Sex tourism

This article reviews the existing literature on sex tourism and prostitutio n. The review reveals a relatively narrow definition of what the subject co nstitutes. This paper proposes a holistic framework that moves beyond the t raditional use of monetary exchange as the defining criterion of sex touris m. Besides pecuniary aspects, the framework incorporates several parameters , including intention and opportunity, tourism, length of time, prostitute- tourist relationship, sexual encounter, and who travels. These are used as important criteria in establishing what constitutes sex tourism and/or iden tifying sex tourists. By adopting this new perspective it is hoped that exi sting double standards towards sex tourism and its workers are recognized a nd overcome. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.