Amid clamors for the creation of new resolutions on child sex tourism (CST), the Department of Tourism (DoT) is urging concerned sectors to give similar importance to prevention to curb conditions where child exploitation can occur.

“Addressing this issue begins with imposing stronger preventive measures, which include public vigilance and the practice of ethical tourism with respect to the rights of children,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.

Efforts on CST prevention have been ongoing through awareness and training programs for the public and private sector conducted by the DoT in partnership with ChildWise Australia, a protection charity against child abuse in Australia, Asia and the Pacific, and ECPAT or End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes.

These awareness programs are regularly conducted all over the country by selected DoT personnel. They aim to educate and train the private sector, such as hotels, resorts, tour operators, and transportation companies among others on child sex tourism and child sensitivity practices.

According to Durano, the campaign further highlights the need for prevention by encouraging tourism establishments to adopt child-friendly policies.

“This global problem is best addressed with the help of the private sector. We urge them to instill their own guiding principles, and send a clear message to their clients that they condemn such illegal activities,” added Durano.

Aside from vigilance, the training program also lists down reasons why tourism establishments should turn away and report guests who solicit unlawful acts.

“Allowing sex tourism to propagate in their places would only result in damaging the image of their destination. Therefore, legitimate paying tourists who come in droves to their area will choose to go to unsullied sites,” said Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr., Tourism Planning and Promotions.

Child sex tourism further reduces tourism jobs and the standard of living in affected destinations, according to the program which the DoT drafted with the help of ChildWise and ECPAT.

Another significant element of the campaign is the distribution of promotional materials against child sex tourism.

Attorney Victoria Jasmin, DoT Director of Office of Tourism Standards, said, “With the help of our partners, we have also launched several publicity aids on the issue which have been disseminated in airports, hotels, immigration centers, and other tourism channels. These posters and stickers remind the public to turn in our report suspicious characters to the authorities.”

The new arrival and departure cards also carry the same stem warning against possible sex offenders, with contact numbers of authorities provided.

Child sex tourism comes in three forms: child trafficking, child pornography, and child prostitution.

In the 2009 Global Monitoring report on Child Trafficking of ECPAT in partnership with BodyShop International, the Philippines fell on the category of “Some Progress” which is second to the top category in terms of the country’s efforts in combating the said issue.