Lust and Wanderlust: Sex and Tourism in a Virtual World

This paper presents recent developments and current applications of virtual reality technologies in the 'recreational' industries of tourism and pornography, industries which have already been changed by the Western world's tendency towards the creation of virtual environments and experiences. Telephone sex and high budget amusement theme parks offer the opportunity to momentarily escape into alternative worlds. The World Travel and Tourism Council, reporting that world travel generates a figure equalling 5.5% of the planet's gross national product, described tourism as the world's largest industry. Pornography also generates high revenues. The release or escape which these industries enable will be heightened through the development and application of virtual reality systems which provide the environments and experiences with none of the inconveniences or distractions.