Jineterismo

In Cuba, jineterismo is a category of illegal or semi-legal economic activities related to tourism in Cuba. Prostitution is a way some Cubans use to get out of Cuba, having sex with a tourist for help getting out of the island. These activities include prostitution and pimping, as well as other forms of hustling, such as selling black-market and counterfeit goods. The term derives from the Spanish jinete ("horserider"). A jinetera is Cuban slang for a female sex-worker. The United States Department of State defines jinetero as:

street "jockeys," who specialize in swindling tourists. Most jineteros speak English and go out of their way to appear friendly, by offering to serve as tour guides or to facilitate the purchase of cheap cigars, for example. However many are in fact professional criminals who will not hesitate to use violence in their efforts to acquire tourists' money and other valuables.

See also

• Sex tourism
• Sociolismo