Over the past half-century, the process globalization has contributed to an increase in tourist travel from developed countries to less developed countries, with an increased dependency on this revenue. An understudied and unintended consequence of increased tourism is the phenomenon of sex tourism, travel whose purpose is seeking sexual activity. Sex tourism may cause a number of unintended consequences such as an increase in venereal diseases, child prostitution, crime, drug use and an increase of “underground” revenue. Sex tourism can also contribute to overall economic development through the subsidization of tourist-related industries and can be a source of income for unemployed women. Not surprisingly, a country’s reputation as a destination for sex tourist can aid its competitive advantage against other countries. Sex tourism has often been linked to sex trafficking; the coercion and exploitation of women and children. While literature exists on trafficking, very little is known about sex tourism per se. This research aims to understand the political, economic and social factors associated with sex tourism in the Dominican Republic and other developing countries. To address these questions, this study will include a series of qualitative interviews with citizens and experts involved in addressing the problem of sex tourism in the Dominican Republic. This study also includes a broader statistical analysis of secondary data on sex tourism in developing countries around the world, which aimed at identifying the main political, economic and social determinants. Findings from both the qualitative and quantitative arms of this research will shed light on this important social problem and can help governments, nongovernmental organizations and law enforcement agencies formulate policies and legislation to address the issue. Findings from this study can also be used to create better economic opportunities and options for women in the Dominican Republic and other developing countries.
Subject (authority = local)
Topic
Sex Tourism
Subject (authority = RUETD)
Topic
Global Affairs
RelatedItem (type = host)
TitleInfo
Title
Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Identifier (type = RULIB)
ETD
Identifier
ETD_6524
PhysicalDescription
Form (authority = gmd)
electronic resource
InternetMediaType
application/pdf
InternetMediaType
text/xml
Extent
1 online resource (vi, 174 p. : ill.)
Note (type = degree)
Ph.D.
Note (type = bibliography)
Includes bibliographical references
Subject (authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Sex tourism--Dominican Republic
Note (type = statement of responsibility)
by Melissa Rivera
RelatedItem (type = host)
TitleInfo
Title
Graduate School - Newark Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Identifier (type = local)
rucore10002600001
Location
PhysicalLocation (authority = marcorg); (displayLabel = Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)
I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.