Paris is gearing up to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, but the city’s cafes and brasseries are taking advantage of unsuspecting tourists and locals by encouraging them to tip more than is customary in France. While tipping culture in countries like the US often involves leaving a 15-20% tip on top of the bill, in France there is a legally mandated 15% service charge included in the menu prices. This means that leaving an extra tip, known as pourboire in French, is not required, and if done, should be no more than 5% on top of the bill.
With an estimated 15 million visitors expected to arrive for the Olympics, French restaurants are seizing the opportunity to capitalize on the lack of knowledge among tourists about tipping norms in France. By subtly nudging guests to leave bigger tips, restaurant owners are hoping to increase their profits during the busy Olympic period. This strategy has raised concerns among experts and residents, who believe that tourists may end up being overcharged by unknowingly paying higher tips than necessary.
The fear that tourists might opt to stay outside the city limits or choose fast-food options over traditional French cuisine during the Olympics has left restaurant owners feeling anxious about potential losses in revenue. To combat this, many Parisian eateries have adopted a method of guilt tipping, similar to the practice seen in the US, where customers are prompted to leave significantly higher tips through tablet devices. This approach has been met with mixed reactions from locals and tourists alike.
Some diners have expressed discomfort at being pressured to leave bigger tips under the watchful eye of waitstaff when paying with a card. Others have been shocked by the audacity of restaurants in asking for tips, especially when the service charge is already included in the bill. The lack of differentiation between foreign visitors and locals in this tipping scheme has been criticized as a major faux pas, as it undermines the cultural norms and expectations surrounding tipping in France.
Overall, the ploy by Parisian eateries to encourage higher tips from tourists during the 2024 Summer Olympics reflects a larger issue of misunderstanding and exploitation of cultural differences. As the city prepares to welcome millions of visitors for the games, there is a need for greater clarity and transparency in the tipping practices of restaurants to ensure that guests are not taken advantage of. By educating both locals and tourists about the proper etiquette for tipping in France, the dining experience in Paris can be more enjoyable and authentic for all.
