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. 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.
Sex tourism is commonly regarded as a 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 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 laws 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.
