AIBU to wonder why holidays to Tunisia are so much cheaper?

[DallazMajor]

To wonder why holidays to Tunisia are substantially cheaper than other places.

I was thinking of booking but when I’ve mentioned it to people they have said they wouldn’t go.

Am I missing something ?

Is it cheaper because it’s considered unsafe or something.

@CoffeeCantataYou could be right about the timing, although we were in Luxor during the height of the Arab spring and have visited Morocco and Tunisia since then and have still not had any issues. I think you’re also right to an extent about the larger towns and cities and I think there is a similar difference in lots of countries. Thinking about Tunisia, it must be disheartening to live in a town that has expanded rapidly out of all recognition to cater for foreign tourists, many of whom spend more money in a couple of days without a thought than the Tunisians working at their hotel earn in a month. We’ve all seen how some tourists treat local staff with complete disdain and disrespect, and it must be difficult for people who have been brought up as Muslims to respect tourists who spend a fortune on alcohol, walk around in skimpy clothing (not just around their hotel pool) and frequently show no interest in the country’s culture. I don’t think it’s surprising that they may have become anti European. I do agree with you that it’s not acceptable to grope women or to spit at people, but then again, how many women have been groped on the London Underground? In all my visits to North Africa I can remember being groped once, whereas it’s happened many times on the underground.

having said that, my daughter lived alone and worked in Cairo for a year in her mid 20s and really loved it. She travelled around on her own, often at night, and never felt unsafe. She was welcomed into the community where she lived. She also lived in Jordan for several years, and really embraced the culture, to the extent that she converted to Islam a few years ago. She is now happier and more at peace than Ive ever known her.

The OP asked. These were my thoughts and views as to why people don’t go. The beach killings are still remembered.

@Growlybear83

i suspect there has been a chronic problem for decades with European tourists around the Mediterranean behaving badly- in Spain particularly- and possibly in other places. I can imagine that the Spanish and other nationalities who’ve seen behaviour like that in The Inbetweeners films have a very poor image of Brits, for example. But they seem to grin and bear it! Personally I’m disgusted by the image some British tourists must give of British culture.

i dont know if the same applies to N Africa, though- or whether they get the lads’ holidays etc to the same extent.

I did not at any point during my trips to Tunisia feel that my health and wellbeing were at risk.

I've never had so much hassle and intimidation as I have had in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. It's a completely different league.

We went to Tunisia 3 years ago. It was a shit hole. Never again. The men, the beggars, the taxis.. It was one of the most stressful holidays we've had. (the worst being Egypt)

@CoffeeCantata, Agadir got its English nickname Shagadir from the drunken, leery British tourist invasion of the early 1980s. The town made a huge effort to attract upmarket resort hotels instead, but seems to have reached an uneasy compromise - and, from what I hear, become utterly pissed off with us, our beer crawls and our rude attitude.

The stupid thing is, young women are at least as likely to be sexually harassed and assaulted by British 'lads on tour' as by local misogynists. Collectively, we present a snapshot of our behaviour that must be a tad misleading to the residents of holiday destinations.

This is exactly what I was going to say.

Good for you. Personally, I prefer to holiday away from water borne illnesses and within reach of excellent medical facilities.

Lucky you

@CoffeeCantata I completely agree with you and Ive been disgusted too by the behaviour of many European tourists so many times, but especially British tourists. Maybe the reason that Inbetweeners type behaviour is tolerated better in countries such as Spain is because drinking alcohol is culturally acceptable, whereas that’s not really the case in North Africa. I can’t say that Ive ever noticed a stag do or obvious lads’ do anywhere in North Africa.

We went about 11 years ago and my then 3 year old got salmonella (5 star AI hotel).

Fortunately he came down ill on our way home so could be treated in our local hospital.

He nearly died.

We were a bit wary of Tunisia but went a couple of years ago last minute…been back 3 times since! Safe, excellent water sports, lots of interesting things to do, great weather and beaches and amazing value. We were very surprised.
we also have found out the Tunisian medical service is excellent - cheap, private, British trained doctors in many cases!

Following the terrorist attack, the British government assisted with security training. We have always felt very safe with all the private beaches patrolled. You don’t even get sellers like you do in Majorca etc!

Blimey, that must have been an awful experience. I was so naive wanting to go to Tunisia just because it was different. My friend and I are very pale skinned and never look tanned. We attracted more attention and had men sitting around us on the beach. We went to Sousse.

So if your daughter was going to go solo backbacking around Egypt or Scotland OR Tunisia or Wales you actually think she’s at the same risk in Wales and Scotland?
mum honestly baffled by this, I’m under no illusion that there’s an issue with me assaulting woman no matter what religion or culture but you only need to see the rights or way the native woman are treated to know there is a difference in how most will view westerton woman. Numerous woman on this thread alone have said they were actually spat at, I’ve never heard of that in all my days in this country

You seem to have a lot to say about British men’s behaviour but not men who are spitting at woman, leering at children or locking woman in shops

I think it must be where people are going. It's probably like comparing Southwold and Blackpool.

@Harry12345 , I think the pp meant British lads abroad.

I wouldn’t say lucky - I’ve had some dreadful experiences with men. Just not Muslim men.

It’s all revolting. This comment was part of a discussion as to whether attitudes to European tourists in N Africa particularly might have become more hostile in the last 3 decades and why that might be. The bad reputation of some British tourists in Spain was mentioned but no-one is saying that justifies horrible misogyny anywhere.

As a young woman travelling to a job interview by train in England I was followed by a white man (nationality unknown, just loud heavy breathing) who was openly reading a porn mag. When I complained, the white British train conductor told me that the gentleman was entitled to read any literature he wished. I had to lock myself in the toilet.

Depends what you’re looking for. I went last year, all inclusive, it was absolutely fab. Locals were friendly, hotel was lovely, beach was clean, no hassling from anyone. I would definitely go back!
If you want a holiday where you sit by the pool & on the beach - perfect. If you want a holiday with a bit more exploration, perhaps not. My mindset on terrorist attacks - they are just as likely, if not more so, to happen in the UK. I don’t want to live in fear, so I’m just well researched when I book somewhere abroad?

It didn’t sound like any of the woman on this thread displayed behaviour in that deserved being spat on or to be thought of of whores. I just get frustrated that people make out that the U.K. is just as bad, feels like gaslighting. It’s clearly obvious when you go to these countries the way they view and treat woman is worse on a larger scale

Omg that is a story to hear

I've been in the past and didn't really enjoy it. The hotel itself was nice but there is an expectation to tip for everything and the service is very variable depending on how you tip, which is understandable but I still felt uncomfortable and going out of the hotel, you are constantly approached by people trying to sell you something.

No, nothing justifies horrible misogyny! Agadir is in Morocco.

It wouldn't be surprising if a confluence of events has hardened attitudes to British or European tourists. Behaviour is pretty terrible - not all holidaymakers get ugly drunk and belligerent, but very many are rude and disrespectful. People on the North African coast have plenty of opportunity to see the worst of us, either in their own resorts or as seasonal workers in Europe.

At the same time, Islam's got stronger and more fundamental. It's gradually dropping its tolerance of 'infidel' ways which, to the man in the street, must look pretty rational given what they see of us.

The Tunisian state only dropped Islam as 'official religion' in 2022. There is now no state religion and religious freedom is guaranteed, but the government controls and subsidises the mosques. I think all those states have a difficult tightrope to walk, with majority Sunni populations receiving hard-line rhetoric from further East alongside serious repercussions from the Palestine situation and the need to maintain good relations with the non-Muslim world.

It is worrying that the status & freedoms of women can roll back so very quickly - in any society, really, though we've seen it most glaringly in Muslim countries. For younger European women with little experience of cultural misogyny, I can imagine it being a terrible shock to find themselves in a man's world like that.