While tourism brings desperately needed foreign income, it has many potentially negative side effects. One of the scariest such effects has to do with sexual exploitation.
Sex is an undeniable, real part of the tourist scene in Jamaica. Whether it’s relaxing on a nude beach or hiring a girl for the evening, sexy places such as Negril and Montego Bay are always inspiring romance, or playing on sexuality.
Law officers have difficulty regulating these activities, as it is often difficult to distinguish between romantic liaisons and sex-for-cash transactions. Engaging in sexual behaviors with minors carries results in harsh penalties; the problem is, offenders are oftentimes difficult to catch.
Though Jamaica of course offers more than sex and romance, it is important to note that sex is another factor as to why some singles choose to visit Jamaica.
Racial curiosity is usually the driving force for some visitors traveling to Jamaica. Coupled with Sand, Sun and Sea, the need to cross the racial divide will be a strong one. Be careful in what you do.
In most hotels there is the option of a spa which offers therapeutic messages. This is not be mistaken for light sex play as this is serious service being given by serious working employees.
Unfortunately, the sex trade attracts many young females from the Jamaican underclass, as this lifestyle seems to be an easy solution to poverty. The "rent a dread" trade -- Jamaican gigolos for foreign females—has also gained popularity since the making of the hit movie How Stella Got Her Groove Back in Negril. Both Negril and Montego Bay in particular, attract large numbers of Jamaicans eager to attach themselves to foreigners for sex and money. Single foreigners of both sexes are likely to be approached at clubs in overt, shameless terms. Go-go dancers often double as prostitutes, and most clubs have private rooms to facilitate this.
Foreign visitors need to resist these temptations, as many streetwalkers carry STDS such as HIV. Many dancers also live in relatively unsanitary conditions. In the past, some cheap private resorts allowed guests to bring their "women of the night" to their rooms without being hindered, but most are now focusing on trying to put an end to the practice, as it understandably hurts their reputation.
Though tourism remains essential to Jamaica’s economy, the lure of sexuality and romance cannot be ignored. Tourists need to become better educated about the risks in engaging in illegal sexual behavior.
