Tourism security has traditionally been about protecting visitors from themselves, from other tourists and from locals who seek to rob and or steal from them, commit fraud against them or in one way or another verbally or physically assault the visitor.
Unfortunately not all visitors are angles of perfection, and at least in some nations around the world children are sold into sexual slavery to be used by and at the visitor's pleasure. Despite what most people want to believe, there are people who travel for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with a minor.
There are many reasons for this sickness, ranging from the belief that people in the lesser developed world are lesser to the notion that the child predator believes that a child is more likely to be virginal. Needless to say, no matter what the reason given to justify the crime, child sexual exploitation is illegal and destructive to the child and to his/her society. The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) is a fundamental violation of children's rights. Such exploitation has existed throughout history, yet it is only in recent decades that the scale of these crimes has been brought to the attention of governments and the public.
To make matters even more difficult, visitors who engage in child-sex tourism do not fall into any one pattern. These people may be habitual or experimental -abusers. The results however are always the same; the child is left scarred for life. There are numerous hypotheses as to why child-sex tourism is on the rise. Among these are:
1. Being more aware, we now have better reporting of crimes against children
2. The introduction of low cost carriers has made travel to more distant locations more affordable
3. Being far from home allows people a sense of anonymity and a lowering of inhibitions
Child-sex tourists may be preferential abusers, who deliberately seek out children for sex, or they may be situational abusers, who engage in sexual acts with children out of experimentation often fueled by opportunity or a feeling of anonymity as a result of being away from their home. The rapid and global growth of low cost air travel, for example, has made airfares comparatively more accessible and so new and emerging destinations are within reach of a high number of tourists, including potential perpetrators of child sex crimes.
Sexual tourism and especially that which preys on minors can become a social cancer that gnaws at the very fabric of a tourism industry. Unfortunately, no one knows exactly how many children around the world are victims to such exploitation. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that the numbers of victims may be in the millions. Human trafficking as an illegal industry is thought to generate billions of US dollars overall and it is believed that nearly 60% of all trafficking worldwide is for sexual exploitation, with over 20% of the victims being children.
In order to begin to deal with this problem, I offer the following suggestions.
Recognize that the problem exists in your community
One of the great problems with this hidden illness is that many tourism communities are either unaware of choose not to see the problem. Ignoring a problem of this magnitude does not make the problem disappear rather it only increases the problem's intensity.
Develop a task force and work with local law enforcement to analyze and develop strategies
When it comes to sexually oriented tourism one solution does not fit all. Does this form of exploitation exist due to lack of child protection services or laws? Is poverty a major factor? Have law enforcement officials not given this problem the attention that it deserves?
Develop consequences for those participating in taking advantage of children
There tend to be numerous people who are involved with sexual exploitation, among these are: the consumer, the person "renting" the child, the provider, such as a kidnapper or parent who "sells" the child and the middlemen, such as hoteliers who permit children to be exploited on their premises. All three need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That means that hotels need to be informed that if they turn a blind eye toward child sexual exploitation they will be either severely fined, prison time will be given, or the hotel is liable to be closed.
Do not hide a problem, but expose it
Tourism communities that suffer from this problem need to publicize that they have a zero tolerance policy. This policy means that tourism officials need to produce information warning visitors that the exploitation of children will not be tolerated. This information needs to be at airports, in hotel rooms, and at tourism information centers. Tourism professionals know how to market and it is their responsibility to use their marketing capabilities to expose a problem and produce travel warnings as a way to help alleviate the problem.
Be mindful that children may be used in many formats
Not only does sexual tourism exploit children for immediate sexual gratification, but children may be used also for the production of pornographic films end videos. This means that new laws may be needed to protect children or existing laws may need to be enforced to greater extent.
Work with the local communities
The fight against the sexual exploitation of children is a way that the tourism community can show a community that it cares. Work with local social organizations, with religious organizations and any other group that is also concerned about this problem. By showing that tourism officials are not only concerned about this problem, but prepared to work to solve it, the local tourism industry has gone a long way to winning the hearts and minds of local residents.
Use words that force people to realize that what is being done is wrong
Tourism uses too many euphemisms. When it comes to child exploitation the stronger the word the better. For example, rather than saying "child pornography" call it "child abuse viewing materials". Make the words as strong as possible as a way of shaming people.
Do not be afraid to publicize the names of people who are abusing children
Let the world know that these people are selling or purchasing children or allowing the use of illegal and immoral activities on their premises. The essential point is that tourism can become a major force for good and show the world that the tourism industry cares.
Dr. Peter E. Tarlow is president of Tourism & More and a well-known speaker throughout the world on topics of importance to the tourism and hotel industry. He also is the writer and editor or the free tourism e-newsletter Tourism Tidbits. Tarlow can be reached at ptarlow@tourismandmore.com.
