Exploitation workshop held at Chedi Hotel

The unfortunate reality of sex tourism in Southeast Asia is only overshadowed by the strand that affects children. The longstanding issue of child sex tourism has been difficult to penetrate, but last week at the Chedi Hotel in Chiang Mai, a workshop was held entitled, ‘Sexual exploitation in Travel and Tourism’, to attempt to solve some of the most urgent issues.

The workshop was instigated by ECPAT, a Chiang Rai non-governmental organization that deals mostly with issues concerning child pornography, child prostitution and trafficking, along with Kuoni Travel Ltd. This workshop was the 5th of its kind in Thailand, with preceding events being held in Ko Samui, Phuket, Bangkok and Pattaya.

The head of Kuoni’s corporate responsibility Fausta Borsani and ECPAT’s Pravit Ekcharoensook played host at the event, with briefings on Thai law concerning the subject at hand clarified by Bangkok Royal Thai Police member Lt. Col. Panya Cheamted.

All parties admitted their disdain for the fact that Thailand was a premier global player in all three areas concerned, and that child pornography and child sex tourism are all too often directly linked. Various solutions were presented and all present hoped that headway could be made into the problem.