NEWSFLASH

---

TRAVEL AGENTS VS. PEDOPHILES

Manila, April 4, 1998 - Travel agents and operators have been successful in preventing tourists from engaging in sex with child prostitutes.

This was revealed by Ron O'Grady, chairman of the End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT), who said that although the travel industry was part of the problem it could also be part of the solution.

"The travel industry is at the forefront of the issue because agents and tour operators know what's happening," O'Grady told the Pacific Asia Travel Association annual conference at the Philippine International Convention Center.

He added that the world's travel and tourism industry could do more to fight the spread of child prostitution, which has increased due partly to the greater number of people going overseas.

---