Those involved are open about their trade, and conduct their business in full view of the public, with email addresses and contact phone numbers available with a quick internet search.
While some things have changed in this regard, many have not. An original practice would be to accept responsibility for your shortcomings and make an honest effort to fix them. While local organizations are trying to turn public opinion against those who visit Colombia to pay for sex, these men argue that sex tourists are merely taking advantage of a service available here which is not available at home, and with women who they claim are much more receptive to the behavior of sex tourists.
Two of the men interviewed believe that men are tired of the female dominant societies that exist in their home countries where men allegedly are made to suppress their sexuality, and where having an active and varied sex life is viewed negatively. Additionally, both men mentioned that culturally a man dating a woman a lot younger than himself is not viewed as negatively in Colombia as in other countries.
They are denied sex because of their age, their looks or a lack of willing partners. Here they do not have to worry about losing their job or freedom for paying for sex. Prostitution in Colombia is legal, so paying for sex could not land you in prison like it could in the US. Many of the sex tourists now in Colombia previously traveled to Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic or Thailand to get thei paid sex legally. In Colombia, especially in Medellin , Bogota and Cartagena , a sex tourist does not need to look far to find easy available and affordable sex workers.
Red light areas exist in all of the main cities, and due to the lax laws in relation to prostitution, customers can indulge without fear of criminal prosecution. This is much cheaper than the services in countries such as the USA or Canada. In the US, many men would feel uncomfortable behaving in the way that these sex tourists do during their trips in Colombia, and would receive a negative response from others. These men view Colombia as a free land where they can behave in a manner which would be frowned upon in their own cultures.
