Female Tourists Sexual Relations in the Caribbean: Condom Use and HIV/AIDS

Sex tourism has been long conceptualized as foreign men traveling to South East Asia to have sex with female or male commercial sex workers and children. In the 1990s, research started coming out about female sex tourism in the Caribbean. From then-until now, most literature/research on female tourist sexual relations with local Caribbean males—known commonly as beach boy, rent-a-dread or snaky panky—have been to prove or disprove that these relationships are or are not “sex tourism.” Is this sex tourism, romance tourism or maybe companionship tourism? Based on these studies particular gaps and inconsistencies were apparent, which includes the rates that condoms were used in the sexual relations between the local men and female tourists. Due to multiple contributing factors, tourist areas are epicenters for the transmission of HIV/AIDS. The low levels of condom use in these relationships pose a health risk to local and foreign populations.

The actual interactions between the beach boy and female tourist are fairly consistent, but the interpretation is where the debate lies. Studies about the sexual relations between female tourists and local men have been done in Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and the Gambia-among a few others. Rather than focusing on the debate and the details or their relationships (characteristics and motives of beach boys, the seduction process, and female tourist motives), I am going to combine information previously researched on the sexual relationships of female tourists and local Caribbean males, with research on the tourism industry, to gain insight and determine the rates of male condoms used to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

Female Tourists
Studies throughout the Caribbean have common conclusions regarding sexual activities of female tourists and local male populations.

1. Many female tourists who travel alone engage in sexual relations with local populations (Forsythe, Hasbun & De Lister 1998; Herold, Garcia & DeMoya 2001; Taylor, 2000).


2. “True Love” or trusting relationships have a lower rate of condom use than “pearly physical” relationships (Taylor, 2001; Herold et al., 2001; Padilla, Guilamo-Romos, Bouris, & Reyes, 2010).


3. Female tourists are less likely to use condoms when engaging in sexual relations than male tourists (Forsythe et al., 1998; Taylor, 2001).

In the Dominican Republic, Herold et al. (2001) found that there is a common belief among beach boys that women who travel alone are seeking sexual relationships with local males. In this study, the beach boys estimated 70% of these women who travel alone would have a sexual relationship with a local male. This equaled about 1/3 of the women the beach boys approached. Taylor (2000) found that almost half of single tourist women in Jamaica had sexual relations with local men.

HIV/AIDS and Tourism
The UNAIDS (2009) reports that throughout the Caribbean region heterosexual transmission is the leading source of HIV infection rates, which can be tied sex work. Often when discussing sex work, the literature focuses on female sex workers or men who have sex with men (MSM). It is not until recently that there is a growing body of literature focusing particularly on male heterosexual sexual relations with female tourist populations. The thriving Caribbean tourist economy poses a considerable risk for local and foreigners. Risky sexual behavior among female tourists and local Caribbean males could lead to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and/or HIV/AIDS. The effect of STDs and HIV/AIDS transmission are continually a threat to the people of world. In the Caribbean alone 240,000 of the population is infected with the deadly virus (UNAIDS, 2009). The Caribbean has the second highest rate of HIV infections after Africa; Jamaica alone had a 9% infection rate among sex workers, in 2005. Padilla (2010) suggests that tourist areas are geographical, socially, and behaviorally distinct spaces that increase the risk associated with HIV/AIDS transmission (p. 71). Padilla (2010) points out that this increased risk for HIV transmission in tourist areas are due to four main reasons described as follows:

1. high HIV prevalence rates among sex workers and their clients,


2. high rates of HIV risk behaviors in tourism areas,


3. demographic changes resulting from labor migration, and


4. alcohol and drug use in tourism areas (p. 71).

According to Kempadoo (2004) and Padilla (2010), HIV rates are high among sex workers and migrant populations. The majority of young men working in tourist areas migrated from rural areas in search of economic advantages. Migration for labor purposes are often tied to sex work especially in tourist areas.

There have been concerns that the high rates of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean could discourage tourists visiting the islands and affect the tourism industry. Forsythe et al., (1998) study in the Dominican Republic explored this concern. The research found that some tourists who engage in sexual relations believe HIV/AIDS rates are much higher than the actual prevalence; therefore, in these cases, the risk of HIV did not discourage sexual encounters. Single women traveling alone perceived their personal risk higher than men traveling alone. It was these people who perceived that their risk was high that would be the most receptive to HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns in the country. When making travel plans, the majority of tourists did not consider HIV/AIDS infection rates in the destination country.

Condom Use
When evaluating literature regarding the Caribbean in particular, there are inconsistencies in the actual rate that condoms are used among female tourists and Caribbean males. For example, Herold et al. (2001) found that in the Dominican Republic the beach boys response to how often they use condoms with female tourists was contradictory to the female tourists interviewed. The beach boys responded that condoms were mostly used during their first sexual encounter but decreased as the relationship progressed. The female tourist’s claimed using condoms every time they were involved in sexual activities. Common beliefs among beach boys were that overweight women were economically stable and less sexually experienced; therefore, the risk of contracting an STD or HIV/AIDS was reduced. Forsythe et al. (1998) interviewed hotel workers of those who engaged in sexual relations with female tourist and 95% of these hotel workers said they used condoms every time they had sex.

Taylors (2001) study, in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic found that 67% of the female tourist’s claimed using condoms as protection, much less than the previous studies suggested, while 15% used no protection at all. Interestedly, women seeking romance or were in ‘true love’ were less likely to use condoms than women seeking ‘purely physical’ or casual sexual adventure. Also, the women who had multiple partners or who acknowledge ‘helping’ out the beach boy financially were more likely to use condoms. Previous studies have pointed out the age of the tourist, saying that older women are normally more financially stable and willing to give gifts or payments; many have purely physical motives, which in turn may lead to more condom use (Taylor, 2001).

This research is consistent with global studies that have documented the link between trusting relationships and decreased condom use (Padilla et al., 2010). Overall research on tourist relations suggests that female tourist use fewer condoms than male tourists, while engaging in heterosexual relationships with local populations. This research states that 75% of female tourists who have sex with local partners use no condom, while 42% of males do not use condoms (Forsythe et al, 1998).

Conclusion
Since the tourism industry brings people closer to one another, it is inevitable that sexual relations will occur. As more female tourist begin to travel alone, there will be more sexual relationships between local men and tourist women. Inconsistencies in condom rates were apparent between the female tourist and local males and between studies. It was found that purely sexual encounters are more likely to have openly economic incentives and increased condom use. On the other hand, romance is often built on ‘friendships,’ which produce trusting, emotional relationships and in turn decrease condom usage. Tourist areas represent unique spaces that are practically vulnerable to high rates of HIV/AIDS transmission.

Recommendations
Due to the unacknowledged/unawareness element (not fully discussed previously) of the beach boy and female tourist relationship, condom use campaigns and education cannot be approached the in the same way as purely sexual encounters by acknowledged sex workers and their clients. New and innovative techniques to promote safer sexual practice have to be created to reach this particular population. Creating ways to encourage safer sexual practices between female tourists and local males will ultimately minimize the risk of transmission HIV/AIDS.

A more thorough investigation of the tourism industry and practically tourist areas in the Caribbean and throughout the world need to be explored more fully to understand the complex and unique social, geographic, behavioral patterns in regards to the sexual relations between the female tourists and local males. The tourist centers mix multiple high risk populations, alcohol/drug use, and a low level of condom use creates and epicenter for STDs and HIV/AIDS transmission. Reducing the spread of STDs and HIV/AIDS, by encouraging greater awareness among foreign women and local males, regarding their own personal risk of contracting and/or spreading STDs and HIV/AIDS, is crucial to the development of our societies and for people to lead full healthy lives.

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Herold, E., Garcia, R., & DeMoya, T. (2001). Female tourists and beach boys romance or sex
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Kempadoo, K. (2004). Sexing the Caribbean: Gender, race, and sexual labor. Dying for sex:
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Padilla, M., Bouris, A., & Reyes, A. (2010). HIV/AIDS and tourism in the Caribbean: An
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Taylor, S. J. (2001). Dollars are a girl’s best friend? Female tourists’ sexual behavior in
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UNAIDS. (2009). AIDS epidemic report. December 2009, from
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