Shocking Facts About Sex Tourism

Sex tourism is when individuals engage in both national and international travel to participate in (sometimes) illegal sexual activity in the nation in which they are traveling to. Since the age of consent and permissible sexual activity varies on both a locational and jurisdictional basis, sex tourism still occurs. Sex tourism undermines and exploits current legislation and statutory laws. Sex tourism is horrendous and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Here are the shocking facts about sex tourism.

Another kind of sex tourism. Child sex tourism (CST) affects over a million children each year. These children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade. Most times, underdeveloped countries have a high number of child prostitutes available: weak law enforcement, corruptions, the Internet, poverty and drugs all fuel child prostitution.

The percentage of men who have paid for sex. ProCon, a nonprofit conducted a study and found that the highest rate was in Cambodia where between 59 and 80 percent of men had paid for sex at least once in their lives. In Thailand it’s an estimated 75 percent, followed by Italy with close to 45 percent. Spain comes in fourth with between 27-39 percent, Japan at 37 percent, the Netherlands at 13.5-21.6 percent and the United States at 15.0-20.0 percent. Go USA?

In the Caribbean… It is estimated that anywhere between 60,000 to 100,000 women work in the sex trade industry. Prostitution is not illegal in the Dominican Republic, although sex with minors is — however, most workers are under the age of legal consent. The Caribbean sex tourism trade is popular because it is accessible from both the United States and Canada.

The Netherlands. Amsterdam is one of the top spots for sex tourism thanks to its infamous red light district. The red light district has sex shops, peep shows, strip clubs and countless prostitutes among its streets. In Amsterdam, prostitution is legal and well regulated. This is good because the conditions for sex workers are safer than those in other countries. At 35-100 Euros, you can enlist a prostitute for legal sex. Prices vary on the time of day, the client’s age and attractiveness and whatever kink the client is interested in.

The Philippines. There are approximately 500,000 sex workers in the Philippines and you would have no idea because these workers masquerade as bar girls. And upwards of 60 percent of tourists who visit the country are estimated to have traveled for sex tourism alone; most clients are businessmen from East Asia or Western countries.

Indonesia. Indonesia has a huge problem with child sex trafficking and sex tourism only exploits and furthers this problem. Prostitution is illegal in Indonesia, however, there are still brothels in the country, which is where sex workers can be found. Indonesia is also known for its online sex forums and prostitution rings that exist only through social media. Online, you can use a search engine to land you a prostitute as well as read her ratings based on what other clients have to say…

Thailand. Thailand is the worst offender for sex tourism. Prostitution laws in Thailand are hazy. In Bangkok’s red light district, people believe that prostitution are a necessary part of Thai culture. Ladybodys, as they call them in Thai, are also popular. Ladyboys are male prostitutes with feminine features who cross dress as to solicit clients. There are approximately three million sex workers in Thailand with roughly a third of them being minors. Most of the sex workers in Thailand are prostitutes through human trafficking. However, there are a lot of sex workers in Thailand that are there by choice, as well.

Sex Tourism is considered to be among the top five largest industries within the world. Sex tourism and human trafficking rank as the third most prevalent criminal activity in the world, reports the United Nations. The sex tourism industry has reportedly victimized almost two million human beings globally and earns over $30 billion on an annual basis.

The facts. Women and girls make up 98 percent of victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. About two million children are exploited every year alone in the global commercial sex trade.

Sex trafficking and sex tourism violates basic human rights. Victims lose their rights to integrity, equality, dignity, health, security and freedom. Victims often tell stories about daily degradation of the mind and body; they are usually isolated and sold into debt bondage where they are then subjected to the psychical and sexual assault.

Many victims suffer severe emotional trauma. Most suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and disassociation. These people live under constant mental and physical threat and are at greater risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Many become pregnant and are forced to undergo unsafe abortions.

One survivor… One survivor, Kolab from Cambodia, told Equality Now about her experiences in sex tourism. “They forced me to sleep with as many as 50 customers a day. I had to give [the pimp] all my money. If I did not [earn a set amount] they punished me by removing my clothes and beating me with a stick until I fainted, electrocuting me, cutting me.”

Sex slaves. Michelle Bachelet, UN Women Director & Former President of Chile, staid to Equality Now, “An estimated 80 percent of all trafficked persons are used and abused as sexual slaves. This human rights violation is driven by demand for sexual services and the profit that is generated. The commodification of human beings as sexual objects, poverty, gender inequality and subordinate positions of women and girls provide fertile ground for human trafficking.”

Ending sex trafficking. To eliminate sex trafficking, we need to eliminate gender discrimination, too. Gender inequality and discriminatory laws trap women in poverty which puts them in vulnerable positions to become prostitutes.

Curbing the demand for commercial sex. Demand is what fuels the commercial sex industry. If we held buyers accountable, we could reduce sex trafficking. Instead of criminalizing the prostituted persons, we should criminalize those who purchase sex. By doing so, sex trafficking and street prostitution will decrease.
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