Sex tourism as perceived by the travel agents of Davao City

Abstract

This study is to present what are the perceptions of the travel agents regarding the issue of Sex Tourism. The goal is to know the motivation, economic benefits, and the socio-cultural impacts of Sex Tourism in the perspective of the travel agents and determine what are the common answers to come up with reliable results. Results show that, based on the general thematic analysis, money is the primary motivation of the sex workers why they engage in Sex Tourism. For the economic benefits, results show that the sex workers and the surrounding community share a symbiotic relationship where both of them economically benefit from Sex Tourism. Analysis also show that travel agents perceived that the community and the sex workers have a mutual understanding with each other since they know each other and the reason why they are engaging in Sex Tourism. And lastly, results show that the community’s culture is being compromised for the sake of the culture of the visiting tourists as it is how tourism management is being done in the community. Furthermore, the results suggest that the community around the hub of Sex Tourism may choose to be profiting than to be morally hailed. Keywords: Tourism Management, Sex Tourism, Travel Agents.