Sex Tourism Statistics
Sex tourism is a huge industry that is largely unspoken about. However, the statistics are quite surprising and we shall look at some sex tourism statistics in today’s article.
How Many People Engage in Sex Tourism Each Year?
Sex tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry with hundreds of thousands of men and women traveling to locations all around the world each and every year.
It is estimated that around 650,000 female sex tourists alone have taken part in sex tourism since the 1980’s alone. So it’s not hard to imagine what a large number of men take part in sex tourism each year!
It is quite hard to know the exact numbers of people who take part in sex tourism as many people go over to foreign countries in what appears to be a typical vacation but then use the services of sex workers while they are there.
However it is clear that the sex tourism industry is a significant factor in the economies of many cities as more and more facilities and infrastructure are being built to cater for the increasing number of sex tourists.
The sex tourism industry also supports an estimated workforce of a million people around the world and puts billions of dollars into local and international economies.
What sorts of people are Sex Tourists?
Sex tourists come from all walks of life. We mentioned before that a large number of sex tourists are females, however the large majority are straight males.
The gay and lesbian sex tourism sector is growing significantly around the world and it is estimated that around 10 percent of all sex tourists are now gay or lesbian. Many countries around the world are being increasingly tolerant towards homosexuals and are actually encouraging them to come to their cities by marketing their destinations to them specifically and building facilities to cater to their needs.
Sex tourists can also be of any age. There are sex tourists in their twenties and sex tourists in their eighties – so there is no typical sex tourist.
Where do the Majority of Sex Tourists Travel To?
While sex tourism isn’t limited to any specific destinations and it is indeed very diverse and spread around the world – however there are certain destinations that have become sex tourism hotspots.
For female sex tourists the most popular destination is Jamaica – with an estimated 80,000 women heading there every year. Other places in the Caribbean such as Cuba and Barbados are also very popular with female sex tourists. European female sex tourists tend to head to southern European countries for sex tours – the most popular ones include Spain, Greece and Italy.
Male sex tourists frequent different destinations to female sex tourists. Their sex tourism hot spots are generally centered around renowned red-light districts. South-East Asia – in particular Thailand – is the most popular destination for male sex tourists (and many female sex tourists), with most of them heading to Pattaya and Bangkok.
However South America is the fastest growing region for sex tourists – with a huge number heading to Columbia and Brazil largely because of the relaxed laws and tolerance towards the sex industry as a whole.
In Europe the most frequented countries for sex tourists are in Eastern Europe – with Ukraine, Czech Republic and Croatia topping the list.
The Not-so-nice statistics regarding Sex Tourism
In every industry there’s always a bad side. While sex tourism generally speaking is not illegal, those that take part in illegal activities such as child prostitution, non-consensual sex or human trafficking are breaking the law.
Unfortunately not everyone abides by moral and legal rules regarding sex tourism – and it is estimated that approximately 2 million children are involved in illegal child sex tourism around the world each year. In fact, 40 percent of prostitutes in Thailand are said to be children, and a third of all prostitutes in Cambodia are under 18. In India there are around 1.2 million children involved in prostitution and the sex industry.
These statistics are alarming so it’s important to be aware of this situation and ensure to act responsibly when travelling for sex tourism.