A word of caution for female tourists visiting Egypt: be careful of the many of the men working in tourist areas in Egypt.
Although the vast majority of Egyptians have a high sense of honor and good conduct, it seems that tourist areas seem to attract a relatively high concentration of people with lax morals, who would exploit tourists in many ways. It can manifest itself as persistent aggressive begging, peddling cheap goods, charging 10X the normal prices for services and goods, and what this article focuses on: exploiting female tourists.
Looking at the bulk of the comments on my notes on compulsory army service in egypt they are mostly from non-Egyptian women who married (or intend to marry) an Egyptian man, and army service has become an obstacle.
So, once you here the word "habibti" (meaning "my love" in Arabic), and before you call him "Habibi", let alone go down the marriage route, read on below for more information.
The exploitation happens in many forms, but is normally centered around one of the following:
Easy and Free Sex
Many tourists come from countries where sex is more freely practiced outside of marriage. Youn g Egyptian men working in tourist areas who
are not married see this as an opportunity, and are met with acceptance from the female tourists.
A source for Money
Many Egyptian men who practice this scam view the "wealthy" tourist as a source of income. They keep asking their "girl friend", "fiance" or "wife" for money for various excuses, just like a professional scammer would play a confidence game on a victim.
An Opporunity for Immigration
Some of those men want to get out of Egypt, and see their marriage as a way to gain residence and citizenship in a Western country. The economy in Egypt has been stagnant for decades, and poverty, lack of opportunity and the high cost of marriage lures some youth to trying these tricks.
Why it works?
There are several factors that work in favor of the Egyptian scammers here.
One factor that helps is that most Egyptian men look desirable to Western women, being of darker complexion than their compatriots. The fact that the foreigners are white blonds work in making the women attractive and desirable for Egyptian men.
Another factor is that the woman is coming to the tourist place to have a good time. It may be a break from stressful work or study, or perhaps a past relationship. This helps blind her to what is happening.
Yet another factor is the cultural differences which also create temporary blindness.
Moreover, those workers being away from their village or city of origin, where they would be observed by their extended family and friends tend to make it easier for them to engage in sexual relationships and scams without being scrutinized by acquaintenaces, and no stigma is attached to these behaviors.
Finally, the scammers have perfected their techniques over the years, and are very skillful at what they do.
Blacklists
Blacklists have emerged on the internet, to warn potential female tourists from known exploiters. These have all the faults of user contributed content on the internet in that they can be innacurate, biased, or even rigged by rivals or pranksters. However, in the absence of any other information, they can be useful, provided they are taken with a good deal of skepticism and research and common sense applied.
- An overview article on what a "black list" is, at Arabia.pl.
- Dezy House: Blacklist for Hurghada, in English.
- Dezy House: Blacklist for Sharm El Sheikh, in English.
- Wanted List of Egypt.
- Egyptian Blacklist on Topix.
- KunstKamera blacklist.
Happens everywhere, not only Egypt
Before someone gets the impression that Egypt is a cesspool, and Egyptians are crooks, let me say it is neither.
The problem above is not limited to Egypt by any means. Any country where tourists come in to spend money has its share of exploiters. The above black lists have a Turkish one, and a Tunisian one, and there are lots of stories about French, Italian and Spanish men exploiting women tourists as well.
Of course, there is also the Russian bride fraud targeting well to do men in the West.
So, the problem is universal, although this article focuses on female tourists to Egypt.
Final Thoughts
There are many non-Egyptian women married to Egyptian men happily, so over-generalizing from the cases mentioned, or from workers at tourist resort is wrong. Chances are you will be happy with an Egyptian as a husband if you met him in a more natural settings, e.g. while studying or working, and getting to meet his family as well.
The "artificial" environment in resorts, being on holiday, and surrounded by some scammers lend itself to the disasters described.
So, beware ...
Further Reading
- Marwa Rakha: Relationship Warning: Do not get involved with Egyptian Men (also here).
- Global Voices: "Beware of Egyptian Men" says Canadian Embassy, also by Marwa Rakha.
- Trailing Grouse: Egyptian men marrying women for money.
- Yahoo Answers: Egyptian Men marrying foreign women to get out from Egypt.
- Sex, Sun, Stupidity and Gigolos.
- Amy Robson: n English girl who keeps falling in false love with Egyptian men (she finally returned to Britain).
- Someone searching on KunstKamera: for Honest Egyptian Boys?
- List if sites on Romance Fraud in German, and other languages.
- A movie documentary in the making on holiday romance, specially Hurghada.
- Female Sex Tourism on Wikipedia, has lots of links to extensive articles. While Turkey is listed as a major destination, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco are listed as "minor destinations".
- An article from a Canadian perspective: Sex tourism in full boom. Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic and the Caribbean are the major destination for Canadian women.
Comments
Isis (not verified)
Re: Wrong again
Sat, 2010/05/15 - 08:54Well said Khalid. The correspondent is obviously Egyptian with an immoral mind who seeks to blame others for the errant ways of his peers.
I am married to an Egyptian man and we divide our time between Egypt and my home country. I see what happens to the women who fall prey to the men in the tourist areas, an those men who haunt the footpaths outside hotels and ancient sites and museums.AN example - I ventured to the Luxor Museum unaccompanied one day and I was pestered by Egyptian men be it the security guards, the men manning the bazaar and coffee shop inside the museum to the touts outside of the museum gates, from the minute I got out of the taxi to the time that the taxi returned to collect me. The taxi driver actually drove one persistent Egyptian man away. I did not seek this attention nor did any of my actions warrant it.
Now, can the ignorant Egyptian man purporting to do no wrong please tell me why I had to fight off these aggressive men if Egyptian men are not at fault in this scenario. My wedding ring is a big ring and in plain view but that did not sway their approaches and the lack of respect for my "married" status was appalling. I can recite many other incidents to match this one.
Quite frankly the actions of many Egyptian men actually perpetuate the problem and in Luxor particularly.
Khalid
Beyond tourism, and beyond western women
Sat, 2010/05/15 - 12:53The mindset that this man is a sample of shows a major problem that goes beyond Egypt, tourism and Western women.
This is the same mindset that drug dealers use when pushing their poison to kids. It is the same mindset bank lenders used to oversell mortgages to people who cannot afford them. It is the same mindset that investment bankers use to sell bad derivative products. It is the same mindset that terrorists use to justify bombing civilians.
In the end it goes back to the kindergarten mentality of "Why did you hit him? He started it!"
Sadly, humans as a whole are not mature enough to go past this kindergarten mindset.
zampokh (not verified)
for every one here iam saying
Sun, 2010/05/16 - 07:50for every one here iam saying my openion without hurting any body so please every one here should know how To run a respectable, mature discussion. Showing his opinion and let the truth impose itself.
Those ladies who are weeping are exactly like a man went to a striptease show looking for a priest to reveal his sins to him.
When you go for a striptease show you are not supposed to find a priest there, you will mostly find (h o r n y), drunk, pervert people. So again please give some respect to our minds.
You are talking about eastern culture and they are only looking for sex looooooooooooool.
You know what is the difference between east and west, in the east they do dirty things and they know and not denying that they do dirty things. In the west they say we don't do this things unless there is love and the woman there ended up with hundreds of sex relations but she still feel like virgin marry because it was under cover of love (by they way they fall in love as easy as changing their panties) .
At the end we all have dark areas in our cultures and our behavior and it is acceptable we are human at the end but what is not acceptable is that some one claims that he is so clean while he is sunk to his ears in dirt.
Khalid
The analogy of the strip club
Sun, 2010/05/16 - 14:31The analogy of the strip club and priest is not accurate. This is because many people go to the exact same places for the history and culture of Egypt. For learning. For enjoyment. For sports. For sunshine. For the sea. For diving. ...etc.
The same place provides different activities for different people. If someone wants to experience the above, they will find it. If they want to experience the seedy side of tourist places they will find it too.
So, it is the mindset, not the place. Just like the internet or TV. Can be a tool for good or a tool for evil. Depends on how one uses it.
Your reading of West vs. East is not the way I see it. This is not the place to discuss it since it is a big topic.
What shocks them is the lack of honesty after they assume that people are trustworthy. Being conned by a few people with no morals leaves this general bad taste for many.
You are right that each culture has its dark shadowy areas. One has to use their judgment and not fall for them.
Anonymous (not verified)
Horrible
Fri, 2010/05/14 - 10:59I FELL IN LOVE WITH AN EGYPTIAN MAN, AND HE IS SO SWEET ANG GENTLE.
HE IS SUCCESSFUL IN HIS OWN BUSINESS, WE MET ON A BUSINESS MEETING.
THEN START TO CONTACT, HE IS DESPERATED LONGLY SINGLE MAN AS HE TOLD.
AFTER 18 MONTHS,FOUND HE HAS PRETTY WIFE FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRY WITH LOVELY KIDS
LIVE THERE HAPPILY, I ASKED HIM WHY PROPOSED TO ME SINCE YOU MARRIED
WHAT HE TOLD ME IS BECUASE THAT TIME I DIDNT KNOW HE MARRIED, HE JUST
WANT TO KNOW ANSWER, I ADMIT THAT I AM FOOL.
BUT HE SEEMS WELL EDUCATED MEN SPEAK SEVERAL LANGUAGES. WE NOT MET
DURING TRAVEL, EGYPTIAN MEN ARE COMMON SOMEHOW, THEY KNOW WOMEN VERY WELL
HE EVEN DONT ADMIT THE MISTAKE HE MADE, AN WELL EDUCATED EGYPTIAN MAN.
z am pokh (not verified)
The two examples aging are
Sun, 2010/05/16 - 08:03The two examples aging are not the same we here talk about a fully conscious mature ladies under no pressure but their desire.
they are not kids they aren't homeless looking for a shelter they are just ladies lacking self control to the limit they can't resist a flirt from a young guy in a one week trip. Please wake up all no justification for both actions and no victims in this scenario as well.
Khalid
No victims?
Sun, 2010/05/16 - 14:24How can you say no victims, while the women is cheated out of money in the name of getting a piece of land, or building, or operation, or many other things?
Are you intentionally glossing over these to justify your view that both sides are wrong and خلاص خالصين واحدة بواحدة?
Does this mean scammers who send the emails about prize winning or Nigerian rich politician dying are also justified to milk their victims out of hundreds of dollars, because the victims are greedy and looking to make money from an non-existent relative?
Even of some of the women are looking for relationships, many others do not want that. Read the stories again and you will see cases who were not out looking for men. Many end up marrying under the sham called "orfi marriage", so they do want a long term relationship and think they are indeed married, only to fall into the trap of giving money to their new sweet heart.
So, there are victims. Don't try to convince yourself otherwise. Do not belittle other readers' mental abilities too by trying to white wash this as a "victimless crime".
Isis (not verified)
Re: "Dirty Things"
Sun, 2010/05/16 - 21:35"You know what is the difference between east and west, in the east they do dirty things and they know and not denying that they do dirty things. In the west they say we don't do this things unless there is love and the woman there ended up with hundreds of sex relations but she still feel like virgin marry because it was under cover of love (by they way they fall in love as easy as changing their panties) ."
I'm all for reasonable discussion but you fall far short of making sensible and rational discussion. Most of the Egyptian men that we are talking about on here DO DENY that they have wronged these women for sex and money and they are very adept at lies and deception. Your argument holds no ground what so ever.
How many western women have you conned into giving you money and sex?
zampokh (not verified)
I said that before,tourism is
Mon, 2010/05/17 - 02:01I said that before,tourism is not my carrer and i have never been in relation with a western woman and iam married. i was really offended by this thread and i felt real humaliation to my mind. what iam saying both action are again wrong and no place for weeping here.
to solve this selly problem please consider the following
1- before you come to egypt have an intensive course of sex act so it would be easy for you to hold yourself for one week without sex.
2- for those who wants long term relations, resorts and beaches are not the right place to have it there. egypt full of respectable men who appreciate and respects women, but you won't find them mostly in resorts.
3- for those who are unhappy with some egyptian guys behaviour it is so simple, hold yourself for a week till you go back home and you will find millions of adorable, caring men in your home countery(i think it is an easy request).
4- again if you have better men in your counteries, why you are all here searching for soming thing what ever what you call it (sex, love)
zampokh (not verified)
for you alll please read this
Mon, 2010/05/17 - 06:16for you alll please read this article (this the link for the article0)
http://www.q8nri.com/home/2010/05/03/sex-tourism-the-other-delight-of-egypt-jordan
I want to hear from YOU there after, whose responsible for all these selly proplems.
Jordan: There are plenty of reasons for female tourists to visit the Middle East. Two of the new seven wonders of the world are here. Christians, Muslims and Jews alike visit holy sites. The Red Sea offers the best diving in the world. And in the deserts of Jordan and Egypt, women looking for sex can find a host of exotic sexual encounters with Bedouin men.
Hidden in the heart of the Holy Land, desert vacation spots like Petra and Wadi Rum are acquiring a reputation among Western women as an idyllic spot for a casual romance with men who hail from the local Bedouin tribes.
While only a handful of women come to these places explicitly looking for sex, most guides and Western women who have indulged say that the charm of these desert locales takes many women by surprise, and even those who weren’t looking for a tryst may find one. This is far removed from the scene in more renowned destinations for "female sex tourists," like the Caribbean and coastal Africa, where women openly exchange cash and gifts for encounters with local boys and men.
The culture of casual sex and Western-style dating often creates internal conflicts for the Muslim Bedouin guides and can put Western women in uncomfortable situations. It’s also created a climate where both guides and female tourists uninterested in sex or a relationship find themselves burdened by unwanted advances.
What happens in Jordan is far from the extremes of women’s sex tourism found in places like Jamaica and Kenya and Senegal, where women reportedly “rent” men for a set period of time. However, the kingdom is developing a reputation as a destination for women looking for an exotic rendezvous. Jo Magazine, a prominent local magazine, ran a cover story last summer, online sites like Escape Artist Travel have listed Jordan as a female sex tourism destination, along with Southern Europe, the Caribbean Basin, Kenya in Africa, and to a lesser extent Central America, the South Pacific and Morocco. According to Escape Artist Travel, women’s and men’s sex tourism are two absolutely different phenomena, in that women do not go to bars and sex shows to find new partners.
A handful of academics have researched the topic. Jessica Jacobs, a research fellow at Royal Holloway, University of London has studied the issue and published several articles on the topic. More than being just about sex, Jacobs said the experience appeals to women on a number of levels.
“It’s about the moment, the connection to nature, exhibiting a sense of freedom and experimenting with gender identity, doing things that they’re not particularly judged for because no one from their own particular society is there to see them,” she said.
In Jordan, for the most part sex tourism for women takes the shape of something much more akin to a vacation fling. Most often, a Bedouin guide takes a woman out for an overnight camping trip in the desert. Then, as the locals say, the desert moon has a certain effect, and regardless of whether the woman has come to the desert looking for sex, relations are had.
Some women then get involved in long-term relationships with guides, some get married, or some pay a discounted rate for the trip and continue on with their tour.
to be continued
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