Sex Industry & The Caribbean

The Caribbean is sought after for it's beautiful beaches, warm climate and unadmittedly on a large scale, erotic encounters. Kamala Kempadoo's 1999 publication Sun, Sex, and Gold: Tourism and Sex Work in the Caribbean, identifies the region as the 'brothel' of Europe and in recent times it has extended its client base to the United States.

Further documentation is found through the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities group stating, " In a region dominated by underdevelopment, poor educational systems, poverty and gender inequality, men and women turn to sex work as a means of securing a livelihood and economic independence."

The very nature of the industry has driven it far into the shadows, making it as Charles Lewis describes it, an uncontrollable force, drastically in need of structure and order.

Sex Trade Impact (STI) was founded by Charles Lewis in 2008 as a catalyst for change. This change which the founder of STI has envisioned will start with the destigmitization of sex workers in the region, opening the door to effectively managing many of the negative aspects of the Sex Trade Industry and hopefully eliminating or tempering the impact on the region. STI is personified by Mr. Lewis' 25 years of experience in the industry and is equipped to facilitate, train and more importantly offer a forum for the different entities directly and indirectly affected by the Sex Industry.

Through a series of seminars, STI will introduce for the first time, pertinent issues for open discussion, offering the public and private sector organizations the vast knowledge of our guest speakers, carefully selected for their outstanding contributions and work in areas such as health care, human rights, law enforcement and immigration. These seminars will also give those attending a rare insight into the multi-faceted world of the sex trade and how their organizations are daily utilized to sustain this growing industry.

STI is determined to not only assist organizations in protecting their credibility, reputation and sustainable income, against the harmful backlash of the Sex Industry, but also seeks to remind the region of the many people behind the industry, who are looked upon as devoid of rights and privilege.

These individuals also need to be protected from the negative impact of the Sex Trade and only through education and empowerment, will both sides of the industry be able to find solutions.

Managing the impact of the Global Sex Trade

Sex Trade Impact (STI) aims to heighten the awareness of the phenomenal growth and size of the global sex trade and sex tourism and the need for tourism organizations to implement initiatives to improve their ability to manage any negative impact on their establishments.

There are various problems faced daily by tourism organizations worldwide, which affect their credibility, reputation and financial income.

It is time for tourism officials and managers to stop burying their heads in the sand and face up to the reality that there is indeed a rampant sex industry in every country.

It is also time to admit that there are well established linkages between both industries, and that the phenomenal growth and success of the global sex trade is tied intrinsically to the tourism industry.

The seminars and other initiatives of STI highlight the need for a closer look at this taboo subject, in order to curtail some of the negative aspects, as it affects us on a social, economic and moral scale.

In these times of economic recession it is noted that such activities will increase, and relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism, the Immigration Department and the Police must take a closer look into the Sex Trade in order to better equip them with knowledge that may prove to be invaluable in the fight against the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, illegal immigration and prostitution.

Tourism as the main foreign exchange earner in many countries is particularly vulnerable when it comes to circumstances that may make the difference between a good and bad holiday experience. Not every hotel will openly admit to their direct or indirect involvement in the local sex trade, but it would be risky to overlook what may potentially make or break a country as a premiere tourist destination.

The Sex Trade Impact seminars offer training and facilitation to industry officials, management and employees to efficiently deal with these issues. They also provide the tourism industry with a much needed forum for stake holders to speak openly without admitting that their establishments play any role in the global sex trade. Visit our website at www.sextradeimpact.com