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Last update - 11:10 26/02/2008 Study: For Israeli women, going on vacation means more sex By Irit Rosenblum, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: sex, Ben-Gurion University  For Israeli women, going on vacation means more sex and lots of touristy activities - whether they are with their partners or not. Even so, if the overseas trip involves intense physical activity, the women reported no significant improvement in their sex lives. Such are the findings of a new study of the sexual behavior of vacationing Israeli women, conducted by the Department of Hotel and Tourism Management at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. T Advertisement he study, whose findings were presented at the annual forum for tourism researchers, held two weeks ago in Eilat, sought to determine whether having sex was a motivating factor for going on vacation and if it affected the women's satisfaction from their tourism experience. The researchers also tried to compare women's sexual behavior on vacation and at home. "We focused on these aspects to learn about the importance of the tourism experience for women in Israel, and not out of curiosity concerning their sex lives," stresses Dr. Yaniv Poria. Poria relates that after a pilot survey, the researchers decided not to interview men for the study, because the men interviewed explicitly stated that they did not describe things as the were, but rather exaggerated. In the second stage of the study, 21 secular Jewish women participated in detailed interviews with Liza Berdichevsky, 24, of Be'er Sheva, a master's degree student in Poria's department. Her research advisers were Poria and Prof. Natan Uriely. Eleven of the women, who all came from different socioeconomic backgrounds, were in their 20s, while the rest were over 30 and a few over 50. Each interview lasted two and a half hours. "There was some embarrassment during the first five minutes," says Berdichevsky, "but [my advisers] taught me how to start in a non-threatening way, with a card game, while I assured the interviewee that her anonymity and confidentiality are safeguarded." The study's findings show that having sex is an important factor in a woman's satisfaction from her tourism experience. In some cases, it is even an essential element and/or a motivating factor for the vacation, meaning that the vacation is perceived as an opportunity for a couple to conduct their sexual relationship in a new, relaxed environment. A vacation abroad is an opportunity to have casual sex in an anonymous environment, while such a relationship could harm a woman's image if it happened in the home environment. Does the type of vacation make any difference to the women's sexual behavior? R&R, an aphrodisiac According to the study, a rest and relaxation vacation, with not much coming and going, was described as a conventional holiday, and as ideal for sex among couples. The interviewees said they had more sex and that it was better while they were on vacation. One of the participants described this type of vacation as a break from the routine and as a "total vacation for enjoying one another. Spa, Jacuzzi, champagne, a relaxed atmosphere and romance, all revolving around sex." In contrast, a trip backpacking was described by participants in the study as an opportunity to have casual sex in a foreign environment. In such instances, the number of sex partners increases, but the quality is compromised due to the limited familiarity with these partners. On such trips the interviewees had what they called an adventure that they would not repeat in their home environment. They related to men as sex objects, and when asked their feelings regarding the casual partners, responded with descriptions such as, "having him [at night] and not seeing him the next day." Meanwhile, on short vacations to Europe, interviewees said that having sex with one's partner was essential. It is also more frequent, despite the fatigue from the touring, but is not as good, because the couple is tired. Still, the interviewees said they would not forego it. "To be on vacation abroad and not have sex?" responded one interviewee, who emphasized that on vacation she wants to try things she would not normally do in Israel. Poria views this phenomenon as part of the ritual that accompanies the tourism experience: Just as tourists feel the need to tour the museums and famous sites in the cities they visit, even though they have no real inclination to do so, "having sex is sometimes also perceived as compulsory." Business trips, on the other hand, were portrayed in the study as inappropriate for much sexual activity, since they are not perceived as free time that presents an opportunity for such activity in an anonymous environment. The interviewees explained that sexual permissiveness is impossible when they are accompanied by their colleagues from work. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Chicken or the egg? A UN human rights expert says Palestinian terror 'inevitable' result of occupation. A reason to kvell Jews are America's top-earning religious group, according to a new survey.   1.   Personal interviews pretending to reflect reality? 12:09  |  Ulf 26/02/08   2.   open door 12:22  |  peter 26/02/08   3.   Repressive Israeli society 12:32  |  Ariel 26/02/08   4.   Israeli women just like everyone else, but what about the men?!! 12:58  |  Michael 26/02/08   5.   IT IS SAD THAT SECULAR JEWISH WOMEN ARE JUST CONSIDERED OBJECTS 13:10  |  Ani 26/02/08   6.   Visit Brasil 13:27  |  kaled 26/02/08   7.   who pays for these garbage studies? 13:35  |  Gardener 26/02/08   8.   MORE SEX 13:49  |  DANNY 26/02/08   9.   SEX 13:58  |  danny 26/02/08   10.   None sense 14:08  |  David 26/02/08   11.   Tell me where they vacation 14:10  |  R 26/02/08   12.   A volunteer 14:13  |  none 26/02/08   13.   IT IS SAD 14:33  |  Ani 26/02/08   14.   another brilliant waste of funds 15:06  |  sptz 26/02/08   15.   Shame on you. This is serious research 15:11  |  Steve G 26/02/08   16.   I also have more sex... 15:13  |  Israeli 26/02/08   17.   How can they? 15:35  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/02/08   18.   Expand this research to include cruises on love boats 15:42  |  Albert Edelson 26/02/08   19.   What an utterly pointless piece of research 15:48  |  Clickfool 26/02/08   20.   clicky (from your mate down under in oz) 17:06  |  danny 26/02/08   21.   Make More Chinese 17:27  |  Yosemite 26/02/08   22.   if they were arab/muslim,this would be grounds to kill them 17:33  |  terrornator 26/02/08   23.   To David from Tel Aviv 17:33  |  Max 26/02/08   24.   clicky,just because you can`t get any, don`t complain because 17:35  |  terrornator 26/02/08   25.   I said exactly the same w/ Ulf #1 but Haaretz lost me 18:00  |  S 26/02/08   26.   #21 Right on ! 18:20  |  American 26/02/08   27.   enough about sex 18:40  |  secular and chaste 26/02/08   28.   You do me an injustice, Danny # 20 18:47  |  Clickfool 26/02/08   29.   A sample of 21 18:53  |  Palestinian 26/02/08   30.   sex-vacation 19:13  |  nosson 26/02/08   31.   Creative writing... 19:22  |  Esther 26/02/08   32.   Sex 19:43  |  KKK 26/02/08   33.   only 21 women interviwed 20:05  |  paulo2005 26/02/08   34.   Did they interview the ex-IDF maidens in Goa, India? 20:46  |  Mark B. 26/02/08   35.   A practical solution for this issue. 23:54  |  Antonio 26/02/08

Today Online Shmuel Rosner: Can Obama restore the Black-Jewish alliance? Responses: 41 Poll: Most Israelis back direct talks with Hamas on Shalit Responses: 61 Japanese PM to Haaretz: Response to Iran must be resolute Responses: 36 Jewish groups mull UN racism meet after Israel decides to skip Responses: 90 Amira Hass: For Palestinians, an unarmed struggle would be suicide Responses: 59 Rosner's Domain Can Obama restore the Black-Jewish alliance? Jews mostly stay Jewish (WTR) Would Obama be supportive of an Israel governed by Likud? Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza? Obama`s top adviser says does not believe in imposing a peace settlement More Headlines 17:42 Israeli killed in massive Qassam barrage on Negev 14:37 MKs back bill to block porn, gambling sites for Israeli surfers 16:45 Report: Top Iran cleric slams Ahmadinejad's 'coarse' attacks on Israel 15:10 Obama: I'm a 'stalwart friend' of Israel, its security is 'sacrosanct' 14:50 Tel Aviv bus company cuts Sabbath afternoon services 17:37 Rights group slams IDF probe into deadly Beit Hanun shelling 13:50 Police chief: If necessary, I'd okay Peki'in operation again 11:18 Abbas: Hamas helping Al-Qaida establish base in Gaza Strip 07:29 Poll: Most Israelis back direct talks with Hamas on Shalit 14:14 Where the wheel stops, nobody knows 12:52 Omri Sharon begins 7-month prison term for fraud Previous Editions Select Day 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb

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