A multibillion dollar industry: From the sex tourist perspective : A mixed method study investigating the drivers of sex tourism

This study investigates the psychological and social factors that drive sex tourism. The research question is: “What drives sex tourism?” The purpose of this study is to investigate the motivations behind tourists´ participation in sex tourism, with an emphasis on psychological and social factors. Using a mixed-method approach, the study combines qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, with an inductive approach where themes emerge from the data. Triangulation was employed to enhance the validity of findings. Key results reveal several themes such as curiosity and anonymity, spontaneity, substance use, escapism, liminality, peer pressure and accessibility. These factors indicate that sex tourism is influenced by the themes combined, rather than a single cause. The study concludes that sex tourism is a complex phenomenon requiring further investigation to develop strategies for reducing demand and protecting vulnerable individuals.