THAILAND:
It’s no surprise that Thailand is on the top, considering the popularity of Bangkok’s red light district and portrayals of it in films like The Hangover Part II. Laws against prostitution in Thailand are hazy, and the country has a bit of a reputation for its sexually permissive nature. Many Thai people believe that prostitution and tolerating other’s lifestyles are a necessary part of Thai culture. There are approximately 3 million sex workers in Thailand, of whom roughly a third are minors. Unfortunately, a large number of the sex workers in Thailand are prostitutes through human trafficking, although the industry is often well regulated and the sex workers are there by choice.
BRAZIL:
Brazil has always been a popular tourist destination due to its exotic wildlife, beautiful people, pristine beaches and raucous festivals like Carnival. But it appears that Brazil might be vying for the number one spot for sex tourism as well. Additionally, Brazil is a popular destination for female sex tourism, which generally doesn’t see rates as high as male sex tourism. Brazil’s government has been especially watchful for sex tourism and sex trafficking during preparations for the World Cup, but the thriving sex trade doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
SPAIN:
Cities like Ibiza, Madrid and Barcelona have long been tourist destinations for all night clubbing, but a new kind of tourist activity is starting to increase in Spain. Prostitution is legal in Spain, making it one of the top destinations in Europe for sex tourism. In Madrid, the red light district is interwoven with regular streets, so it’s very accessible whereas in Barcelona the red light district is a popular tourist attraction. Surprisingly, there are often more South American sex workers present in Spain than Spanish sex workers, and many of the women are basically slaves to the sex industry. Although the film, Taken depicted France as a major player in the sex trafficking industry, Spain is one of the most popular European destinations for sex tourism.
INDONESIA:
Indonesia is another country that has a problem with child sex trafficking. Sex tourism exploits and furthers this problem, despite the fact that prostitution is legally considered a crime against decency and morality. Although prostitution is illegal, Indonesia remains a popular site for sex tourism. Sex workers can be found in traditional brothels, but one thing that sets the sex tourism industry in Indonesia apart is the popularity of online sex forums and prostitution rings that exist through social media. The availability of sex workers via the internet allows for ratings and facilitates the process of finding a prostitute. It seems like Indonesia’s sex tourism is highly efficient.
COLOMBIA:
Colombia, renowned for its opulent drug lords, located in South America and is another hot spot for sex tourism. Word on the street is that many Colombian sex workers will lower their prices if the client is attractive and a good negotiator, which may be why the country is so popular when it comes to sex tourism.
THE PHILIPPINES:
Although prostitution is illegal and often comes with harsh punishments in the Philippines, the sex tourism trade is alive and well. There are approximately 500,000 sex workers who masquerade as bar girls in the Philippines, and most clients are businessmen from East Asia or Western countries. Filipinos tend to be extremely tolerant of diverse lifestyles, which may be one reason why prostitution and sex tourism have flourished in the Philippines. One of the most shocking things about sex tourism in the Philippines is the sheer volume of it – a whopping 40-60% of tourists who visit the country are estimated to have traveled to the Philippines for sex tourism alone.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
Many Caribbean countries are seeing a rise in sex tourism, especially female sex tourism, and the Dominican Republic is no exception. It is estimated that anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 women work in the sex trade in the Dominican Republic, and many cross over from Haiti as well. Prostitution is not illegal in the Dominican Republic, although sex with minors is, and sadly many of the sex workers here are minors. The country’s sex tourism trade may be so popular due to its relative accessibility from both the United States and Europe.