Borobodur, The Lost Temple of Java - Part 1

Borobodur, The Lost Temple of Java - Part 2

Baliem Valley, Papua - Indonesia

In the central mountain of Irian Jaya, lies a grand valley with 72 km long and 16 - 31 km wide, inhabited by Neolithic warrior and farmer, the Dani Tribes and other sub tribes of Yali and Lani with their complex and primitive cultures, which looks more like "stone age" cultures.

 

Welcome to the beautiful Baliem Valley. 

We will take you to experience an exciting adventure by exploring the Baliem Valley and the unique, primitive traditions and way of live of the tribes who live in the valley.

Baliem valley it self is located in Wamena regency in Irian Jaya, West Papua which is well known as the home of the Dani tribes.To reach this area, you have to fly from Jakarta or Bali to Jayapura (the capital province of Irian Jaya / Papua), and then fly from Jayapura to Wamena. We can fly from Jakarta to Jayapura and then from Jayapura to Wamena in the same day.

This valley has been the most visited part of the island, especially in recent years. The Dani Tribe speak related Papuan, or non - Austronesian language and live in the high central range of Papua Island, the most eastern province of Indonesia. 

Until the last decades the Dani tribes were some of the most isolated populations by swamps and mountains. They grew root crops, raised pig and used polished stone axes and adzes. They didn't make pottery (which means "sign of the modernity"), but otherwise their technology was very much like that of the Neolithic of the Old and New Worlds.

There may be 250,000 Dani Tribe living in the central mountains, many live scattered among the steep mountain slopes. The Baliem Valley has one of the highest densities of population in Papua Province. The Dani Tribe build their huts in a compound nicely express both environmental adaptation and Dani's character. The men's and women's huts have thick thatched roofs which keep rain, yet retain the heat from the earth, along with just enough smoke to discourage the mosquito.

 

The temperatures of the highland are ranged from 26 degrees Celsius at the day time and 12 degrees at night.

The highlights of sightseeing are Dani Market in WAMENA Town, WAUMA Village and, which can be easily reach on foot or by car from Wamena. Farther out are AIKIMA, with its 250 years old mummy, SUROBA, JIWIKA and neighboring villages. 

With 2 hours climbing, you can see the salt spring where the Dani Tribe women make salt in primitive way fashion for centuries. Outer adventures are southward to KURIMA area, where the Dani and Yali Tribes' way of life mixed into a unique combination.

Baliem Valley Festival

The baliem festival it self will be held on every august or september.This festival is so unique. The main point of interest of the festival will be the massive tribal attraction involving different tribes living on the villages around Baliem Valley such as Dani, Lani and Yali tribe. All tribes group will deliver their envoy to attend the festival while bringing all tribes attributes, kotekas, art and craft. The baliem festival is a right chance to observe the rich cutlure of the hinterland. 

Baliem valley area is mainly occupied by three main big clan, namely Dani, Yali and Lani. They have different phisical feature, culture and way of life as well as unique custom. manyu kinds of tribal attraction will be perfomed by the stone-age tribe group. Among them are the Mocked War, Pig Feast, Earth Cooking ceremony, traditional mouth harpa, etc.

Each tribe group will come over with their own identity. Here you will see clear difference among them refer to their dressing. The Dani man only use small koteka (penis gourd / penis cover), the Lani tribes use bigger Koteka, their body is much bigger than the average Dani tribe, while the Yali has long slender Koteka with rattan belt corved waist lenght.

By attending the masive baliem festival, you will have a great chance to know and learn the culture of each attending tribes without having to make the visit to their compunds deep in the hinterland of West Papua.

Beside to present during the days of the festival, we will also held a trekking trip in Jiwika village in the suburban of Wamena to see the old smoked mummy and salt pool where you will enjoy and see how to make salt in their traditional way. As you will entering the site, you will return to the stone age era. Grass dressed woman, dressless man, just having a long slender penis cup, man with arrows and bows, and with the body ornaments.

Source: http://www.adventureindonesia.com/irian-baliem-general.htm

Pro Poor Tourism

Pro Poor tourism is set up in developing countries as a means to improve the local economy for local people. It enhances the linkages between tourism businesses and poor people, so that poverty is reduced and poor people are able to participate more effectively in tourism development. The aims of pro-poor ranges from increasing local employment to involving local people in the decision making process. Any type of company can be involved such as a small lodge or a tour operator. The most important factor is not the type of company or the type of tourism, but that poor people receive an increase in the net benefits from tourism.

Source: http://www.ecotourdirectory.com/pro-poor-tourism.htm

Peliputan Pariwisata Belum Pro Rakyat

DENPASAR I SURYA Online - Guru Besar Fakultas Sastra Universitas Udayana Denpasar Prof Dr Nyoman Darma Putra mengatakan, peliputan media massa di Indonesia tentang pariwisata hingga saat ini belum mampu mengemas tulisan pariwisata yang prorakyat.

“Saat ini tulisan atau beritanya lebih banyak yang prowisatawan. Belum ada satu media di Indonesia, baik cetak maupun elektronik yang benar-benar mengemas liputannya untuk prorakyat,” katanya di Denpasar, Minggu (5/6/2011).

Ia mengatakan, dilihat dari isi secara keseluruhan, seluruh tayangan atau liputan tentang pariwisata sangat dipadati dengan informasi bagi calon wisatawan. Liputan didominasi oleh informasi tentang destinasi, seperti keindahan, keunikan dan aktivitas yang bisa dilakukan.

“Isinya adalah puja puji keindahan dan keunikan destinasi, bujuk rayuan kepada calon wisatawan agar bisa datang dan merasakan keunikan destinasi tersebut,” katanya.

Dikatakan, dengan banyak perhatian yang diberikan oleh media massa terhadap destinasi tersebut sangat memungkinkan bahwa media tersebut sangat tidak prorakyat, tetapi lebih propariwisata.

Menurut Darma Putra yang juga pengamat media mengatakan, sudah saatnya tulisan atau liputan pariwisata harus prorakyat, selain pro-”tourism”. Karena keduanya tidak bisa dipisahkan satu dengan yang lainnya.

Selain menyiapkan informasi destinasi sebanyak-banyaknya bagi wisatawan, tulisan perlu menyisipkan pemberitaan yang mengungkapkan tentang peran masyarakat setempat terhadap pengembangan destinasi atau kemajuan sektor tersebut.

“Media harus peka bila destinasinya banyak dikunjungi tetapi masyarakatnya tetap miskin atau hidup seadanya. Kalau kenyataan seperti itu, apa artinya perkembangan sektor pariwisata tersebut,” katanya.

Source: http://www.surya.co.id/2011/06/05/peliputan-pariwisata-belum-pro-rakyat

Discover Indonesia

The Republic of Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world comprising 17,504 large and small tropical islands fringed with white sandy beaches, many still uninhabited and a number even still unnamed. Straddling the equator, situated between the continents of Asia and Australia and between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans, it is as wide as the United States from San Francisco to New York, equaling the distance between London and Moscow.  Indonesia has a total population of more than 215 million people from more than 200 ethnic groups. The national language is Bahasa Indonesia. 

Among the most well known islands are Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan (formerly Borneo), Sulawesi (formerly Celebes), the Maluku Islands (or better known as Moluccas, the original Spice Islands) and Papua. Then, there is Bali “the world’s best island resort” with its enchanting culture, beaches, dynamic dances and music. But Indonesia still has many unexplored islands with grand mountain views, green rainforests to trek through, rolling waves to surf and deep blue pristine seas to dive in where one can swim with dugongs, dolphins and large mantarays.  

Because of her location, and geology, Indonesia is blessed with the most diverse landscape, from fertile ricelands on Java and Bali to the luxuriant rainforests of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, to the savannah grasslands of the Nusatenggara islands to snow-capped peaks of West Papua.

Her wildlife ranges from the prehistoric giant Komodo lizard to the Orang Utan and the Java rhino, to the Sulawesi anoa dwarf buffalos, to birds with exquisite plumage like the cockatoo and the bird of paradise. This is also the habitat of the Rafflesia the world’s largest flower, wild orchids, an amazing variety of spices, and aromatic hardwood and a large variety of fruit trees. Underwater, scientists have found in North Sulawesi the prehistoric coelacanth fish, a “living fossil” fish, predating the dinosaurs living some 400 million years ago, while whales migrate yearly through these waters from the South Pole. Here are hundreds of species of colourful coral and tropical fish to admire.

Culturally, Indonesia fascinates with her rich diversity of ancient temples, music, ranging from the traditional to modern pop, dances, rituals and ways of life, changing from island to island, from region to region. Yet everywhere the visitor feels welcomed with that warm, gracious innate friendliness of the Indonesian people that is not easily forgotten.   

Facilities-wise Indonesia’s hotels are second to none. In fact, many of our luxurious and unique hotels have constantly been listed as some of the best in the world, located on white sandy beaches, overlooking green river valleys, or situated in the heart of busy capital Jakarta. While Indonesia’s cities like Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, or Makassar are a hive of activities for business and leisure and a paradise for shoppers, offering upscale boutiques selling top brand names, to local goods at road-side stalls. Here gourmets can treat themselves to the many regions’ delectable spicy cuisine or dine sumptuously at international restaurants. And for sheer relaxation, Indonesia Spas are second to none to reinvigorate both body and mind.   

Convention centers are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, as many top international conferences and exhibitions are held in Jakarta, Bali to Manado, ranging from the Global Climate Change Conference in Bali to the World Ocean Conference in Manado , to trade and investment exhibitions and tourism trade shows in many provincial capital cities.

Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Padang, Bandung, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Makassar are connected by direct international flights, and many regular and low cost carriers fly passengers to Indonesia’s towns or remote locations. 

Source: http://www.indonesia.travel/en/discover-indonesia

A Little History of Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is often thought of as a recent phenomenon. The truth, however, is that people have been traveling long distances to better their health for thousands of years. Granted, it’s hard to picture a swarthy chieftain traipsing across the desert on his camel to barter for a nicer set of pearly whites. Were clinics and hospitals even around that long ago, thousands of years ago?

Archaeological evidence from the third millennium B.C. suggests that ancient Mesopotamians traveled to the temple of a healing god or goddess at Tell Brak, Syria, in search of a cure for eye disorders. A few thousand years later the Greeks and Romans would travel by foot or ship to spas and cult centers all around the Mediterranean. The Asclepia Temples, dedicated in honor of the Greek god of medicine, were some of the world's first health centers. Pilgrims would sometimes spend several nights in the temple, hoping Asclepios would appear in a dream and suggest a diagnosis or treatment. 

Later in the 16th and 17th centuries, spa towns such as St. Moritz and Bath became prime destinations for the European upper classes looking to soothe their ills. What kind of “procedures” were the ancients seeking? No butt lifts or hip and knee replacements, that’s for sure. Many were looking for “healing” waters or the benevolence of the gods to cure common ailments of the time such as rheumatism, syphilis, gonorrhea, blindness and paralysis.

Modern medical tourism as we know it today has largely been the result of several factors including the high cost of medical care in first world nations, ease of long distance travel, and advances in information technology.

Source: http://www.medicaltourism.com/en/a-little-history-of-medical-tourism.html

Sumatran Tiger

Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is a subspecies of tiger found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Genetic testing has revealed the presence of unique genetic markers, which isolate Sumatran tigers from all mainland subspecies. About 400-500 wild Sumatran tigers were believed to exist in 1998, but their numbers have continued to decline. According to the RSPB in March 2008 there were approximately 300 Sumatran Tigers remaining in the wild.

Characteristics

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest of the tiger subspecies as compared to the Siberian tiger which is the largest.

Sumatran male tigers average 8 feet (2.438m) in length from head to tail and weigh about 265 lbs.(120.2kg). Females average 7 feet(2.134m) in length and weigh about 200 lbs(90.718kg).

The smaller size of the Sumatran tiger makes it easier to move quickly through the jungle. Also, their stripes are narrower than other tiger species. The tiger's patterned coloring is an adaptation for camouflage in their natural habitat, which is often tall grass. The males, especially, have a more bearded and maned appearance — neck and cheek hair are well developed.

Webbing between their toes, when spread, enables the Sumatran tiger to be very fast swimmer. They will, if given the chance, run hoofed prey, who are much slower swimmers, into the water.

The white spots on the back of tiger's ears are called "eye spots" or "predator spots". These spots are believed to function as false eyes as well as to make it look larger to any predator approaching from behind. This is particularly helpful in keeping cubs safe.

Sumatran Tigers commonly prey on larger ungulates, like Wild Boar, Malayan Tapir and deer, and sometimes also smaller animals, like fowl, monkeys, and fish. Orangutans could be prey, but since they spend a minimal amount of time on the ground, tigers rarely catch one. Sumatran tigers will sometimes prey upon mice and other small mammals when larger prey is scarce.

Genetics and evolution

Analysis of DNA is consistent with the hypothesis that the Sumatran Tigers have been isolated from other tiger populations after a rise in sea level at the Pleistocene to Holocene border (about 12,000-6,000 years ago). In agreement with this evolutionary history, the Sumatran Tiger is genetically isolated from all living mainland tigers, which form a distinct group, closely related among each other.

Habitat

The Sumatran tiger is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra in habitat that ranges from lowland forest to sub mountain and mountain forest including some peat moss forests. According the the Tiger Information Center and the World Wildlife Fund there are no more than 500 of these tigers left in the wild with some estimates considerably lower.

Sumatra has undergone much agricultural growth and as a result, tiger habitat has become fragmented with about 400 tigers inhabiting five National Parks and two Game Reserves. The largest population of about 110 tigers lives in Gunung Leuser National Park. Another 100 live in unprotected areas that will soon be lost to agriculture. The tigers that live in unprotected areas are very vulnerable to poaching as well as the killing of problem animals that come in contact with villagers encroaching upon the animal's habitat.

The continuing loss of habitat is intensifying the crises to save this tiger. Deforestation resulting from the production of palm oil is a major threat to the Sumatran Tiger. The reserves also do not provide safety, as many tigers are killed by poachers each year despite conservation efforts. According to the Tiger Information Centre and the World Wildlife Fund there are no more than 500 remaining Sumatran Tigers in the wild, with some estimates considerably lower.

The continuing loss of habitat is intensifying the crisis to save the Sumatran tiger.

Conservation

In 2006 the Indonesia Forestry Service, the Natural Resources and Conservational Agency (BKSDA) and the Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program sat down with commercial concession holders and Asia Pulp & Paper and set the foundations for the Senepis Buluhala Tiger Sanctuary, an area that covered 106,000 hectares in Riau by 2008. These organizations formed The Tiger Conservation Working Group with other interested parties and the project is recognised as a pioneering initiative. Current studies include the identifying of feeding behavior of tigers to develop strategies that will help protect both tigers and human settlements.

In 2007, the Indonesian Forestry Ministry and Safari Park established cooperation with the Australia Zoo for the conservation of Sumatran Tigers and other endangered species. The cooperation agreement was marked by the signing of a Letter of Intent on 'Sumatran Tiger and other Endangered Species Conservation Program and the Establishment of a Sister Zoo Relationship between Taman Safari and Australia Zoo' at the Indonesian Forestry Ministry office on July 31, 2007. The program includes conserving Sumatran Tigers and other endangered species in the wild, efforts to reduce conflicts between tigers and humans and rehabilitating Sumatran Tigers and reintroducing them to their natural habitat.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatran_tiger

Orangutan

The orangutan is the only species of great ape living in Asia. The other three species of great apes, Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), and Bonobo (Pan paniscus), all live in Africa. 

There are only two types of orangutans: Sumatera orangutans (Pongo abelii) inhabit the forest in Sumatera and Borneo orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)  which can be found in Kalimantan/ Borneo. The Malay word orangutan means "person of the forest." These long-haired, reddish colored primates are highly intelligent and are the closest relatives of humans, with 97 percent of their DNA identical to human DNA.

Orangutans have an enormous arm span. A male may stretch his arms some 7 feet (2 meters) from fingertip to fingertip a reach considerably longer than his standing height of about 5 feet (1.5 meters). When orangutans do stand, their hands nearly touch the ground.

Orangutans spend much of their time (some 90 percent) in the trees of their tropical rain forest home. They even sleep aloft in nests of leafy branches. They use large leaves as umbrellas and shelters to protect themselves from the frequent rains.

These intelligenct primates forage for food during daylight hours, with most of their diet consisting of fruit and leaves gathered from rain forest trees. They also eat bark, insects and, on rare occasions, meat.

Orangutans are more solitary than other apes. Males are loners. As they move through the forest they make plenty of rumbling, howling calls to ensure that they stay out of each other's way.

Mothers and their young, however, share a strong bond. Infants will stay with their mothers for some six or seven years until they develop the skills to survive on their own. Female orangutans give birth only once every eight years—the longest time period of any animal. The animals are long-lived and have survived as long as 60 years in captivity.

Because orangutans live in only a few places, and because they are so dependent upon trees, they are particularly susceptible to logging in these areas. Unfortunately, deforestation and other human activities, such as hunting, have placed the orangutan in danger of extinction. The BOS Foundation is currently involved in acquiring ex-logging forest concessions in Kalimantan to serve as release sites for its rehabilitated orangutans.  In order for the species to survive, it is imperative that the natural habitat of the orangutan is carefully preserved.

Because orangutans live in the top of the forest canopy, they can be considered the bellwether of the entire ecosystem of the rain forest. If life at the top of the canopy is healthy and thriving, so too will be life on the forest floor.  Therefore, it is crucial that the orangutan be preserved if we are to have any hope of rescuing our endangered planet from the threat of Global Warming, a phenomenon closely linked with the systematic destruction of forests in over the past century.

Source: http://orangutan.or.id/maincontent-1.html

Raja Ampat Diving - Indonesia

Wakatobi Dive - Indonesia

Bali Diving - Indonesia

President Yudhoyono of Indonesia: first Asian head of state to join UNWTO/WTTC global campaign

Madrid

London

22 Jun 11

 

The President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has become the first Asian head of state to join the ongoing World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign. 

“Today, tourism plays a significant role not only in the preservation of cultural values, but also in increasing people’s welfare,” said President Yudhoyono. “Tourism has provided job opportunities for millions of people across the globe; is one of leading exports of developing countries; and is a key stimulus in the transformation to a green economy”.

As part of the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, presented the Indonesian President with an Open Letter setting out the economic, development and environmental opportunities offered by tourism.

“We are delighted that Indonesia has joined this important campaign to raise international awareness of the relevance of travel and tourism,” said Mr. Rifai. “In doing so, Indonesia is sending out a strong message that it recognizes tourism’s potential as a force for development”.

Accepting the Letter, President Yudhoyono expressed the willingness of Indonesia – with 7 million international tourists and US$7 billion in receipts in 2010 – to capitalize on the “increasingly important role of tourism”.     

“The importance of Travel & Tourism as a driver of Indonesia’s economy is clear. Over the next ten years, Travel & Tourism’s contribution to the country’s GDP is expected to grow by nearly 6% per year,” said David Scowsill, President and CEO, WTTC.

“The strong message of support for the industry embodied in today’s acceptance of the Open Letter shows the government’s commitment to realizing Travel & Tourism’s potential to create jobs, generate exports and stimulate investment”.

Through the Global Leaders for Tourism Campaign, UNWTO and WTTC are jointly presenting heads of state and government around the world an Open Letter which calls on them to acknowledge tourism’s key role in delivering on sustained and balanced growth and to prioritize the sector high in national policies in order to maximize its potential. The Open Letter outlines Travel and Tourism’s value as one of the world’s largest generators of sustainable enterprises and decent jobs, a powerful driver of socio-economic growth and development and a key player in the transformation to the Green Economy.

The Campaign has already received the support of the Presidents of Mexico, South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Hungary.

Source: http://media.unwto.org/en/press-release/2011-06-22/president-yudhoyono-indonesia-first-asian-head-state-join-unwtowttc-global-

What is Tourism Marketing?

By Sarah Knowlden, eHow Contributor

When making the choice to take a vacation, it is nice to have information available about the location. People often look to chambers of commerce or a city Web site for this information. These are highly useful tools for what is known as tourism marketing.

What is Tourism Marketing?

As cities and regions want to attract more visitors, they look for creative and effective ways to let travelers know what attractions and amenities they offer. This is tourism marketing.

What Should Tourism Marketing Include?

For tourism marketing to be successful and effective, it needs to serve the needs of the visitor it is trying to attract and the organization producing the material.

 

What is the Point of Tourism Marketing?

The point of these marketing resources is to promote what the resort, city, state or region has to offer in an appealing, yet honest manner.

Things to Consider When Creating a Campaign

It is important to highlight the desirable aspects of a location without making too lofty promises or painting an unrealistic picture for the tourist. This will lead to less tourism in the long run.

 
How Does One Measure its Success?

Ultimately, a successful tourism marketing campaign is able to provide economic benefits for those who live in the area while attracting visitors, new citizens and businesses.


Source: //www.ehow.com/facts_5452763_tourism-marketing.html

Riot Tourism

Riot Tourism is on the rise and is starting to be more clearly defined. There are several root causes: increases in political activism, live independent media reporting and increased global mobility with streamlined transportation.

Political Activism: With political information and knowledge sharing on the rise, small numbers of individuals are becoming sophisticated political activists on the global stage. Evidence of this was most famously witnessed in Seattle in the late 1990s. In unprecedented numbers activists congregated from around the world. 

Media: With little or no delay in live reporting from both mainstream and more significantly ‘indy media’ sources, political activists are making their own assessments and responding to situations such as riots on a global level in real time. Riots are now everyone’s concern and are joined with a view to support “a common voice of protest.” 

Global Travel: The cost of travel is falling with steep competition between all modes of travel, particularly at the economy end of the market. The methods of bookings travel now take minutes, no longer hours or days. Travel is now close to being internationally streamlined.

Outcome: New waves of globally integrated socio-political conflicts in the form of riots are emerging. These riots, whether they are justified or not, are being supported and fanned by people who no longer register ‘geography’ as being either an excuse or an obstacle to becoming involved. 

It is important to recognise that BOTH violent and non-violent political activists are willing to travel interstate and intrastate to support people already embroiled in protest. Their principal motivation arises from the fact that they have identified and support shared set of political principles. 

A major portion of Riot Tourists are just there to keep a watchful eye over those they believe are being unjustly treated. They are much like the media in the sense that they are there to witness events, rather than influence direct action on the ground.

This trend is not aligned with either the left or right of politics. As we saw in Greece in late 2008, both the left and the right attended and clashed.

Here is a troubling story from the Greek Riots in 2007: 

“I suffered a dislocated shoulder, fractured nose and multiple cuts and bruising for taking these photos of the Greek riot police during a peaceful demonstration on September 8th, 2007, Thessaloniki, Greece.

I was detained, placed in an unmarked van by the four plain clothes cops and taken to the central police station. Later I was released without charge, but in excruciating pain and covered in blood.”

Flickr Source

Currently, Riots in Iceland are going largely unnoticed in the Western world.

To conclude, much controversy may well come to surround how this trend/phenomenon itself can and should be reported. Perhaps a wider debate about the topic should become a trend itself, particularly one tied to the issue of freedom of speech.

Published: Jan 29, 09 • References: vagabondish and craighodges.wordpress

Source: http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/riot-tourism-as-a-purpose-for-travel-is-on-the-rise

Sex Tourism

The World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, defines sex tourism as "trips organized from within the tourism sector, or from outside this sector but using its structures and networks, with the primary purpose of effecting a commercial sexual relationship by the tourist with residents at the destination" 

While sex tourism can refer to a variety of commercial sexual activities, agencies and academics sometimes distinguish between adult sex tourism, child sex tourism and female sex tourism to refer to different kinds of sex tourism. Attractions for sex tourists can include reduced costs for services in the destination country, along with either legal prostitution or indifferent law enforcement and access to child prostitution.

General

Generally, an adult can travel and engage in a sexual activity with an adult prostitute, in similar circumstances as would apply to local prostitution. However, when the sexual activity involves child prostitution, is non-consensual or involves sex trafficking, it is generally illegal, both in the participating country and sometimes in the individual's home country.

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.

Destinations

Several countries have become preferred destinations for sex tourists. These include Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Kenya, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Female sex tourism

Sex tourism by women also exists. The main destinations for female sex tourism are Southern Europe (mainly Italy, Portugal, Greece, Croatia , Armenia, Montenegro and Spain), the Caribbean (led by Jamaica, Barbados and the Dominican Republic), parts of Africa (Egypt, Tunisia, Gambia, Kenya) and parts of Asia (Indonesia, Thailand). Other destinations include Morocco, Fiji, Peru and El Salvador.

Child sex tourism

Child sex tourism is a criminal (in most countries) multi-billion-dollar industry believed to involve as many as 2 million children around the world.In an effort to eradicate the practice, many countries have enacted laws to allow prosecution of its citizens for child abuse that occurs outside their home country, even if it is not against the law in the country where the child abuse took place, for example, the US Protect Act.

Some people travel to other countries to engage in sex with children. Child sex tourism has been closely linked to poverty.

Thailand, Cambodia, India, Brazil and Mexico have been identified as countries where child sexual exploitation is prevalent. In Thailand, though the exact numbers are not known, it has been estimated that children make up 40% of prostitutes in the country. In Cambodia, it has been estimated that about a third of all prostitutes are under 18. In India, the federal police say that around 1.2 million children are believed to be involved in prostitution. Brazil is considered to have the worst child sex trafficking record, after Thailand.

UNICEF notes that sexual activity is often seen as a private matter, making communities reluctant to act and intervene in cases of sexual exploitation.These attitudes make children far more vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Most exploitation of children takes place as a result of their absorption into the adult sex trade where they are exploited by local people and sex tourists. The Internet provides an efficient global networking tool for individuals to share information on destinations and procurement.

In cases involving children, the U.S. has relatively strict domestic laws that hold accountable any American citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. who travels abroad for the purpose of engaging in illicit conduct with a minor. However, child pornography, sex tourism and human trafficking remain fast-growing industries. Rep. Chris Smith, R-NJ recently introduced H.R. 1623, the "International Megan's Law". Similar to the domestic Megan's Law, which provides for community notification when a sex offender is living in the area, H.R. 1623 would alert officials abroad when U.S. sex offenders intend to travel, and likewise encourage other countries to keep sex offender lists and to notify the U.S. when a known sex offender may be coming to the United States for sex tourism.

Academic study

University of Leicester sociologists studied this subject as part of a research project for the Economic and Social Research Council and End Child Prostitution and Trafficking campaign. The study included interviews with over 250 Caribbean sex tourists. Among their findings:

• Preconceptions about race and gender influenced their opinions.
• Economically underdeveloped tourist-receiving countries are promoted as being culturally different so that (in the Western tourist's understanding) prostitution and traditional male domination of women have less stigma than similar practices might have in their home countries.

Opposition to sex tourism

Human Rights organizations warn that sex tourism contributes to human trafficking and child prostitution.The U.N. opposes sex tourism citing health, social and cultural consequences for both tourist home countries and destination countries, especially in situations exploiting gender, age, social and economic inequalities in sex tourism destinations.

Documentaries

Canadian film makers have been active at reporting on sex tourism. Documentary titles include:

• Falang: Behind Bangkok's Smile by Jordon Clark (2005) (this title at the Internet Movie Database), set in Thailand
• CBC series the Lens episode "Selling Sex in Heaven" (2005) (this title at the Internet Movie Database), set in the Philippines.
• Channel 4 Cutting Edge episode "The Child Sex Trade" (2003), set in Romania, Italy
• Sex Tourism on Talking Points from Channel4.com
• Channel 4 My Boyfriend, the Sex Tourist (2007) (this title at the Internet Movie Database), looks at sex tourism around the world

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_tourism