View source for Sex tourism

{{short description|Travel to engage in sexual activity}}
{{Globalize|2=Southeast Asia|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
[[File:Soi Cowboy 2023 04.jpg|thumb|[[Soi Cowboy]], a [[red light district]] in [[Bangkok]]]]
'''Sex tourism''' is the practice of traveling to foreign countries, often in the [[Global South]], with the intention of engaging in paid sexual activity or relationships.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Oppermann |first1=Martin |title=Sex tourism |journal=[[Annals of Tourism Research]] |date=1999 |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=251–266 |doi=10.1016/S0160-7383(98)00081-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Williams |first1=Erica L. |title=Sex Tourism |encyclopedia=The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Globalization |date=2012 |doi=10.1002/9780470670590.wbeog516|isbn=978-1-4051-8824-1 }}</ref> The [[World Tourism Organization]] of the [[United Nations]] has acknowledged that this industry is organized both within and outside the structured laws and networks created by them.<ref name="WTO">{{cite conference|date=October 1995|title=WTO Statement on the Prevention of Organized Sex Tourism
 | quote = Adopted by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization at its eleventh session - Cairo (Egypt), 17–22 October 1995 (Resolution A/RES/338 (XI))
 | publisher = World Tourism Organization
 | location =  Cairo (Egypt)
 | url = http://www.world-tourism.org/protect_children/statements/wto_a.htm
 | access-date = 24 December 2014
 | editor = Marina Diotallevi
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030814172032/http://www.world-tourism.org/protect_children/statements/wto_a.htm
 | archive-date = 14 August 2003
 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

Sex tourism is commonly regarded as a [[Transnational organized crime|transnational]] challenge, as it can be seen to target marginalised demographics in developing nations, such as countries in the Americas or Southeast Asia. The chief ethical concerns arise from: the economic gap between sex solicitor and minor sex worker, the [[Sex trafficking|sexual trafficking]] of minors, and the sex solicitor taking advantage of the ease with which he (or she) may engage with minors. These groups and individuals are subject to the foreign [[prostitution law]]s of the destination's jurisdiction, often resulting in exploitation and abuse. Prostitution involving minors is formally illegal in all countries. However, in practice, enforcement varies, and child prostitution occurs freely in some regions due to systemic issues such as corruption  or inadequate legal protections.

Sex tourism is known to be a multibillion-dollar industry,<ref>{{cite journal
 |last1       = Hannum
 |first1      = Ann Barger
 |year        = 2002
 |title       = Sex Tourism in Latin America
 |journal     = ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America
 |issue       = Winter
 |access-date  = 6 October 2011
 |url         = http://dev.drclas.harvard.edu/revista/articles/view/53
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20140904034255/http://dev.drclas.harvard.edu/revista/articles/view/53
 |archive-date = 4 September 2014
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> with service industries such as the airline, taxi, restaurant and hotel industries profiting.<ref>{{cite web
|url    = http://www.unicef.es/contenidos/582/Kenia_Tourism_exploitation.pdf
|title    = La explotación sexual de menores en Kenia alcanza una dimensión horrible
|date    = 17 January 2007
|publisher    = Unicef España
|location    = Spain
|language    = fr
|trans-title=The sexual exploitation of children in Kenya reaches a horrible dimension
|access-date    = 6 October 2011
|url-status    = dead
|archive-url    = https://web.archive.org/web/20100324040911/http://www.unicef.es/contenidos/582/Kenia_Tourism_exploitation.pdf
|archive-date    = 24 March 2010
|df    = dmy-all
}}</ref> The bulk of sex tourism involves men traveling from countries in the [[Global North]] to countries in the [[Global South]], such as in [[East and Southeast Asia]] and [[Latin America]].<ref name="Kachipande 2023 pp. 1–37">{{cite journal | last=Kachipande | first=Sitinga | title=Sun, Sand, Sex, and Safari: The Interplay of Sex Tourism and Global Inequalities in Africa's Tourism Industry | journal=Journal of Global South Studies | publisher=Project MUSE | volume=40 | issue=1 | year=2023 | issn=2476-1419 | doi=10.1353/gss.2023.0007 | pages=1–37}}</ref> Although rarer, [[female sex tourism]] also exists. According to C. Shakeshaft, women commit at least 25% of sexual offences against minors.<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED483143.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiv1oaRuYiPAxUEJUQIHed3KH0QFnoECCYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2rPGRIXlOJdij5riDCPr7i
|title = U.S. Department of Education (.gov) https://files.eric.ed.gov PDF Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature - ERIC
|date = 2013
|publisher = US Department of Education
|location = USA
|language = en
}}</ref>

[[File:World-map-of-countries-involved-in-sex-tourism.png|thumb|World map of countries involved in female sex tourism]]

==Legal issues==
This particular industry of prostitution is a reason for male travels but has been criticised due to fueling trafficking.<ref name="Lovelock">{{cite book|last1=Lovelock|first1=Brent|title=The Ethics of Tourism: Critical and Applied Perspectives|last2=Lovelock|first2=Kirsten M.|date=2013|publisher=Routledge}}</ref> and is extremely profitable. Many countries have tried to prohibit this type of tourism, as it preys on vulnerable children and marginalised women, and have made efforts to change the type of tourists coming.<ref name="UN Convention" />

Ethical issues arise due to the situations of participating parties; many victims of [[prostitution]] are from low-income backgrounds usually located in underdeveloped societies whose only means for providing basic needs is to engage in sexual services.<ref name=Lovelock />

Government and law enforcement often do not place priority on policing prostitution and sex trafficking.<ref name="McPhee/McCartan" /> For example, in [[Cambodia]], the Cambodian government has previously overlooked tourists raping or grooming with Cambodian adolescents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2013/12/world/cambodia-child-sex-trade/|title='The women who sold their daughters into sex slavery}}</ref>

Individuals are not exempt from prosecution. Sex tourism as recognised by the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|CDC]] supports [[human trafficking]] and slavery.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sex Tourism {{!}} Travelers' Health {{!}} CDC|url=https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/sex-tourism|access-date=2021-05-05|website=wwwnc.cdc.gov}}</ref> Even if [[prostitution]] is legal in a country or region, human trafficking, sexual encounters with a minor, and [[child pornography]] are almost universally criminal in nature and individuals caught breaking these laws can be prosecuted. Citizens of any foreign country must abide by the laws of the country in which they hold citizenship in addition to the local laws of the country they are visiting, including laws regarding [[Sexual consent|consent]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Andrews|first=Sara K.|date=2004|title=U.S. Domestic Prosecution of the American International Sex Tourist: Efforts to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3491375|journal=The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology|volume=94|issue=2|pages=415–454|doi=10.2307/3491375|jstor=3491375|issn=0091-4169|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
Sex tourists are generally male and come from [[Western world]] countries but they may also come from other countries as well. The most common destinations for these sex tourists is to visit less economically developed nations in [[Southeast Asia]] such as [[Thailand]], the [[Philippines]], [[Vietnam]], and [[Cambodia]], as well as [[Nepal]] and [[The Gambia]]. Countries in Latin America like [[Mexico]], [[Brazil]], and [[Cuba]] are also common.<ref name="UN Global Report Trafficking" /><ref>{{Cite book |title=Mobility, sexuality and AIDS |date=2010 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-203-86914-7 |editor-last=Aggleton |editor-first=Peter |series=Sexuality, culture and health series |location=London New York |editor-last2=Haour-Knipe |editor-first2=Mary |editor-last3=Thomas |editor-first3=Felicity}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-07-07 |title=European sex tourists flock to the Gambia {{!}} CABI News |url=https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/do/10.5555/collection-news-5506 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=News |language=en}}</ref> Cambodian author and trafficking victim [[Somaly Mam]] has described in detail how the government overlooked child sex trafficking to Western males.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mam |first=Somaly |title=The Road of Lost Innocence |date=2005 |publisher=Random House |isbn=9781844083466}}</ref>

Author [[Kajsa Ekis Ekman]] writes in her book Being and Being Bought - Prostitution, Surrogacy and the Split Self, that the reason Thailand today has become a sex tourism hub is due to the Vietnam War.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ekman |first=Kajsa Ekis |title=Being and Being Bought: Prostitution, Surrogacy and the Split Self |date=2013 |publisher=Spinifex Press |location=Sydney, Australia}}</ref> The Thai government made an agreement with the US Army to provide brothels ("rest and recreation centers") for soldiers on leave. These soldiers would, after the war ended, go back and engage in sex buying or start brothels themselves.

A study conducted by the non-profit public charity [[ProCon.org|ProCon]], revealed the percentage of men who had paid for sex at least once in their lives between 1994 and 2010. It found the highest rates were located in Cambodia, where 59–80% of men had paid for sex at least once. Thailand was a close second with an estimated 75% of men, followed by Italy at 16.7–45%, Spain at 27–39%, Japan at 37%, the Netherlands at 13.5–21.6%, and the United States 15.0–20.0%.<ref name="ProCon">{{Cite web |title=Percentage of Men (by Country) Who Paid for Sex at Least Once: The Johns Chart |url=http://prostitution.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004119 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305122229/https://prostitution.procon.org/percentage-of-men-by-country-who-paid-for-sex-at-least-once-the-johns-chart/ |archive-date=2022-03-05 |access-date=29 March 2015 |publisher=ProCon}}</ref>

Challenges in gathering data has made it hard to find out the exact number of people who work in the sex tourism industry. Estimates show 24.9 million victims that are trapped in [[modern-day slavery]], 4.8 million (about 19%) were sexually exploited.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Human Trafficking by the Numbers |url=https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/resource/human-trafficking-numbers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507064607/https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/resource/human-trafficking-numbers |archive-date=7 May 2019 |access-date=2021-05-11 |website=Human Rights First |language=en}}</ref> It is estimated that about 21% of the total victims of commercial sexual exploitation are children,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trafficking in Persons |url=https://www.unodc.org/unodc/data-and-analysis/glotip.html |access-date=2021-05-11 |website=United Nations : Office on Drugs and Crime |language=en}}</ref> with the [[United States Department of State|US Department of State]] estimating that over one million children are trafficked for sex throughout the world. The sex tourism industry often preys on those that are the most vulnerable, potentially explaining why children and women are more likely to be forced into the industry.<ref name="Hall-2005">{{Cite book |last=Hall |first=Michael C. |title=Sex Tourism |last2=Ryan |first2=Chris |date=2005-07-08 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-203-99176-3 |pages=65–86 |chapter=Paradigms of sex tourism |doi=10.4324/9780203991763-7 |access-date=2021-05-11 |chapter-url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203991763-7 |chapter-url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Cultural attitudes ==
Globally, there are different cultural attitudes towards sex tourism. In less developed countries for example, families in poor rural areas may sell their children to human traffickers, who will take the children to major cities to work in the sex industry.<ref name="Samarasinghe">{{Cite book |last=Samarasinghe |first=Vidyamali |title=Female Sex Trafficking in Asia: The Resilience of Patriarchy in a Changing World |date=2008 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York}}</ref>{{pages needed|date=August 2025}} In Thailand for example, women will support their husbands by becoming prostitutes.<ref name="Samarasinghe" />{{pages needed|date=August 2025}} To send daughters into the sex industry, particularly in less developed countries, can often be seen as a viable source of income available to struggling families from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

The cultural attitudes of sex tourism in highly developed countries such as [[Australia]] however where sex trafficking is illegal and highly policed can offer a different perspective to those of lesser backgrounds. Brothels are still vivid within states such as New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria where people can exchange money for sex. Recent studies suggest that sex slavery is still happening in Australia, exploiting the vulnerability of individuals and families from poor backgrounds.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burn |first=Jennifer |date=June 12, 2019 |title=Human trafficking and slavery still happen in Australia. This comic explains how |url=https://theconversation.com/human-trafficking-and-slavery-still-happen-in-australia-this-comic-explains-how-112294 |work=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]]}}</ref>

Male tourists, sometimes known as ''sexpats'' (''expatriate'' + ''sex tourist''), join [[Online community|online communities]] in which they share advice on destinations<ref name="Monge-Nájera-2016">{{Cite journal |last=Monge-Nájera |first=J. |year=2016 |title=Male sexual tourism in Costa Rica: team spirit, peer dialogue and gender roles in a large sample of Internet forum posts |journal=Cuadernos de Investigación UNED |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=207–216 |doi=10.22458/urj.v8i2.1563}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Blevins |first=K. R. |last2=Holt |first2=T. J. |year=2009 |title=Examining the Virtual Subculture of Johns |journal=Journal of Contemporary Ethnography |volume=38 |issue=5 |pages=619–648 |doi=10.1177/0891241609342239}}</ref> and, although it is not among the most common cases, there is the category of "girlfriend experience" which, in some cases, evolves into an emotional relationship.<ref name="Monge-Nájera-2016" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Milrod |first=C. |last2=Weitzer |first2=R. |year=2012 |title=The Intimacy Prism: Emotion Management among the Clients of Escorts |journal=Men and Masculinities |volume=15 |issue=5 |pages=1–21 |doi=10.1177/1097184X12452148}}</ref>

General attitudes towards sex work are complex and often regarded as controversial.<ref name="Samarasinghe" />{{pages needed|date=August 2025}} Many countries where tourists come from can have harsher attitudes towards sexual services.<ref name="McPhee/McCartan">{{Cite book |last=McPhee |first=Duncan |title=Sex Offending and Sex Tourism: Problems, Policy, and Challenges |series=Palgrave Studies in Risk, Crime and Society}}</ref> Often the men who travel seeking to pay for sex may do so because it is much harder to engage in sex work in their home countries. Furthermore, in some countries, such as Cambodia and Thailand, this practice is considered commonplace, and men who do not engage in commercial sex may be considered unusual by their peers.<ref name="ProCon" />

Sociologists from the [[University of Leicester]] conducted a research study for the [[Economic and Social Research Council]] and End Child Prostitution and Trafficking campaign, which interviewed over 250 [[Caribbean]] sex tourists.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=Jacqueline Sánchez |title=Tourism and Sex: Culture, Commerce and Coercion |date=May 2000 |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-85567-549-0 |editor-last=Clift |editor-first=Stephen |series=Tourism, Leisure and Recreation |pages=41–53 |chapter=Chapter 3: Tourism and 'embodied' commodities: sex tourism in the Caribbean |access-date=7 October 2011 |editor-last2=Carter |editor-first2=Simon |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y6yMcS7-qWcC&pg=PA41}}</ref> Amongst their findings were:
* Preconceptions about [[Racialism (Racial categorization)|race]] and [[Gender roles|gender]] influenced the tourist's opinions.
* Underdeveloped countries are considered [[Cultural relativism|culturally different]], so in Western tourist's [[Cultural relativism#Political critique|understanding]], the exploitation or male domination of women is without consequence or stigma of that found in their home countries.

Despite a great deal of interest in sexual tourism amongst theorists, detailed studies of cultural attitude are rare,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bender |first=Kimberly |date=June 2004 |title=The Implications of Sex Tourism on Men's Social, Psychological, and Physical Health |url=http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR9-2/bender.pdf |journal=The Qualitative Report |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=176–191}}</ref> regardless of the increasing accessibility of group studies in the past three decades.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 February 2011 |title=BangkokPod Interviews Kaewmala of Thai Sex Talk |url=http://www.bangkokpodcast.com/thai-sex-talk-kaewmala/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211181803/http://www.bangkokpodcast.com/thai-sex-talk-kaewmala/ |archive-date=11 December 2012 |access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Erik |title=Open-Ended Prostitution as a Skillful Game of Luck: Opportunity, Risk and Security among Tourist-Oriented Prostitutes in Bangkok |url=http://www.pattayapages.com/girls/academic.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219164003/http://www.pattayapages.com/girls/academic.html |archive-date=19 February 2013}}</ref>

== Economic and policy implications ==
Sex tourism has implications for all nations involved.<ref name="McPhee/McCartan"/> Economically, sex tourism is encouraged by the tourist sectors of destination countries. It draws wealthy individuals with the allure of cheap, unstigmatised sexual activities, and stimulates the economy of poorer nations. This line of sex work ensures a consistent flow of income into developing countries' economies.<ref name="Mahler" />

In an article published by the [[University of Chicago]], it is argued that the promotion of sex tourism caters to tourists by enticing racial and ethnic stereotypes.<ref name="Patil">{{cite journal|last1=Patil|first1=Vrushali|date=2011|title=Reproducing-Resisting Race and Gender Difference: Examining India's Online Tourism Campaign from a Transnational Feminist Perspective|journal=Signs|volume=37|issue=1|pages=185–210|doi=10.1086/660181|s2cid=146310057}}</ref> This in turn creates ethical and policy implications, as colonial and traditional attitudes reinforce inequality between the groups.<ref name=Patil /> The state plays a vital part in this interaction, as governments create financially motivated barriers when asked to formulate more progressive and ethical policy.<ref name=Patil />

Sex work may yield higher wages than work in the formal sector, and can encourage engagement with the industry for those seeking to achieve a much higher quality of life.<ref name="Mahler" /> This economic temptation can often lead to sexual exploitation of children.<ref name=Mahler>{{cite journal|last1=Mahler|first1=Karen|title=Global Concern for Children's Rights: The World Congress Against Sexual Exploitation|journal=International Family Planning Perspectives|date=1997|volume=23|issue=2|pages=79–84|doi=10.2307/2950828|jstor=2950828|s2cid=58440462}}</ref> Young girls and adolescent women are some of the most common to be sold into slavery or transported across national borders to work in the commercial sex industry.<ref name=Mahler />

== Gay sex tourism ==
The sex tourism industry offers a market for gay, bisexual and bi-curious tourists. Studies suggest that gay sex tourism has similar motivations to non-gay sex tourism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/25299/|title=Identity and Sex: Concurrent Aspects of Gay Tourism|last=Monterrubio|first=J. Carlos|date=7 December 2008|website=mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> These studies suggest, "leisure activities and holidays have a particular significance for [[gay men]], as they provide an opportunity for constructing, confirming and/or changing their sexual identity."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hughes|first=Howard|date=February 1997|title=Holidays and homosexual identity|journal=Tourism Management|volume=18|issue=1|pages=3–7|doi=10.1016/s0261-5177(96)00093-3|issn=0261-5177}}</ref>

Popular gay sex tourism markets can be found in [[Gran Canaria]], [[Ibiza]], [[Sardinia]], [[Sicily]] and [[Fire Island]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Hughes|first=H. L.|pages=1–14|publisher=CABI|isbn=9781845930769|doi=10.1079/9781845930769.0001|title=Pink tourism: Holidays of gay men and lesbians|year=2006}}</ref> Similar to heterosexual sex tourism markets, some arrangements may be monetary and others may not. Different places have different ways of identifying their interest in such arrangements. For example, in [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, gay sex tourism has become a popular niche hosting a racially diverse market. The workers there are called "Michês" and stand out by wearing bright blue towels and often work in [[sauna]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=MITCHELL|first=GREGORY|date=2011|title=TurboConsumers in paradise: Tourism, civil rights, and Brazil's gay sex industry|journal=American Ethnologist|volume=38|issue=4|pages=666–682|issn=0094-0496|jstor=41410425|doi=10.1111/j.1548-1425.2011.01329.x}}</ref>

== Adult-only resorts ==
Over recent years, adult-only sex resorts have become a popular alternative for travellers wanting to experience consensual sex abroad whilst avoiding the ethical issues of paid sexual activity. Those resorts can be characterised as safe, consensual spaces, and sexually positive nature, where all expressions of gender, orientation, and relationships are free of any pressure.<ref name="Hutton-2019">{{Cite web |last=Hutton |first=Mercedes |date=16 October 2019 |title=Sex tourism is changing. Can Asia keep up? |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3033000/sex-tourism-changing-travellers-seek-pleasure-adult |access-date=2019-11-20 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> These resorts largely occur in [[Mexico]] and the [[Caribbean]]. Certain establishments will be clothing-optional resorts, where travellers can meet and make use of "playrooms".<ref name="Hutton-2019" />

== Child sex tourism ==
{{Main|Child sex tourism}}

Some sex tourists travel in order to engage in sex with children. While it is criminal in most countries, this industry is believed to involve as many as 2 million children around the world.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sex trade blights the lives of 2 million children; Canada is not doing enough to fight the international scourge of sex tourism |author=Janet Bagnall |work=Montreal Gazette |year=2007}}</ref> [[Thailand]] is considered to have the worst child sex trafficking record, followed closely by [[Brazil]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Crisis of Child Sexual Exploitation in Brazil: Between 250,000 and 2 million children forced into prostitution in Brazil|url=http://www.libertadlatina.org/LA_Brazils_Child_Prostitution_Crisis.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603204047/http://www.libertadlatina.org/LA_Brazils_Child_Prostitution_Crisis.htm|archive-date=3 June 2016|access-date=7 October 2011|publisher=Libertad Latina|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

"Child sex tourists may not have a specific preference for children as sexual partners but take advantage of a situation in which children are made available to them for sexual exploitation. It is often the case that these people have travelled from a wealthier country (or a richer town or region within a country) to a less-developed destination, where poorer economic conditions, favourable exchange rates for the traveller and relative anonymity are key factors conditioning their behaviour and sex tourism."<ref>{{cite web|title=Child Sex Tourism|url=http://www.ecpat.net/ei/csec_cst.asp|publisher=ECPAT International|access-date=3 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617133538/http://www.ecpat.net/ei/csec_cst.asp|archive-date=17 June 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In an effort to eradicate the practice, many countries have enacted laws that allow the prosecution of their citizens for [[child abuse]] that occurs outside their home country, even if it is not against the law in the country where the incident  took place. This is evident in America, under the United States [[PROTECT Act of 2003|Protect Act]].<ref>{{cite web
|url         = http://www.thailawforum.com/sex-crimes-in-thailand.html
|title       = US Sex Laws Abroad: The Long Arm of Uncle Sam
|author      = Chaninat & Leeds
|date        = 3 September 2009
|website        = Sex Laws in Thailand, Part 1
|publisher   = Thailand Law Forum
|access-date  = 7 October 2011
}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 allows for prosecution in British criminal courts of British citizens who commit sexual offences against children while traveling abroad; this legislation was used to prosecute [[Richard Huckle]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/06/richard-huckle-given-23-life-sentences-for-abusing-malaysian-children|title=Richard Huckle given 22 life sentences for abuse of Malaysian children|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=6 June 2016}}</ref> In Ireland, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ireland|first1=Government of Ireland|title=Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/act/2/enacted/en/print.html|access-date=12 January 2017|date=2017-11-16}}</ref> gives worldwide jurisdiction to prosecutors for sexual offences committed against children outside the state, and was used to prosecute Kieran Creaven for sexual acts with a child and producing child pornography in The Philippines in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/1203/1264668-kieran-creaven-courts/|title=Former RTÉ Sport producer Kieran Creaven jailed for 10 years|website=[[RTE.ie]]|date=3 December 2021}}</ref>  [[The Code of Conduct for the Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism]] is an international organisation composed of members of the [[tourism]] industry and [[children's rights]] experts with the purpose to eradicate the practice of child sex tourism.

[[UNICEF]] notes that sexual activity is often seen as a private matter, making communities reluctant to act and intervene in cases of sexual exploitation.<ref name="DeenaGuzder2" /> These attitudes make children far more vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Most exploitation of children takes place as a result of their absorption into the adult sex trade where they are exploited by local people and sex tourists.<ref name="DeenaGuzder2" /> The [[Internet]] provides an efficient global networking tool for individuals to share information on destinations and procurement.<ref name="DeenaGuzder2"/>

In cases involving children, the U.S. has relatively strict domestic laws that hold accountable any American citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. who travels abroad for the purpose of engaging in illicit conduct with a minor.<ref name="DeenaGuzder2">{{cite web |last1=Guzder |first1=Deena |author1-link=Deena Guzder |title=Local Thai NGOs discuss efforts to end commercial sexual exploitation |url=http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/untold-stories/local-thai-ngos-discuss-efforts-end-commercial-sexual-exploitation |website=[[Pulitzer Center|Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting]] |access-date=9 July 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416010609/http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/untold-stories/local-thai-ngos-discuss-efforts-end-commercial-sexual-exploitation |archive-date=16 April 2013 |date=30 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}{{cbignore}}</ref> As of 2009, sex tourism and human trafficking remain fast-growing industries.<ref name="DeenaGuzder2"/>

== Regulation ==
[[File:Red-light district of Amsterdam by day. 2012.JPG|thumb|[[De Wallen]], [[Amsterdam]]'s [[red-light district]], offers activities such as legal [[Prostitution in the Netherlands|prostitution]] and a number of [[Coffeeshop (Netherlands)|coffee shops]] that sell [[marijuana]]. It is one of the main tourist attractions.]]

Regulations and government involvement can be seen to have a positive impact on the community. It is argued that, by decriminalising prostitution, a government can protect sex workers under labor laws accessible by workers in other fields.<ref name="Godwin-2012">{{Cite journal|last=Godwin|first=John|date=October 2012|title=Sex Work and the Law in Asia and the Pacific|url=http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/hivaids/English/HIV-2012-SexWorkAndLaw.pdf|journal=UNDP Reports|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=6 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506030517/https://www1.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/hivaids/English/HIV-2012-SexWorkAndLaw.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> For example, in the [[Netherlands]], sex workers have access to unlimited free [[STI testing]].<ref name="Godwin-2012" />

The criminalisation of sex-related jobs may be seen to increase workers' vulnerability to [[HIV]] by escalating stigma and discernment. It is suggested that judgement towards sex workers within the healthcare community acts as a barrier to accessing regular and informed care.<ref name="Godwin-2012" />

== Opposition ==
[[File:FEMEN Ukraine is not a brothel (cropped).jpg|thumb|From the documentary ''[[Ukraine Is Not a Brothel]]''. Feminist activist group [[Femen]] protest against the increase in [[Sex tourism in Ukraine|sex tourism]] into Ukraine.]]
One of the primary sources of opposition to sex tourism is child sex tourism. This act is internationally defined as travel to have sex with a person under 18 years of age. An example of this would be when tourists from wealthy countries take advantage of legal prostitution, lower consent ages, and the lack of extradition laws in order to engage in sex with minors in foreign countries.<ref name=Bang>{{cite book|last1=Bang|first1=Brandy|last2=Baker|first2=Paige L.|last3=Carpinteri|first3=Alexis|last4=Van Hasselt|first4=Vincent B.|title=Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children|date=2014|publisher=Springer}}</ref> Developed nations with more conservative views of sexuality can provide a steady stream of tourists who feed the sex tourism industry.<ref name=Bang /> Human rights organisations and governments argue that this pattern creates an incentive for trafficking of children and violation of children's human rights.<ref name="UN Convention" />

Oppositions to sex tourism also stem from concerns around the trafficking of women. The [[United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime]] targets the trafficking of women and children as a central concern in their approach to [[transnational crime]].<ref name="UN Convention">{{cite book|title=United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols Thereto|date=2004|publisher=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime|location=Vienna}}</ref> [[United Nations|The United Nations]] Global Report on Trafficking in Persons states that women "comprise the vast majority" of human trafficking victims for sexual exploitation across the world.<ref name="UN Global Report Trafficking" /> They also note that women make up a relatively large portion of human trafficking offenders—about 30% of convicted human traffickers are women.<ref name="UN Global Report Trafficking">{{cite book|title=Global Report on Trafficking in Persons|date=2014|publisher=The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime|location=Vienna}}</ref> It can be seen that women who become involved in human trafficking were once victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation themselves.<ref name="Samarasinghe" />

These factors can all contribute to the debate on human rights and their relations with sex tourism. The sex tourism industry showcases a global view in sexual exploitation, and a lack of concern for the rights and dignity of sex workers.<ref name="Barry">{{cite book|last1=Barry|first1=Kathleen|title=The Prostitution of Sexuality|date=1994|publisher=NYU Press|location=New York|access-date=29 March 2015|url=https://nyupress.org/books/9780814712771/}}</ref> It can be argued that through the growing international porn industry, indicate a normalisation of prostitution and an increase in the exploitation of women.<ref name="Barry" />

== Prostitution by country ==
{{Main|Prostitution by country}}
The legality of prostitution and enforcement of such laws varies considerably around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Overs|first=Cheryl|title=Sex work and the law – it's complicated|url=http://theconversation.com/sex-work-and-the-law-its-complicated-81316|access-date=2021-10-11|website=The Conversation|date=2 August 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Prostitution laws around the world - National {{!}} Globalnews.ca|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/128029/at-a-glance-prostitution-laws/|access-date=2021-10-11|website=Global News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Countries and Their Prostitution Policies - Prostitution - ProCon.org|url=https://prostitution.procon.org/countries-and-their-prostitution-policies/|access-date=2021-10-11|website=Prostitution|language=en-US}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Prostitution in North America2.svg|Prostitution in North America
File:Prostitution in CentralAmerica-Caribbean.svg|Prostitution in Central America and the Caribbean
File:Prostitution in South America2.svg|Prostitution in South America
File:Prostitution in Europe.svg|Prostitution in Europe
File:Prostitution in Africa2.svg|Prostitution in Africa
File:Prostitution in Asia2.svg|Prostitution in Asia
File:Prostitution in Oceania2.png|Prostitution in Oceania
</gallery>

:{{legend|#00ffff|Decriminalization - No criminal penalties for prostitution}}
:{{legend|#008000|Legalization - prostitution legal and regulated}}
:{{legend|#336699|Abolitionism - prostitution is legal, but organized activities such as brothels and pimping are illegal; prostitution is ''not'' regulated}}
:{{legend|#ff7f00|Neo-abolitionism - illegal to buy sex and for 3rd party involvement, legal to sell sex}}
:{{legend|#FF0000|Prohibitionism - prostitution illegal}}
:{{legend|#585858|Legality varies with local laws}}

==See also==
{{portal|Sex|Sex work|Prostitution}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Jineterismo|Cuban ''{{lang|es|jineterismo|nocat=true}}'']]
* [[Female sex tourism]]
* [[Gigolo]]
* [[Male prostitution]]
* [[Male prostitution in the arts]]
* [[Prostitution by country]]
* [[Prostitution in India]] 
* [[Prostitution in Germany]]
* [[Prostitution in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Prostitution in Ukraine]]
* [[Prostitution in Russia]]
* [[Prostitution law]]
* [[Sex trafficking]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Prostitution}}
{{Sex}}
{{Tourism}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sex tourism| ]]
[[Category:Prostitution]]
[[Category:Sex industry|Tourism]]