The research compares laws and customs relating to alcohol and food, dress-code, going out, relationships, anti-social behaviour and religion, as well as outlining potential repercussions that tourists may experience should they break the law.
With several countries adopting a more conservative attitude towards visiting tourists, including the Egyptian government’s announcement that they were banning alcohol licensing in new developments outside of Cairo, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is helping UK holidaymakers to understand the lesser-known laws of certain holiday destinations. APH has compiled a comprehensive guide highlighting all the important local customs which is available in the Know Before You Go section of the website.
The research compares laws and customs relating to alcohol and food, dress-code, going out, relationships, anti-social behaviour and religion, as well as outlining potential repercussions that tourists may experience should they break the law.
In four of the 14 countries featured in the research, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Egypt and Oman, it is a punishable offence to drink or be under the influence of alcohol in public and can result in a significant fine, jail or deportation. A further two countries, Israel and the Maldives, both strongly advise against drinking in public areas, suggesting tourists stick to licensed hotels and bars.
With regards to dress-code this is often linked with the religion of the country and in all of the Islamic countries included in the research, it is strongly suggested that tourists should dress respectfully, especially women who should cover the upper arms and legs. This is particularly important when visiting religious buildings or urban areas such as markets. For those travellers who are planning to wear swimwear, this should only be worn inside resorts or on tourist beaches and not in urban areas such as markets, or on public beaches.
Homosexuality is illegal in five of the 14 countries surveyed and, if brought to the attention of the authorities is punishable by a significant jail sentence or a hefty fine. Even in countries where it is not against the law, such as Bahrain, Egypt, Gambia and Turkey, homosexuality is not widely accepted and public displays of affection are discouraged. It is also still possible to be prosecuted for homosexuality in these countries, as laws surrounding public decency are extremely vague.
In terms of going out and socialising; tourists should be vigilant with regards to their behaviour and be aware that the expectations of society are significantly different than in the UK. For example, dancing in public in Abu Dhabi and Dubai is considered indecent and provocative and can lead to deportation.
Although drugs are illegal in all the countries surveyed, the research found that the laws in China and Oman were the most severe, where drug offences can be punishable by death regardless of the class of drug or the amount carried.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
