SEX TOURISM: HOW, WHERE AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Al "sex tourism is often portrayed as harmful, criminal and causing the exploitation of women or minors of either sex. This is not necessarily always the case. Although it is supposed to be more prevalent in certain places, with a modicum of honesty it cannot be denied that it is something that happens all over the world.

Whatever, sex tourism is an industry The practice is a multi-billion dollar business, with legions of sex workers around the world. We must distinguish whether the practice is legal or illegal, which will be determined by local laws, whether it is consensual or involves minors.

In the United States, Salt Lake City (Utah, dominated by strict religious people) is not the same as Las Vegas, known as "Sin City". In other words, it is a highly sensitive and complex issue.

Surely any of our escorts friends have catered to various foreigners, but this does not mean that one can speak of "sex tourism"; it is not about a traveller who decides to have a "joy" away from home to ease tensions; it must be an activity with many customary participants, with leaders and with some interaction of the state, either tolerating it or openly allowing it.

Where it is most prevalent

As we say, there are places where it is more common and considered a major economic activity. These are supposedly:

Sex tourism andn South America:

• Dominican RepublicProstitution is legal there; there are between 60,000 and 100,000 Dominicans working in the sex trade in this small Caribbean nation.
• Brazil: There are reportedly more than 3,500 websites promoting sex tourism in the South American giant. Rio is "The city of singles", because of how difficult it is to be monogamous there, they say. "Unforgettable erotic holidays in beautiful and charming Rio de Janeiro, the southeast coast of one of the most sexually festive countries in the world".we read. There, the authorities discourage prostitution and close down various portals. But to no avail; Carioca's sex tourism thrives and its worldwide reputation grows.

Sex tourism andn Europe:

1. SpainProstitution is also legal in this country, which is so close to us culturally and emotionally, and many cities have their own "red light districts". The most popular ones are those in the cities with the greatest influx of tourists: Madrid and Barcelona, with a large participation of Latin American sex workers.

• Czech Republic: With the fall of the Berlin Wall, the nation's capital (Prague), formerly under the Soviet Union, has become a magnet for tourists touring Europe in search of carnal pleasures. Prostitution is legal there, but not if it is organised in networks. Police estimate that there are more than 860 brothels in the Republic, of which 200 are in Prague. Brothels are found on routes to Austria and Germany, and for some tourists from those countries on weekend trips to Prague, visits to erotic establishments are also included. There are some 200 prostitution service websites based there for sex tourists to book services before they arrive.

Sex tourism in Asia:

• Thailand: Bangkok is the city that receives the most sex tourism per year in the world. For its inhabitants, prostitution is not a crime but a "cultural tool". In Thailand there are more than 3 million "sex workers". And (here we have a problem, at least according to our Western idiosyncrasies) most of them are minors.

Conclusion:

Leaving aside the possible criminal aspects of this activity (which, let us remember, will depend on the legislation of each country), sex tourism cannot be considered too different from adventure tourism, cultural tourism, wine tourism or gastronomic tourism.

In all cases, it always means getting to know and experiencing new sensations, accessing what is not available (or is forbidden) in the travellers' place of origin. And for many countries, the sex tourism they receive is as important as for others it is the one that arrives thanks to its gastronomic or scenic, cultural or architectural attractions.