Operators dismiss part in STD rise

YOUTH market operators have claimed they are “not moral guardians” after a report in a top medical journal attacked the trade for encouraging sex with new partners on holiday.

In an article in the British Medical Journal about sexually transmitted diseases caught on holiday, Sheffield Royal Hallamshire Hospital consultant Karen Rogstad claimed operators should give more sex health advice.

Writing about the industry in general, she said: “Health advice in travel brochures was shown to be in a prominent position in only 11%, and only 3% were found to contain advice on safe sex. More worrying is tour operators’ encouragement of sex with new partners by presenting prizes.”

But tour operators have hit back, saying they do not encourage or condone promiscuous behaviour on holiday, especially unprotected sex.

Airtours Holidays head of specialist products Martin Lomax said: “It all starts with home – it is how people have been brought up by their parents. I don’t think any blame can be put on tour operators.”

Lomax said Airtours’ youth brand Escapades gave out leaflets on safe sex and talked about risks in its welcome meetings. Escapades, Club 18-30 and 2wentys said they supported the Government’s “Sex Lottery” campaign and featured it prominently in brochures and ticket wallets.

The BMJ article cites research that claims 35% of British holidaymakers to Tenerife had sexual intercourse with someone who wasn’t their regular partner. It says 12% of sexually transmitted diseases are caught on holiday.