ECPAT began as a campaign against child prostitution in Asian tourism. At the World Congress in 1996, tourism was high on the agenda as a potential vehicle for the abuse of children world-wide, not only by paedophiles, but also by 'situational' abusers travelling to places where, it was presumed, sex with children was acceptable.

Since the early 1990s, ECPAT International and ECPAT groups around the world have worked with the tourism and travel industry to raise awareness and to take practical measures against children being sexually abused. Encouraged by ECPAT, the tourism and travel industry has responded with enthusiasm to the challenge of not allowing the industry to be used to harm children. Luggage tags, ticket pouches, education manuals and programmes in tourism training schools, in-flight videos, advertisements against child sex tourism, and codes of conduct for tour operators have been adopted and promoted by various sectors of the industry.

Many tourism and travel trade organisations have indicated their willingness to come out against child sex tourism, and are developing policy documents or codes of conduct for their members. There have also been many interesting initiatives to combat the phenomenon around the world, particularly from among the ECPAT groups in Europe and the Pacific. However, the work has lacked co-ordination and a united leadership.

ECPAT International determined during 1998 to devise a new strategy to build on previous actions to combat child sex tourism and take advantage of this goodwill and creative thinking. The Board commissioned a research report to be carried out by Groupe Developpement, a member of ECPAT France.

The report was completed in February 2001 and contains information on child sex tourism from several regions, with analysis and identification of Best Practice Models. The report also identifies action priorities for the continuation of the work against child sex tourism. A summarised version (Child Sex Tourism Action Survey) can be found in Publications, below.

ECPAT International is now undertaking some of the actions identified in the report. Actions such as developing a handbook of good practices in tourism with a methodological guide; creating and updating a database on child sex tourism actions; and designing a regional program in South Asia.