what is a matchmaking tour?

I think you're on to it.

I think it's a euphemism (and without the commitment)

Yes. It's become an organised thing for, especially, US men in parts of Eastern Europe and South-East Asia.

Nigel, your wife said you can't go.

don't need to; wouldn't want to.

And this is public? A thing?

Thanks for starting this thread Nigel. I almost started one last night after reading yet another thread mentioning these "matchmaking" trips. First time I ever saw it mentioned on this forum was just a couple of weeks ago. Now it's with increasing frequency. All by single (I assume) males. And I think Agnes may have hit the nail on the head. Googling the subject was an eyeopener.

Ah yes, human trafficking -- the exploitation and forced servitude of impoverished women

https://www.economist.com/news/china/21730920-local-residents-often-turn-blind-eye-trafficking-demand-wives-china-endangers-women-who

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1076655.shtml

Such "tourists" can be victims.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/06/ukraine-wife-internet-romance-industry-online-scam

The reason it showed up more than once is most likely because after the first one posted it would appear on google when someone else searched for 'matchmaking tours'. It will likely show up again in the future now - once on google, always on google.

Oh my gosh, I feel so well....um...ancient. I'd never heard of matchmaking tours until I saw the first post here. Are they for real? ( I didn't want to follow the links.......)

Andi, apparently you don't watch the dreadful reality shows like 90 Day Fiance on TLC. I will admit to having seen the ads for it and assume the men on there have met the women on this kind of tour.

Its like mail-order brides, but internet assisted.

Nigel,

I also thank you for starting this thread. I had seen the term "matchmaking tour" used here on the forum, but just glanced over it as it didn't catch my interest. Going abroad for matchmaking sounds like a rather expensive proposition.

It looks like those lovelorn, would-be kozaks went to Ukraine looking for matches and ended up getting burnt. The moral of the story is.....

I'm interested to see that none of the people saying that that is what they were doing have come to this thread to put some meat on the discussion...

They would probably rather remain anonymous.

In my career in the legal,system I encountered several sad cases of women who were brought to the US by one of these guys and were treated very badly after the marriage. And one case where the victim was the man, who felt he had been used financially by his new wife, but she never loved him.

It was all very sad.

Visiting factories producing matches? My preferred brand is Diamond, wood model...lights every time when properly struck.

wood ones last longer and burn better than paper ones in my experience

A winemaking or cheesmaking (or even chocolate making) tour sounds more fun to me. ;-)