Dominican Republic: Prostitution

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Prostitution

Although the D.R. has had a reputation for prostitution and sex tourism, officials are making efforts to curb the problem. In the late 1990s, Sosúa was like one big red-light district, with European male tourists coming specifically for sex tourism. Town fathers have made vigorous efforts to clean things up -- and they have -- but prostitution still exists in the now designated Zona Rojas. It's traditionally been a different story in Cabarete, where young, local surfer boys target northern European girls, who end up paying the freight. The real action goes down in Punta Cana, with the infamous "spanky hanky" boys -- staffers, often waiters, bartenders, and animation staff -- who prey on single female guests, especially older ones, lavishing attention on them, saying, "Meet me in the disco." Such a rendezvous often ends up in a seedy, drive-up, by-the-hour motel. What some unsuspecting ladies don't realize is that not only will they have to pay for the room but for the boy's services as well.

In Santo Domingo, prostitutes are alive and not always well (diseases are a real threat). They ply their trade, roaming casinos and hotels, though top properties vigilantly thwart their efforts. Throughout the D.R., sex bars are usually called "gentlemen's clubs." There's substantial gay prostitution as well.