Child sex tourism: Facilitating conditions, legal remedies, and other interventions

Commercial sexual exploitation of children puts a black cloud upon the myriad promises offered by the tourism industry. This article provides an overview of some of the major topical areas that appear in the current debates on child sex tourism (CST) and attempts to synthesize a conceptual model that encompasses the scope of CST. As an academic field of inquiry, CST refers to touristic pursuits for the express or otherwise purpose of having sexual encounters with children and the consequent ramifications for various stakeholder groups. The circumstances that provide a fertile ground for the worldwide growth of the CST phenomenon are addressed. Selected international regulatory responses against CST are presented. Finally, a range of other potential interventions are proposed.