As we continue to review some of the places where travelers may get in troubles for such affectionate behavior as flirting, touching and hugging, the next and the most logical sequel of this intimate scale is kissing.

France

A strange law of non-kissing at railway stations of France was legislated more than 110 years ago in 1910. The main motivation behind it was great amounts of constantly kissing couples who often delayed the departure of trains. It created a lot of problems at the stations. Before the law was passed, compassionate drivers waited for the passengers in love and their partners to kiss, which caused extreme inconvenience to a huge number of people.

In order to somehow alleviate the breakup of couples, some of the stations created a kissing area. But it wouldn’t work because of the broken hearted bypassers.

But in spite of formally applicable law, if people kiss in the middle of the platform, no one will say a word to them and punishment will not follow. Nevertheless, a lot of things has changed over a century, and now trains will definitely not wait for anyone.

Consequences: there is no legal punishment for violation, but making out for too long and attracting the extra attention of law enforcement officers is not advisable for any tourists who value their time.

Thailand

In 2018 Warat Phrueksakulnan, the director of Bureau of Scout Movement, Red Cross Youth and Student Affairs, stated that students are not allowed to kiss and cuddle in public and in private places. He explained that kisses on the cheek of a person of the opposite sex and hugs may by classified inappropriate and indecent behavior.

He also noted that the stricter rules should applied during Valentine’s Day celebrations, when people’s desire to express their feelings publicly reaches its peak.

Traditional Thai morality prohibits public display of affection. The maximum that couples tend to allow in terms of their intimacy is holding their hands. Even married couples try not to touch each other in public places.

Consequences: the younger generation often turns down the tradition to avoid tactile contact. But if at some point you will become a student in Thailand – you have to keep in mind that kisses may be frowned upon and lead to creating a reputation of a rude guest of the country. Which may result to additional questions at your future exams.

Egypt

In densely populated cities of Egypt it is worth being a lot more circumspect and careful while strolling outside with your partner. It is not that laws imply strict ethical rules (in certain places of Egypt they simply do not exist), but it is more the case of the hot temperament of the local population. And some of their representatives may appear to be very conservative.

If you do decide to break the rules it is crucial to be aware of where you are doing it. For example, it was widely publicized when a local resident armed with a knife stabbed a Hungarian couple who were trying to capture their kiss on a camera. The man was so outraged by the open demonstration of their feelings near the mosque that he had no problem breaking a far more serious part of the law himself. Fortunately, tourists got off with minor injuries and a bit spoiled vacation. But hypothetically their day might’ve ended far more tragically if the attacker had some passion like-minders.

Consequences: religious locals may attack you if you do it next to their sacred places.

United Arab Emirates

Kissing and holding hands in UAE classed as “inappropriate behavior” according to Government guidelines.

The Dubai code states: “Holding hands for a married couple is tolerated but kissing and petting are considered an offence to public decency.

Thus, back in 2010 a 24-year-old Ayman Najafi (a British Muslim citizen) and 25-year-old Charlotte Adams who kissed in the restaurant were sentenced to 1 month of prison. They were also fined for 1 thousand dirhams ($300) for being in public after consuming alcohol. After serving their sentences, they would both be deported from the UAE.

Najafi and Adams were arrested in a restaurant in one of the Emirate’s luxurious residential complexes for violating public laws of decency. One of the restaurant’s visitors, a native of Dubai woman, who dined there with her two-year-old daughter, reported to police about young people. The woman said that foreigners kissed each other’s lips and patted their backs, and this behavior might’ve had an adverse effect on her child.

Consequences: you may not be able to get away from kissing in public in Dubai. In the best case, violation of their cultural norms will lead to fines, deportation or even to a prison term of up to 1 month.

COVID-19 note: due to continuous spread of coronavirus pandemic, people’s reaction to all above mentioned types of contacts may be to 3 times stricter.