Sex Tourism in Amsterdam
Author: Aby Chacko
3 Commentries
Sex Tourism in Amsterdam
Sex tourism may be simply described as sexual intercourse while away from home - an all inclusive term, but one which permits a discussion of different paradigms. Krushes-Mount Burton (1995:192) defined sex tourism as a form of tourism motivated by the desire to engage in commercial sex, makes the complex process by which individuals choose to seek sexual gratification, first within prostitution and secondly as a part of the tourist experience. To restrict definitions of sex tourism, as is often done, to the red-light districts of places like Amsterdam is to limit the understanding of the phenomenon, and to artificially separate the location from the social context.
Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.63 million international visitors annually. The number of visitors has been growing steadily over the past decade. This can be attributed to an increasing number of European visitors. Amsterdam is one of the most well-known sex tourism destinations. The sex industry is big business there, and it brings 5% of Netherlands's GDP. Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam. In the national basis, prostitution in the Netherlands is legal and regulated. Operating a brothel is also legal in Amsterdam. De Wallen, the largest and best-known red-light district in Amsterdam, is a destination for international sex tourism. According to Radio of Netherlands, prostitutes were estimated to be 25,000 to 30,000 in the Netherlands. Additionally, most prostitutes are estimated to be foreigners and the foreign prostitutes in Amsterdam are in high ratio, approximately 40% from Central Europe, 20% from Latin America, 12% from Western Europe, 8% from Africa and 4% from Asia. In the 1970s, the majority of foreign prostitutes were from Thailand and the Philippines, in the 1980s from Latin America and the Caribbean. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, many prostitutes came from Central and Eastern Europe. Amsterdam prostitution occurs in various forms: window and street prostitution, clubs, escort agencies and home-based prostitution.
Basically, the tourist is normal consumer purchases goods and services for personal consumption. Gray (1970) categorizes tourists into sunlust and wanderlust tourists. While sunlust is essentially about rest and relaxation in the form of the 3 Ss in tourism (sun, sea and sand), wanderlust is characterized by a desire to explore and experience people and culture. Plog (2001) divided tourists into simple categories using personality traits to identify tourist types. The key factors that distinguish different tourists are the level of travel and the nature of the travel experience. The original distinction was between allocentric and psychocentric tourists. However, Plog updated his classical study and replaced allocentrics with 'ventures' and psychocentrics with 'dependables'. First, the ventures (or allocentric tourists) are confident and adventurous, seeking challenges and new experiences, and are prepared to take risks; second, the dependables (or psychocentric tourists) are the opposite. They are less adventurous, home loving and prefer familiar surroundings and safety. They travel less frequently and stay for shorter periods.
In the Red Light District, tourists will find several theaters, three of which have nightly sex shows of one sort or another. Each of the three places is different, and two of the three regularly feature live sex by a couple as part of the show. All the shows involve sexy stunts, the most famous of which involves a banana. They are extremely popular among people on bachelor/stag party weekends, especially from England, but plenty of bachelorette/hen parties get in on the fun as well.
Also throughout the Red Light District, tourists will find an abundance of shops that sell DVDs, magazines, and every manner of sex toy they could possibly think of. Whether they are straight or gay, man or woman, tourists will be able to find something you like at one or more of the shops.
Since prostitution is legal in Amsterdam, it should be no surprise that there are plenty of call-out and internet services where tourist can have a girl come to their hotel or apartment. Prices and quality vary, but this is usually fairly expensive since the girl has to travel back and forth and there is a bit of risk involved for her as well.
Sex tourism includes domestic sex tourism, which is travel within the same country, or international sex tourism, which involves travel across national borders. It is a multibillion dollar industry that supports an international workforce estimated to number in the millions. It has been argued by some people that sex tourism benefits not only the sex industry but also the airline, taxi, restaurant and hotel industries. Human Rights organizations warn that sex tourism contributes to human trafficking and child prostitution.
References:
Pascoe, R; and Catling, C. (2007) Amsterdam: Eyewitness Travel Guides. London: Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd.
Robinson, P; Heitmann, S; and Dieke, U.C. (2011) Research Themes for Tourism, 1st edition: CABI
Stephen, C; and Carter, S. (2000) Tourism and Sex: Tourism, Leisure and Recreation, 1st edition. London: Biddles Limited.
Sex tourism may be simply described as sexual intercourse while away from home - an all inclusive term, but one which permits a discussion of different paradigms. Krushes-Mount Burton (1995:192) defined sex tourism as a form of tourism motivated by the desire to engage in commercial sex, makes the complex process by which individuals choose to seek sexual gratification, first within prostitution and secondly as a part of the tourist experience. To restrict definitions of sex tourism, as is often done, to the red-light districts of places like Amsterdam is to limit the understanding of the phenomenon, and to artificially separate the location from the social context.
Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.63 million international visitors annually. The number of visitors has been growing steadily over the past decade. This can be attributed to an increasing number of European visitors. Amsterdam is one of the most well-known sex tourism destinations. The sex industry is big business there, and it brings 5% of Netherlands's GDP. Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam. In the national basis, prostitution in the Netherlands is legal and regulated. Operating a brothel is also legal in Amsterdam. De Wallen, the largest and best-known red-light district in Amsterdam, is a destination for international sex tourism. According to Radio of Netherlands, prostitutes were estimated to be 25,000 to 30,000 in the Netherlands. Additionally, most prostitutes are estimated to be foreigners and the foreign prostitutes in Amsterdam are in high ratio, approximately 40% from Central Europe, 20% from Latin America, 12% from Western Europe, 8% from Africa and 4% from Asia. In the 1970s, the majority of foreign prostitutes were from Thailand and the Philippines, in the 1980s from Latin America and the Caribbean. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, many prostitutes came from Central and Eastern Europe. Amsterdam prostitution occurs in various forms: window and street prostitution, clubs, escort agencies and home-based prostitution.
Basically, the tourist is normal consumer purchases goods and services for personal consumption. Gray (1970) categorizes tourists into sunlust and wanderlust tourists. While sunlust is essentially about rest and relaxation in the form of the 3 Ss in tourism (sun, sea and sand), wanderlust is characterized by a desire to explore and experience people and culture. Plog (2001) divided tourists into simple categories using personality traits to identify tourist types. The key factors that distinguish different tourists are the level of travel and the nature of the travel experience. The original distinction was between allocentric and psychocentric tourists. However, Plog updated his classical study and replaced allocentrics with 'ventures' and psychocentrics with 'dependables'. First, the ventures (or allocentric tourists) are confident and adventurous, seeking challenges and new experiences, and are prepared to take risks; second, the dependables (or psychocentric tourists) are the opposite. They are less adventurous, home loving and prefer familiar surroundings and safety. They travel less frequently and stay for shorter periods.
In the Red Light District, tourists will find several theaters, three of which have nightly sex shows of one sort or another. Each of the three places is different, and two of the three regularly feature live sex by a couple as part of the show. All the shows involve sexy stunts, the most famous of which involves a banana. They are extremely popular among people on bachelor/stag party weekends, especially from England, but plenty of bachelorette/hen parties get in on the fun as well.
Also throughout the Red Light District, tourists will find an abundance of shops that sell DVDs, magazines, and every manner of sex toy they could possibly think of. Whether they are straight or gay, man or woman, tourists will be able to find something you like at one or more of the shops.
Since prostitution is legal in Amsterdam, it should be no surprise that there are plenty of call-out and internet services where tourist can have a girl come to their hotel or apartment. Prices and quality vary, but this is usually fairly expensive since the girl has to travel back and forth and there is a bit of risk involved for her as well.
Sex tourism includes domestic sex tourism, which is travel within the same country, or international sex tourism, which involves travel across national borders. It is a multibillion dollar industry that supports an international workforce estimated to number in the millions. It has been argued by some people that sex tourism benefits not only the sex industry but also the airline, taxi, restaurant and hotel industries. Human Rights organizations warn that sex tourism contributes to human trafficking and child prostitution.
References:
Pascoe, R; and Catling, C. (2007) Amsterdam: Eyewitness Travel Guides. London: Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd.
Robinson, P; Heitmann, S; and Dieke, U.C. (2011) Research Themes for Tourism, 1st edition: CABI
Stephen, C; and Carter, S. (2000) Tourism and Sex: Tourism, Leisure and Recreation, 1st edition. London: Biddles Limited.