Analysis of the Socioeconomic Dimensions of Sex Tourism in West Africa: A Data-Driven Typology and Derivation of Governance Strategies

Ph.D. Project: Analysis of the Socioeconomic Dimensions of Sex Tourism in West Africa: A Data-Driven Typology and Derivation of Governance Strategies

The social and ethical sustainability of travel is increasingly becoming a focus of global tourism, yet the phenomenon of sex tourism represents a reality marked by profound power imbalances and neocolonial structures of exploitation. The deliberate exploitation of socioeconomic vulnerabilities leads to serious challenges in affected destinations, ranging from health risks and crime to long-term damage to their image and the displacement of legitimate economic sectors.

Against this backdrop, this doctoral research project examines how the hidden network of sex tourism can be systematically mapped, its socioeconomic impacts quantified, and effective, type-specific governance strategies developed.

Based on a multi-perspective theoretical approach—comprising perspectives from the shadow economy, development theory, and ethical sociology—the empirical study is conducted in West Africa. The sequential mixed-methods design combines interviews with subject matter experts for the qualitative validation of theoretical phenomenon types with an empirical field case study to determine local specifics (“ground truth”). This involves conducting semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and analyzing local microdata. Through the systematic triangulation of theoretical and conceptual model knowledge, qualitative expert knowledge, and qualitative and quantitative field research data collected on-site, the socioeconomic damages can be quantitatively assessed using proxy indicators.
The results are incorporated into a sex tourism impact model that serves as a strategic diagnostic tool. Building on this, a practical governance framework is developed that provides destination management organizations and policymakers with tailored legal, economic, and social interventions aimed at sustainably reducing local vulnerabilities.

The dissertation is being conducted as a joint doctoral project at the European University of Flensburg in cooperation with the German Institute for Tourism Research and Worms University of Applied Sciences, with Professor Dr. Bernd Eisenstein serving as the primary advisor and Professor Dr. Knut Scherhag as the secondary advisor.