Filipinos are Asia’s 2nd most generous tippers

MANILA, Philippines—The Filipinos are the second most generous diners in the Asia-Pacific, according to a new MasterCard research.

MasterCard’s Research on Purchasing Priorities shows which countries consistently tip in bars and restaurants, revealing diversity of consumer habits in the region.

Next to the Thais, the Filipinos are the most generous when it comes to tipping, according to results of the research conducted across 14 Asia-Pacific markets by MasterCard Worldwide.

The research is based on a survey conducted between April 24, 2012, and June 10, 2012, with 6,904 respondents aged 18 to 64 in 14 Asia-Pacific countries.

Interviews were conducted through Internet surveys, personal, telephone and computer-aided telephone conversations, with the questionnaire translated to the local language wherever appropriate and necessary.

Thailand topped the region overall with 89 percent of respondents claiming they would tip in a restaurant or bar, with more women (89 percent) and men (90 percent) than its regional counterparts.

The Philippines notched a score of 75 percent overall (women 78 percent, men 71 percent), ahead of Hong Kong with 71 percent (women 69 percent, men 73 percent).

Japan, South Korea and Taiwan were at the bottom of the table, with only 3 percent of Japanese respondents happy to tip in restaurants, while only 13 percent of South Koreans and 17 percent of Taiwanese respondents were willing to do so.