Bangladesh Tourism

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of Bangladesh’s national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety at the Bangladesh Parjan Corporation, National Tourism Organization , 233 Airport Road, Tejgaon, Dhaka-1214, telephone (880-2) 811-9192 or 811-8559, fax (880-2) 811-7235, internet website http://www.parjatan.org , or e-mail address, bpcho@bangla.net . ... [Read More]

V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G

France is a destination country for women trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and involuntary domestic servitude, primarily from Eastern and Central Europe and Africa. The number of Chinese women trafficked to France for sexual exploitation increased in 2004. The government estimates that there are 10,000 to 12,000 trafficking victims in France, 3,000-8,000 of whom are children forced into prostitution and labor. Nigerian trafficking networks continued to expand their activities in France. Trafficking of Brazilian women and girls for sexual exploitation to French Guiana — a French possession — remained a serious problem. The Government of France fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Although the government did not provide full data on investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences, the Secretary of State has ... [Read More]

Bhutan

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:  Independent travel is not permitted in Bhutan. Visitors are required to book travel through a registered tour operator in Bhutan. This may be done directly or through a travel agent abroad.  Further information may be obtained through the Bhutanese Department of Tourism, P.O. Box 126, Thimphu, Bhutan, telephone +975-2-32351, 2-32352; fax +975-2-323695 or at www.tourism.gov.bt.  Entry is available only via India, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, and Thailand. The border with China is closed. The minimum daily tariff is set by the Bhutanese Department of Tourism and cannot be negotiated. The rate includes all accommodations, all meals, transportation, services of licensed guides and porters, and cultural programs where and when available. The rate is the same for both cultural tours and treks. At thi ... [Read More]

Bhutan

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:  Independent travel is not permitted in Bhutan. Visitors are required to book travel through a registered tour operator in Bhutan. This may be done directly or through a travel agent abroad.  Further information may be obtained through the Bhutanese Department of Tourism, P.O. Box 126, Thimphu, Bhutan, telephone +975-2-32351, 2-32352; fax +975-2-323695 or at www.tourism.gov.bt.  Entry is available only via India, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, and Thailand. The border with China is closed. The minimum daily tariff is set by the Bhutanese Department of Tourism and cannot be negotiated. The rate includes all accommodations, all meals, transportation, services of licensed guides and porters, and cultural programs where and when available. The rate is the same for both cultural tours and treks. At thi ... [Read More]

Miscellaneous Publications

111111--04/21/05   The Facts About Child Sex Tourism      ... [Read More]

Excerpt from the third annual "Trafficking in Persons Report", "Developing Countries Take a Stand Against Trafficking" Global Issues, June 2003

Discouraging Sex Tourism. The Government of Brazil is fighting sex tourism by asking hotels to be active in discouraging child prostitution on their premises. Hotels participating in the program receive an extra "star" in their quality rating. Brazil also distributes brochures to visiting tourists making them aware of the penalties associated with exploiting minors. The Government of The Gambia asks visitors to give information to the police about sex tourists and the sexual exploitation of children through a special tip system. The government requires fingerprints before residence permits are issued to foreigners in order to check criminal records to prevent known exploiters from operating in the country. The Tourism Bill before the National Assembly provides protective measures for children against sex tourists. The Gambian Government and the Government of The Netherlands set up a special police unit to monitor and track Dutch pedophiles in The Gambia. ... [Read More]

Maldives (02/05)

Tourism. In recent years, Maldives has successfully marketed its natural assets for tourism--beautiful, unpolluted beaches on small coral islands, diving in blue waters abundant with tropical fish, and glorious sunsets. Tourism now brings in about $198 million a year. Tourism and related services contributed 31% of GDP in 2002. ...

The Maldives were badly hit by the Asian tsunami of December 26, 2004, which killed 82 and caused substantial damage to Maldives tourism, housing, and fishing infrastructure. The U.S. provided $1.6 million in immediate relief assistance. Despite the disaster, the Government of the Maldives held parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for December 31, on January 22, 2005. Reform candidates performed strongly. Following the poll, President Gayoom announced plans to establish multiparty democracy within a year. ... [Read More]

IV. Country Narratives: East Asia and Pacific

The government made concerted efforts to increase media coverage and public awareness of trafficking. In 2003, Indonesia’s president approved a campaign against child sex tourism. Although the government has a limited ability to fund prevention programs, it welcomed international assistance. The government continued to work with NGOs on anti-trafficking and education initiatives. Government-sponsored public awareness campaigns often featured senior officials and included television, radio, and print media. In June 2003, Indonesia hosted a meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization on efforts to end child sex tourism. Thereafter, the Indonesian government announced a campaign to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children in tourism, beginning with the major tourist destination points of Bali and Batam. The relevant ministries are working with local government officials in both places to strengthen law enforcement, and assist and protect victims. ... [Read More]

Background Notes: Maldives

Background Notes: MaldivesPA/PCSource: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public AffairsDate: Feb 15, 19902/15/90Category: Country DataRegion: South AsiaCountry: MaldivesSubject: Cultural Exchange, Resource Management, Military Affairs, History, International Organizations, Trade/Economics[TEXT]Official Name: Republic of MaldivesPROFILEGeographyArea: 298 sq. km. (115 sq. mi.) spread over 1,200 islands; twice thesize of Washington, D.C. Cities: Capital-Male (pop. 52,000). Terrain:Flat islands. Climate: Hot and humid.People Nationality: Noun and adjective-Maldivian(s). ... [Read More]

II. International Best Practices

Marilyn Carlson Nelson became an American trailblazer in the fight against human trafficking when she committed her travel companies to a global code of conduct that seeks to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation in travel and tourism. As part of the code of conduct Mrs. Nelson signed, she agreed to train employees to identify and report perpetrators of child sex tourism; inform travelers about the legal penalties associated with such transgressions; and develop an ethical corporate policy repudiating sexual exploitation in tourism. The multi-line Carlson Companies, which includes hotel chains, cruises, restaurants, and the world’s second largest travel agency, generated more than $27 billion in sales last year and employs an estimated 198,000 persons in more than 140 nations. Carlson Companies is the first major Nort ... [Read More]