Liveaboard tipping, what is the local custom?

[Lorenzoid]

So not trying to stir the pot but most people do not know the history of tipping. TIPS is an acronym. To Insure Promt Service.

myth / urban legend

I will agree that the historical purpose of a tip was to reward excellent service, and it seems in many places in the world, perhaps including Indonesia, it still is. In America, however, tipping has taken on a life of its own, as a means to have the customer assume part of what had historically been the employer's burden to see that the employee is fully compensated for the market value of their work. But I digress--this is about Indonesia and liveaboards.

 

[Wingy]

It would be a rare Australian tipping too much - we hate the practice and find since the US market has started to inundate SEA you've driven the market to an "its included/expected" mindset from LOB operations. I haven't done anywhere in SEA landbased for a few years but I'm assuming the same is expected.

Expected and Accepted are two different things. I begrudgingly tip the smallest amount in AUD on LOBs, next landbased diving I do, I may or may not tip.

The best tip is future recommendations - going to be interesting to see what happens to the market when the big tipper US diver is squeezed out of the market by the Asian market.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I'm not grasping your meaning with regard to Americans being squeezed out of SE Asian market. Do you mean by the Chinese?

 

[Wingy]

Asian market - domestic Indonesians (they're not all poor subsistence farmers) Koreans, Japanese, SIngaporeans, Malaysians and Chinese. Diving and tourism are a huge emerging market throughout Asia.

 

[billt4sf]

The best tip is future recommendations - going to be interesting to see what happens to the market when the big tipper US diver is squeezed out of the market by the Asian market.

I don't experience very many Americans here (either living here in Bali or diving). Yes, they are here, but not in vast quantities -- one thing I like about the place. Seems to me there are more French than Americans. I have yet to find an Indo diver (other than DMs)!

- Bill

 

[Centrals]

The best tip is future recommendations - going to be interesting to see what happens to the market when the big tipper US diver is squeezed out of the market by the Asian market.

From my travel experiences over last 30yrs as backpacker and budget divers. American is a distinct minority in anywhere that I went. The chance to bump into a Canadian is a lot lot higher. However, those Yankees who were prepared to rough it out were top notch unfortunately they were far and few between.

 

[xmass-Eve]

Americans don't have that much of holidays, no? That is such a big downside of moving to the US. And they aren't always used to travel out of the US too. Europeans are lots easier in that. Plus I had tons of holiday when I was still there...

Lots of the Indonesians can't swim. So diving isn't for them either.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Americans don't have that much of holidays, no? That is such a big downside of moving to the US. And they aren't always used to travel out of the US too. Europeans are lots easier in that. Plus I had tons of holiday when I was still there...

I think that's a big part of it. Traditionally, the standard amount of vacation time for entry-level employees is two weeks, maybe increasing by a week for every 5 years of service. However, an increasing number of Americans work as independent contractors, one benefit of which is more flexibility with work schedules. We also don't have anything similar to a gap year. To visit the diving hotspots in Asia from much of the US requires about two days of travel each way, so that uses four days of vacation time.

 

[Wingy]

I'm referring to the LOB demographic at present, not the backpacker market.

 

[xmass-Eve]

I'm referring to the LOB demographic at present, not the backpacker market.

Still, if you only have 2 weeks of holidays and it takes 3 days to fly in and out... It's a dedication for Americans to go on a dive holiday in Asia and not go twice for a week closer to home...

But indeed, Chinese speaking customers are growing in numbers. On LOB and dive resorts... My Chinese friend is more and more called up to go and guide on LOBs because they are Chinese only. Also, we had 5 Chinese instructors when I left. And they had lots of work... Hard work as Chinese aren't good swimmers too