The Dirty, Sordid Secrets Of Sexual Tourism Revealed On TV
Written: Dec 30 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful country with great natural resources such as rivers, parks etc
Cons: Sex Tourists are flocking to take advantage of young people; the long arms of laws should reach criminals operating on foreign soils
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| charles's Full Review: Costa Rica |
Disclaimer: A small group of tourists that fall under the category of sexual predators only care about breaking local laws while having fun. They are attracted by a few locals, sometimes international lawbreakers who promise to deliver high school girls to their hotel door It's one of these awful, hidden secrets of foreign travels you can uncover only if you pay enough, close attention on your treks. Yet, it's something that most seasoned travelers will talk about when they get back home with their buddies. It's the fruit of their observations of some of their fellow men on foreign soils.
I must quickly add that this etat de choses is not new unfortunately as it regularly happens in other places, sometimes under the nose of local authorities. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, I witnessed first-hand when cruise ships after cruise ships would unload tourists from the industrialized countries such as Germany, the US, Canada, England, Belgium, Sweden, France etc at some Caribbean ports. In some of these circumstances, I wondered whether they forgot about the laws of their countries. Some of these people made their fellow men and women ashamed as they venture out to look for young girls whom they can bribe or give small gifts to in return for the use of their bodies. Marred in economic problems, these small countries became fertile, attractive grounds for these pedophiles. It's somewhat of a catch-22 situation. Tourism plays a significant role in the country's GNP. The country's climate and natural beauties are very attractive to any person battling the cold season and snow. Costa Rica, specially San Jose, boasts of a huge international diaspora. A lot of them are law-abiding people living and working in such a beautiful, bountiful environment. But, it's the small group of undesirable men and women giving a hard time to all the others!
20/20 revealed the case of sexual predators operating in Costa Rica
Is this a trend shift from Asian countries such as Thailand to Costa Rica and the Caribbean basin?
While the president and other authorities, interviewed by the 20/20's crew, discarded the illicit traffic of school girls as a minor problem, some other people from social organizations argued that the problem is magnified in the general media. The program showed something that most people prefer to keep hidden. It showed images and conversations of a young girl (baby faced..) who was lured by a US doctor who appeared on the show. What was the doctor's response to why he had sex with the girl? He replied he did not see any problems with that since it is accepted in the culture.
For God's sake, a girl is a girl anywhere in the world, but not in a third-world or developing country! At least, that's how things should be! Without the entrapment of materialistic promises! This doctor should have known better. That's something he knows that he can get away with in the United States of America. Why should it be permissible in another country? Prostitution has always been around and will always be as long as people continue to interact, based on needs and transactions. We are not talking about adult women or men who decide to get into the oldest trade. We are talking about children whose parents think are at school. Some of these kids were lured or herded to the hotel rooms by some pimps. You can see them wearing their uniforms and school bags. This doctor and others involved in this specific case will go to trial in the US.
In this review, I don't even want to touch the cases of the young "jotos" called boytoys. That's also a social problem as significant as the illicit traffic with minor females. A lot of these boys will end up being marginalized by a strong "macho" culture that has no place for these types of boys who will grow up to be men. Because of all the relations with the relaxed US culture, these boys may have it a little easier in comparison with their counterparts in, say, Cuba and other South or Central American countries.
What can Costa Rican authorities do to combat this social problem that comes along with tourism?
The local authorities should be proactive instead of reactive. This type of problem has the potential of tarnishing the pristine image of the country. The last thing they want is for all the bad guys, the sexual predators to start flocking to the country looking for young girls to go to bed with. They'd better come up with their own customized laws based on the culture of the country. These laws must allow to deter and prosecute those who break them. If you do the crime, you will do the time no matter where you come from. On the 20/20 report, the president of the country is aware of the problems and promises to remediate it as soon as possible.
When you see children being hurt, when you see them crying and feeling sorry, you know you have a major problem on your hand. Keep in mind that this review could be written about any other Central American or South American or Caribbean countries. The social problems that come along with tourism are numerous. . They fall under the general epidemic of women's trafficking from all over the world. Except in this situation, the lawbreakers go to the specific countries to search for their next victims. Local authorities must remain vigilant. I think there is a law in Cuba that forbids a local woman from going into a tourist's hotel room. I don't know if it's enforced or not. Some tourists may go as far as bribing these security guards. Any way, now when you travel, you will keep your eyes open!
Recommended:
Yes
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charles
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Location: CA, USA
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