KEY POINTS:
Cashed-up baby boomers including older women will fuel Australia's sexual services industry in future, a business analyst has forecast.
Traditionally the sex trade has revolved around young men visiting brothels or using escort services, but future growth will be fuelled by the older generation, aged 55-plus, research by IBISWorld suggests.
The study also suggests internet sites promoting sexual rendezvous between strangers with no exchange of funds are creating increased competition for the world's oldest profession.
"Currently men over 55 contribute just 10 per cent of industry revenue, with women making up 8 per cent," IBISWorld Australian general manager Jason Baker said.
"But given the increasingly sexual liberalisation of society and particularly the sexual freedom of women, we anticipate the female customer segment will grow over the next five years. We predict an increase in the number of women not only paying for sexual services but visiting strip clubs and accessing sexual material via the telephone, internet, pay TV and DVD."
Australians make between 12 and 16 million visits to an estimated 20,000 sex workers every year, and to more than 5000 legal brothels, escort agencies and sexual massage services and to 2000 illegal outfits.
But internet services, introduction agencies and clubs providing contacts for non-paying sex pose a significant threat to the A$2.1 billion ($2.33 billion) sex industry. "These negate the need to pay and sidestep many of the moral difficulties [of] soliciting prostitutes."
Queenslanders and West Australians pay the most for sex. Analyst Edward Butler said: "In WA it's mining towns affecting the price and in Queensland it's more driven by tourism." Sporting events and holidays keep sex workers busy. "Nationwide the busiest time is Christmas and New Year when people are interstate and there is less need for discretion."
- AAP
States of play
Australia's sex industry took in A$2.1 billion ($2.33 billion) last year. The percentage spent in each state and territory:
NSW 33pc
Victoria 25pc
Queensland 20.3pc
Western Australia 14pc
ACT 4.5pc
South Australia 1.8pc
Tasmania 0.9 pc
Northern Territory 0.5 pc
