Red Light Districts: Unveiling the Lucrative World of Sex Tourism
In this article, we delve into the captivating realm of red-light districts and their immense impact on the world economy. A red light district, also known as a pleasure district, is an area within a city that concentrates a plethora of sex-related businesses. While discussions about personal matters in public may seem taboo, it is astonishing to acknowledge that red-light districts and the wider sex tourism industry generate millions of dollars worldwide.
What Defines a Red Light District?
A red light district encompasses a variety of establishments, including prostitution venues, strip clubs, erotic shops, and adult theaters. Although female prostitution is often associated with these districts, their offerings extend far beyond that.
Gaining Global Repute: The Rise of Sex Tourism
Over the past few decades, numerous red-light districts have gained international acclaim and become prime attractions for tourists, largely due to the exponential growth of sex tourism. These districts magnetize a significant influx of visitors seeking experiences related to this thriving industry.
Beyond Prostitution: Discover the Vibrant Tapestry of Red Light Districts
Contrary to popular belief, not all red-light districts solely focus on prostitution. Even in cities and countries where prostitution is technically illegal, these districts continue to exist. Law enforcement often turns a blind eye to the occurrence of prostitution, allowing other establishments like the aforementioned shops and bars to thrive within these districts.
Conclusion: Unveiling the Intriguing World of Red Light Districts
Red light districts, often synonymous with sex-related businesses, offer a multifaceted experience for visitors. From prostitution to strip clubs, erotic shops, and adult theaters, these districts attract tourists from all over the world. While their existence may be controversial, there is no denying the economic significance of the red light district and sex tourism industry, contributing millions of dollars to the global economy.
The Fascinating Origins and Economic Impact of Red Light Districts
The term "red light district" owes its origin to the historical practice of using red lights as indicators for brothels. It is believed to have emerged from Dodge City, Kansas, USA, which boasted a prominent prostitution district during the 19th century American Old West era. One notable establishment in the area was the Red Light House Saloon, as described by author Paul Wellman.
The earliest known appearance of the term in print can be traced back to an article published in the Sandusky Register in 1894, a newspaper based in Sandusky, Ohio, USA, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. However, there are also accounts suggesting that the concept of a "red light district" dates as far back as 1650. During this time, sailors returning to Amsterdam sought companionship and recognized women "available for pleasure" through the red lanterns they carried. These women, often impoverished and lacking proper hygiene, utilized the red light to conceal any imperfections on their faces.
Over time, the red lanterns evolved into red lights, much like the example seen in the United States. These red lights became symbolic of brothels, and the areas adjacent to main harbors, such as Amsterdam's renowned district, came to be known as red-light districts.
Why Do Red Light Districts Exist Worldwide?
The driving force behind the establishment of red light districts can be summed up in a single word: money. The allure of the sex industry's profitability attracts individuals seeking income and governments aiming to bolster their economies.
Red light districts have the potential to generate significant revenue for their respective areas. In legalized contexts, the income generated from these districts is subject to taxation, allowing governments to reinvest the funds into essential public services like education and healthcare.
While some may not approve of the adult entertainment scene within red-light districts, it is important to recognize that local communities often benefit from their presence. It may seem paradoxical, but the revenue generated from selling sex can contribute to the development of vital infrastructure such as hospitals and schools.
To exemplify the financial potential of a red-light district, let's consider Amsterdam. The city's sex tourism industry contributes approximately 5% to its GDP, with annual revenue of around 1.1 billion Euros.
Noteworthy Red Light Districts Worldwide
Prostitution remains illegal in many places, but red-light districts are commonly found where it is legalized, albeit with varying degrees of risk. In countries where prostitution is illegal, the existence of red-light districts can still be observed, although such situations are inherently more precarious. Here is a curated list of active red light districts around the world for reference.
Africa
- Dapoya, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Marcory Zone 4 and Rue Princesse, Abidjan, Ivory Coast
- Koinange Street, Nairobi, Kenya
- El Mina, Nouakchott, Mauritania
- Bab el Khemis, Marrakesh, Morocco
- Petit Socco, Tangier, Morocco
- Point Road, Durban, South Africa
- Hillbrow, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Sidi Abdallah Guech, Tunis, Tunisia
Asia
- Bani Shanta, Bagerhat District, Bangladesh
- Daulatdia, Rajbari District, Bangladesh
- Faridpur, Faridpur District, Bangladesh
- Kandapara, Tangail District, Bangladesh
- Tanbazar, Narayanganj, Bangladesh
- Svay Pak, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Dashilan, Beijing, China
- Simalu, Shanghai, China
- Lockhart Road, Hong Kong
- Sham Shui Po/Fuk Wa Street, Hong Kong
- Meergunj, Allahabad, India
- Kabadi Bazar, Meerut, India
- Mohanpura, Bundi, India
- Kamathipura, Mumbai, India
- Rashmpura, Gwalior, India
- Chaturbhuj Sthan, Muzaffarpur, India
- Mehboob Ki Kehandi, Hyderabad, India
- Ganga Jamuna, Itwari, Nagpur, India
- Tilawala, Jaipur, India
- Garstin Bastion Road, New Delhi, India
- Jawaharkhana Ghaas Mandi, Jodhpur, India
- Budwhar Peth, Pune, India
- Bowbazar, Kolkata, India
- Garia, Kolkata, India
- Kalighat, Kolkata, India
- Kidderpore, Kolkata, India
- Lebu Bagan, Kolkata, India
- Sonagachi, Kolkata, India
- Tollygunge, Kolkata, India
- Chakla Bazar, Surat, India
- Shivdaspur, Varanasi, India
- Nagoya, Batam, Indonesia
- Bandar Baru, Sibolangit, Indonesia
- Blok M, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Al-Battaween, Baghdad, Iraq
- Battaween, Baghdad, Iraq
- Haifa Street/Salhia neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq
- Kamaliyah, Baghdad, Iraq
- Zayouna, Baghdad, Iraq
- Old bus station area, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Nakasu, Fukuoka, Japan
- Kanazuen, Gifu, Japan
- Susukino, Hokkaidō, Japan
- Imasato Shinchi, Osaka, Japan
- Jūsō, Osaka, Japan
- Kujo, Osaka, Japan
- Matsushima Shinchi, Osaka, Japan
- Shinmachi, Osaka, Japan
- Tobita Shinchi, Osaka, Japan
- Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan
- Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan
- Jubeiha, Amman, Jordan
- Swifieh, Amman, Jordan
- Pravda Street, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Jagalmadang, Daegu, South Korea
- Yong Ju Gol, Paju, South Korea
- Cheonho, Seoul, South Korea
- Hooker Hill, Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea
- Mia-ri, Seoul, South Korea
- Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, South Korea
- Brickfields area: Jalan Hicks and Jalan Thamibipilly, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Bukit Bintang: Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Lorong Haji Taib, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Aminpur Bazar, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Ghulam abad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Heera Mandi, Lahore, Pakistan
- Bazaar-i-Husn, Hyderabad, Pakistan
- Serey Ghat, Hyderabad, Pakistan
- Napier Road, Karachi, Pakistan
- Qasai Gali, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- Fields Avenue, Angeles, Philippines
- EDSA Entertainment Complex, Pasay, Manila, Philippines,
- Ermita, Manila, Philippines,
- Malate, Manila, Philippines
- Padre Burgos Street, Makati, Manila, Philippines
- Subic Bay, Olongapo City, Philippines
- Geylang, Singapore
- Orchard Towers, Singapore
- Patpong, Bangkok, Thailand
- Soi Pratuchai, Bangkok, Thailand
- Sukhumvit Road area, Bangkok, Thailand
- Soi Bang-La, Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand
- Beach Road, Pattaya, Thailand
- Boyztown, Pattaya, Thailand
- Soi 6, Pattaya, Thailand
- Sunee Plaza, Pattaya, Thailand
- Walking Street, Pattaya, Thailand
- Bentderesi, Ankara, Turkey
- Giraffe Lane, Istanbul, Turkey
Europe
- Bäckermühlweg, Linz, Austria
- Gürtel, Vienna, Austria
- Stuweviertal, Vienna, Austria
- Schipperskwartier, Antwerp, Belgium
- Alhambra Quarter, Brussels, Belgium
- Avenue Louise, Brussels, Belgium
- Place Fontainas, Brussels, Belgium
- Rue d’Aerschot, Brussels, Belgium
- Kortrijksesteenweg (N43), Deinze, Belgium
- Schepenenvijverstraat/Pieter Vanderdoncktdoorgang, Ghent, Belgium
- Belgradostraat, Ghent, Belgium
- Docklands, Ostend, Belgium
- Rue Marnix, Seraing, Belgium
- Chaussée d’Amour, Sint-Truiden, Belgium
- Perlovka, Prague, Czech Republic
- Halmtorvet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Istedgade, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Aleksis Kiven Katu and Vaasankatu, Helsinki, Finland
- Place Pierre Semard, Angers, France
- Bourg Nuef, Avignon, France
- Avenue President Wilson, Beziers, France
- Quartier de la Gare Saint Jean, Bordeaux, France
- Quartier Saint-Rémi, Bordeaux, France
- Les Quinconces, Bordeaux, France
- Presqu’île de Caen, Caen, France
- La croisette, Cannes, France
- Gare de Perrache, Lyon, France
- Quartier du Val Fourré, Manes-la-Jolie, France
- La Canebière, Marseille, France
- Boulevard de Strasbourg, Montpellier, France
- Eue de la source, Nancy, France
- Rue Paul Bellamy, Nantes, France
- Quai de la Fosse, Nantes, France
- Rue de Strasbourg, Nantes, France
- Rue de Talensac, France
- Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France
- Rue de France, Nice, France
- Rue Saint-Denis, Paris, France
- Barbès-Rochechouart, Paris, France
- Port Saint-Martin, Paris, France
- Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes, Paris, France
- Avenue de la Forêt-Noire, Strasbourg, France
- Route du Rhin, Strasbourg, France
- Quai des Alpes, Strasbourg, France
- Quai Louis-Pasteur, Strasbourg, France
- Boulevard de Lyon Quartier de la Gare, Strasbourg, France
- Rue Bayard, Toulouse, France
- Quartier du Canal, Toulouse, France
- Boulevard de Strasbourg, Toulouse, France
- Bülowstraße, Berlin, Germany
- Kurfürstenstraße, Berlin, Germany
- Oranienburger Straße, Berlin, Germany
- Helenenstraße, Bremen, Germany
- Hornstraße, Cologne, Germany
- Linienstraße, Dortmund, Germany
- Hinter dem Bahndamm, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bahnhofsviertel, Frankfurt, Germany
- St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany
- St. Pauli, Hamburg, Germany
- Am Steintor, Hanover, Germany
- Ludwigstraße, Hanover, Germany,
- Reitwallstraße, Hanover, Germany
- Landsberger Straße, Munich, Germany
- Schillerstraße, Munich, Germany
- Stahlgruberring, Munich, Germany
- Frauentormauer, Nuremberg, Germany
- Leonhardsviertel, Stuttgart, Germany
- Fylis Street, Athens, Greece
- San Berillo, Sicily, Italy
- Luxembourg railway station area, Luxembourg
- Mello Area, Gżira, Malta
- Albert Town Area, Marsa, Malta
- Paceville, St. Julian’s, Malta
- De Wallen, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Bokkingshang, Deventer, Netherlands
- Baekelandplein, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Geleenstraat and Hunsestraat, The Hague, Netherlands
- Rua Coelho Neto, Rua Conde de Ferreira and Rua Escura, Porto, Portugal
- Calle de Viana, Valencia, Spain
- Carrer de Sant Ramon, Barcelona, Spain
- Carrer d’En Robador, Barcelona, Spain
- La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain
- Calle Molino de Viento, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Calle Atocha, Calle Carretas, Calle de Barco, Calle del Desengaño, Calle de la Ballesta, Calle Montera, Calle de Valverde, Plaza de la Luna, Plaza Jacinto Benavente and Puerta del Sol, central Madrid, Spain
- Langstrasse and Strichplatz, Zurich, Switzerland
- Lorraine, Bern, Switzerland
- Les Pâquis, Geneva, Switzerland
- Manningham, Bradford, UK
- Great Northern Street, Huddersfield, UK
- Holbeck, Leeds, UK
- Bayswater, Earl’s Court, Shepherd Market and Soho, London, UK
- St. Hilda’s, Middlesbrough, UK
- Forest Road and Mapperley Road, Nottingham, UK
- Millbay, Plymouth, UK
- Fletcher Road, Preston, UK
- Oxford Road, Redding, UK
- Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
- Gorse Hill, Swindon, UK
- Linenhall Street, Belfast, UK
- Tiger Bay, Cardiff, UK
- Commercial Road, Newport, UK
North America
- Popeshead Street, St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda
- Sint Nicolaas, Aruba
- Nelson Street, Bridgetown, Barbados
- Red-Light District, Montreal, Canada
- Gringo Gulch, San José, Costa Rica
- La Linea, El Trébol and Parque Concordia, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Zona Norte, Tijuana, Mexico
- La Merced Market and Zona Rosa, Mexico City, Mexico
- Zona de Tolerancia, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
- Zona Galáctica, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico
- El Cangrejo, Panama City, Panama
- Van Buren Street (Phoenix) and Miracle Mile (Tucson), Arizona, USA
- Figueroa Street and Sepulveda Boulevard (LA), and Broadway/Columbus Av (SF), California, USA
- East Colfax Av, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Nebraska Avenue and Florida State Road 60, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Cheshire Bridge Road, Metropolitan Parkway and Murrell’s Row (Atlanta), Oak Street (Macon), and Franklin Square area (Savannah), Georgia, USA
- South 24th Street area, Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA
- The Block, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- 8 Mile Road and Michigan Av (Detroit) and Division Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
- Independence Av, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
- Venus Alley, Butte, Montana, USA
- Boulder Highway, Fremont Street, and Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
- The Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
- Valley Brook, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Kensington Av, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Harry Hines and Northwest Highway (Dallas) and The Bissonnet Track (Houston), Texas, USA
Oceania
- Hindley Street, Adelaide, Australia
- Kangaroo Point, New Farm and Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Australia
- King Street and St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia
- Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise, Australia
- Kings Cross and Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia
- Karangahape Road and Hunter’s Corner, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manchester Street, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Vivian Street, Wellington, New Zealand
Exploring the Iconic Red Light District of De Wallen in Amsterdam
When the term "red light district" is mentioned, most people immediately think of De Wallen in Amsterdam. Renowned for its lenient regulations on sex work and marijuana, Amsterdam attracts a significant number of tourists.
Visitors should be aware of certain rules when exploring the area, such as a strict prohibition on photography within the red light district zones. However, it's important to note that the activities within the district are entirely legal and regulated. Sex workers in Amsterdam's red light district are well-cared for and undergo regular testing.
Amsterdam boasts attractions like the sex museum and erotic art museum, adding to its popularity as a destination for stag and hen parties.
The Red Light District: A Conclusion
As demonstrated, red-light districts exist in various parts of the world. While some are larger and more famous than others, they all share a common characteristic: they are significant contributors to the local economy. The demand for adult entertainment drives the profitability of red light districts, emphasizing the age-old adage that "sex sells." Ultimately, it is money that plays a pivotal role in shaping societies worldwide.