Biggest tippers: Pinoys rank 2nd

MANILA, Philippines - In the Asia-Pacific region, Filipinos come second only to the Thais when it comes to giving tips, according to research conducted by MasterCard Worldwide.

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

The Philippines notched an overall score of 75 percent.

Among the women surveyed, 78 percent said they would tip, as would 70 percent of the men.

In third place is Hong Kong with 71 percent (women 69 percent and men 73 percent).

MasterCard Worldwide group head for Communications in Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa Georgette Tan said that Japan, South Korea and Taiwan were the stingiest.

A mere three percent of Japanese respondents said that they were happy to tip in restaurants, while only 13 percent of South Koreans and 17 percent of Taiwanese respondents were willing to do so.

The MasterCard research likewise reflects the diversity of markets that make up the Asia-Pacific region.

“It is a truly remarkable mix of cultures and understanding them... is a big challenge for global businesses,” Tan said.

The research is based on a survey conducted across 14 Asia-Pacific markets from April to June 2012, with 6,904 respondents aged between 18 and 64.

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