Prostitution is not illegal in Costa Rica. Sex tourism is a huge part of the country’s income. This not only includes men and women, but also children who are enslaved in this industry. These people live in complete darkness, unable to see the redemption that is only found in Christ Jesus.
Costa Rica is known for their tourism industry for both vacationers and ecologists. Costa Rica first began development of its tourism industry with the creation of the first private hotel, the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, in 1930. Since then tourism has flourished and it is the second highest source of revenue for the country. Most tourists come for the beaches, the ecological preserves and the wildlife, but due to lax laws on prostitution there has been a steady rise in sex tourism.
Sex tourism in Costa Rica has been a consequence of the rapid growth of international tourism in the country, and the country is being promoted as a popular destination for sex tourism. A study estimated that “up to 10% of tourists who come to Costa Rica engage in sex tourism”. Also it is reported that about 80% of the sex tourists are from the US. This is largely because of accessibility and not having to worry about criminal prosecution.
Although it is illegal to promote sex tourism in Costa Rica, it is a growing industry. Costa Rica is considered a third world country. The average salary for a female college graduate in Costa Rica for what we might call a regular job is close to $600 a month. High end prostitutes in Costa Rica can make that in one day. Another huge part of the prostitution industry in Costa Rica is transgender prostitution. Transgender persons in Costa Rica are highly ostracized and many times are excluded from obtaining “regular” employment. Many feel that they have no other options for survival but to prostitute themselves.
Many of these men and women have been trafficked into a life of prostitution, but many have not. Some people prostitute to support a family, some to support themselves, some to support a drug habit. Regardless of the motive, any way that you look at it, these people have placed a value on themselves. For a high end escort, this value may be $300 per client, but for those on the streets it’s closer to $13.
Why Costa Rica? God has engineered in Rachel a deep love of the country and the precious people of Costa Rica, in order to draw her to a calling to minister to the men and women in prostitution in Costa Rica. Working with anti-trafficking agencies, Rachel will come alongside these individuals to bring healing and hope into their lives, so they may learn that “Redemption is Possible.” The end goal is to help these people know spiritual freedom through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
All donations to the Redeem Costa Rica can be paid securely online at Ripe for Harvest Missionary Outreach or mail a check to -
Ripe For Harvest World Outreach
P.O. Box 487
Monument, CO 80132
Include Rachel's account number #20343 on any mailed check.
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