Flourishing sex trade exposes the ugly underbelly of Kerala tourism

Source: iStock.com

Kerala is witnessing an upswing in tourist inflow, thanks to the aggressive promotional activities being undertaken by the state Government. But the boom in tourism has also brought in its wake a flourishing flesh trade. Of late, the proliferating houseboats and body massage parlours, the USP of Kerala’s tourism industry, have become a beehive of flesh trade, exposing the ugly underbelly of Kerala tourism. Houseboats and backwater tourism are thought to be safe for sex with no interference from outside and the police.

Unregulated tourism has caused rampant commercialisation, resulting in an alarming rise in trafficking of women. A large number of poor girls are getting sucked into flesh trade for making a fast buck.

There are reports of even college girls and children being unsuspectingly lured into sex trade. Some college girls take to the trade to earn pocket money and lead a luxurious life. Many are from broken families. The young girls are more in demand as they are seen as disease-free by tourists. The agents therefore charge double for supplying them, pocketing 50 % of the amount as commission.

Recently, the media reported the case of a 20-year-old girl, who was supplied by a female agent to an Arab tourist in a houseboat. The young woman eventually escaped from the boat, unable to bear the ordeal of her first sexual encounter with a tourist.

Sex tourism is gaining notoriety along tourist spots like Kovalam, Kollam, Alappuzha and Kannur. Sex tourism is today a transnational business with women going out of the state and even the country.

Source: iStock.com
Source: iStock.com

Massage and beauty parlours that have mushroomed in tourist spots are also brazenly selling sex, with no fear of the law. They are actually brothels, and not massage centres as advertised. Here rates vary for a body-to-body massage and massage with sexual intercourse. Some parlours offer a choice of North Indian and South Indian women, including minors.

A study titled ‘Trafficking in Women and Children in India’ sponsored by National Human Rights Commission found that Alappuzha is a hotspot for child sex and Kerala has overtaken Goa in exploiting children.

Flesh trade has gone online too. Recently, the Thiruvananthapuram police arrested 13 people, including seven women, who were allegedly members of an online flesh trade racket. In the online racket, the pictures of the women are shared with the clients through cross-platform instant messaging applications, from which they can make their choice.

Although many studies and media exposés have pointed to the thriving sex tourism in Kerala, the law enforcing agencies are turning a Nelson’s eye to the issue. The Government’s apathy is only aiding and abetting the racket.

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