VIENNA, Austria – Austrian alpine towns of Zell am See and Kaprun have been criticised for producing an eight-page guide for Middle Eastern tourists, featuring “cultural advice” on how to behave.

The booklet, in English and Arabic, features tips such as the idea that Austrian shopkeepers do not expect haggling over prices, and that eating on the floor in hotel rooms is a “no-no”. Drivers are informed that wearing seatbelts is compulsory, and they will be given guidance on understanding road signs, to reduce their risks while driving.

Visitors are also advised not to wear burkas, and to “adopt the Austrian mentality”.

The guide states: “Austrian women are free to choose their own dress style, and this is visible in their choice of modern, colourful clothes. Here the colour black symbolises mourning, and is rarely worn in daily life.

“In our culture, we are accustomed to look into the smiling face of the person opposite us in order to gain a first impression and establish mutual trust. It would be a great pleasure for us if you could join us in celebrating the uniquely joyful Austrian mentality and show us your colourful scarves and dresses and, in this way, show us your smile.”

It explains that there are many restaurants where Halal meat is served, and with Arabic-speaking staff, but that Austrians also pride themselves on their food.

Marina Latini, from the Zell am See tourist board, told The Telegraph that the booklet was produced with all tourists in mind – not just Middle Eastern ones.

“It’s been written for everyone,” she said. “The information is important for all our visitors.”

Alpine destinations are exceedingly popular in the summer with Middle Eastern travellers, who look to escape the extreme heat of their home countries.

Last week the Al Tayyar Travel Group announced that it had signed a “landmark” agreement with Jaadcar, a luxury car rental company, which offers “services tourists from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia visiting Zell am See, a very popular destination in Austria”.

Leo Bauernberger, executive director of the Salzburger Land Tourism company, told the Austria Press Agency that “Arabs are here in the summer for more than 470,000 nights, making them the second largest visitor group after Germans”.

But Peter Padourek, mayor of Zell am See, said that tourists wearing the burka was a cause of friction in the area.

“Here the Arabs have the problem that their strong presence in the region is very clearly visible because of the burka. That causes irritation among locals and among visitors from other countries,” he told The Daily Mail.

“The guests coming from other countries carry away with them a different image of our region.”

But other hotel operators have criticised the leaflets, saying that it unfairly stigmatised Arab visitors – who spend an average of £195 per person per day; more than double the daily amount dispensed with by European tourists.