is a cultural practice in many countries, this country considers it taboo.
Tipping in East Asia and the South Pacific
Outside of tourist areas, in countries in East Asia and the South Pacific, tipping is not common, so tipping can sometimes be quite surprising to staff and even sometimes rejected.
In China, Myanmar, Singapore... tipping is considered unnecessary; however, some high-end restaurants in China have started to accept it. Other Asian countries, such as Japan and Nepal, absolutely believe that good service is a natural part of life, so tipping should only be rewarded for outstanding service. In Japan, some restaurants will even politely refuse your tip.
The government in the lion island nation does not allow service establishments to accept tips.
Especially in Japan, employees always keep in mind that serving customers is not for tips or bonuses, but because Japanese people always work their best to ensure that customers are truly satisfied with their services and products. They consider money as the result of labor, so if you give them more money than the listed price, they will feel offended because they feel like they are not paid enough and need a tip.
Due to the influx of tourism, countries like Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and parts of Turkey are becoming more open to tipping. However, tipping is still not considered necessary, so not leaving a tip is not considered ungenerous.
In Australia and New Zealand, restaurants and drivers also don't expect tips, but they will appreciate it if you take the initiative to round up the bill.
Tipping in the Americas
If you’re from the US, you’re probably familiar with the unwritten rules of tipping: the more generous you are, the better service you’ll receive the next time you visit. In general, in North, Central, and South America, leaving a gratuity for your server is an implicit custom in restaurants, and tips can sometimes make up a significant portion of a server’s income.
America is a country famous for its tipping culture.
Trip Advisor suggests that a reasonable tip is 15-20% of the bill for services at restaurants or taxis. Similar to the US, patrons in Canada and Colombia also tip around 15-20%. In Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru, tips can be a little less, with 10-15% being the norm.
Additionally, most restaurants in Brazil, Chile and Costa Rica already add a 10% commission to the bill when you make a reservation. In these cases, customers may not need to leave a tip, but if possible, feel free to leave an additional 5-10% in cash as the staff sometimes do not receive the tip.
Of particular note, if you leave a tip in Brazil, make sure to leave it tactfully as Brazilians are quite sensitive when it comes to business dealings.
Tipping in Europe
It can be said that leaving a tip of more than 15-20% of the bill is unnecessary and sometimes considered ignorant as many countries in the European Union have laws regarding tipping.
Some countries, such as the Netherlands, require establishments to include tips in their public price lists. However, it is common practice to leave a small tip of around 5-10% for good service, known as “fooi” in Dutch.
Other EU countries that commonly include a service charge in bills include the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Spain, and Sweden. In these countries, tipping is not customary, but is considered a generous gesture in exchange for exceptional service.
In Spain, most restaurants and bars expect to receive a tip from tourists of around 5% of the total bill.
Germany, Ireland, Portugal, and the UK don't have a specific tipping culture, so leaving a tip is up to you. The general rule of thumb for leaving a tip is 5-10% of the service. Drivers and bartenders in these countries don't usually expect tips, but rounding up the bill is always appreciated.
Tipping isn't as common in Austria, Italy and Russia, but people are often generous with rounding up their bills because wait staff are paid so little. Some tourist areas in Italy will add a 'coperto', meaning 'covering fee', but this gratuity isn't always shared with the staff - so if you want to tip in Italy, leave cash to ensure it reaches the waiter.
One interesting thing about tipping in Germany is that the word for "to give a tip" is trinkgeld, which means "drink money", while in France the word for tip is pourboire, which means "to have a drink".
Tipping in the Middle East and parts of Africa
Similar to the Americas, tipping is customary and expected by service providers in Africa and the Middle East. Tip values often vary depending on the restaurant and the economic status of the country.
In Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, waiters are accustomed to receiving 15-20% tips. Even in cities like Dubai, where a 10% service charge is already added to the bill, restaurant staff will be more than happy to receive an extra 15-20% gratuity for their efforts.
Tipping is customary and expected by service providers in Africa and the Middle East.
In African countries like Jordan, Morocco, and South Africa, servers will expect at least a 10-15% tip. Restaurants in popular tourist countries like Egypt and Israel will also add a service charge to the bill, so be mindful to avoid double tipping.
In particular, in Iranian culture, a gift means much more than money. Guests are encouraged to express their satisfaction and appreciation at hotels by giving a small gift from their country.
