Female sex tourism

There is an ongoing debate on terminology regarding female sex tourism. Pruitt and LaFont argue that the term female sex tourism is not representative of the relationship that female tourists have with local men. They argue that female sex tourism oversimplifies the motives of these women and that romance tourism explains the complex nature of what these women are engaging themselves in while involved in romance tours. == Destinations ==

Female sex tourists visit Africa (The Gambia, Kenya, Morocco), the Caribbean (Jamaica, The Bahamas, Cuba, and Barbados), and Southern Europe (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Croatia). A survey from 2009 conducted by Wanjohi Kibicho in Malindi Kenya from the book ''Sex Tourism in Africa: Kenya's Booming Industry,'' found that out of the sex tourists surveyed, 61% were between the ages of 46–50, 31–35 (3%) being the youngest age bracket. Of the background of these women surveyed 22% were from Germany, 19% from Italy, and 15% from the Netherlands. In addition 71% of those surveyed were revisiting the destination. In gauging the reasoning for sex touring, Kibicho summarizes that women who feel rejected by men in the developed countries for being "overweight and older" find that in Kenya this is suddenly reversed. There they are "romanced", appreciated and "loved" by men. == Motives for travel ==

Traditional sex tourism Traditional female sex tourists have the same intentions as their male counterparts, and travel to foreign countries that have lower wages, and take advantage of cheap prostitution at a level unaffordable in their own countries. Situational sex tourism Situational sex tourists differ from traditional sex tourists by considering their sexual activities with the sex worker as an added amenity to their original motive to travel. Situational sex tourism occurs when foreign tourists are attracted by male sex workers, known as beach boys in the Caribbean or gringueros in Costa Rica. According to the tourists, they are usually attracted by the exotic appeal that these men possess. This appeal can result from the ethnic differences between the sex worker and the sex tourist or the foreign lifestyle that the local men live. The sex workers will often approach women who they deem vulnerable for various reasons, such as weight or age. Romance tourism Romance tourism refers to a different relationship than female sex tourism. The concept of romance tourism came from researchers' observations in Jamaica; it appeared to them that the female tourist and local males viewed their relationship with each other solely based on romance and courtship rather than lust and monetary value. Romance tourism is an issue of gender identification: "gender identity is a relational construct, the Western women who seek to break from conventional roles require a different kind of relationship with men in order to realize a new gender identity". With increasing independence and financial self-reliance, women are able to travel, showing their independence from men of their culture, "female tourists have the opportunity to explore new gender behavior". == Sex workers ==

Background and intentions Male sex workers have more freedom and security than female sex workers do because in most of the cases males are not confined to a brothel or a pimp and are not generally physically abused by their clients. Some sex workers will target this type of exotic woman for their own personal pleasure with no guarantee of monetary gain. On the other side of the spectrum, most sex workers have the intention of making some form of monetary gain. Such a sex worker typically profiles tourists in order to maximize potential payouts. While profiling he will look for older women, over the age of forty or young, overweight women. The sex worker considers these women vulnerable and will play on their vulnerability to get the tourists to obtain feelings for the sex worker. Once the tourist and sex worker obtain a relationship, the sex worker finds it easier for them to engage in a monetary exchange. Defined by the tourist Romance tourists do not label their sex workers "prostitutes". The local men and the tourists understand their roles in the relationship. The primary difference in definition of a local man to a romance tourist and a local man to a sex tourist is the emphasis the romance tourist places on passion instead of a transaction of goods or money for sexual favors. == Health risks ==

The rate of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, may be relatively high in some countries which are popular destinations for female sex tourism, particularly in comparison to the home countries of many sex tourists. Little or no research has been done into the transmission rates of HIV and other STDs pertaining to sex tourism. Neither has there been reliable research done into whether or not condom use is prevalent among female sex tourists. However, writer Julie Bindel speculates, in an article for The Guardian, that HIV infection figures for the region suggest that condom use by the "beach boys" in the Caribbean may be sporadic, yet female sex tourists do not appear especially preoccupied by the potential risks. Women seeking to experience sex with foreign men put themselves at a higher risk for sexually transmitted infections. Condom use during sex tours is relatively low. It is often cited that women have the intention to have safe sex with their casual sex partners while on vacation, but at some point during the initiation of the condom, the women do not follow through. The sex workers usually will not initiate the use of a condom due to the limited availability of condoms, cost, beliefs, or previous experiences the sex worker has had with condoms. Female sex tourists report that, given the atmosphere and the exoticness of their lover, condoms are rarely used or discussed prior to engaging in sexual activities. The lack of barrier contraceptives increases the risk of the tourist obtaining a sexually transmitted infection from their foreign partner especially when their partner has been with multiple women. It has been found that in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica, female sex tourists engage in some form of unprotected sexual activity with local men known as gringueros (men who pursue gringas, women from the United States), according to data researched by Nancy Romero-Daza. The women in the study were found to not be traditional sex tourists but situational sex tourists. ==In popular culture==

• Heading South is a 2005 drama film about three middle-aged women travelling to Haiti as sexual tourists at a time of political unrest. • Paradise: Love is a 2012 drama film about a 50-year-old Austrian woman who travels to Kenya as a sex tourist. • In 2020, Saturday Night Live faced controversy for a sketch starring Adele and Kate McKinnon as female sex tourists in Africa, which was accused of racial fetishisation. ==See also==