ABSTRACT
It could reasonably be claimed that recent new-found interest in sexual behaviour among holidaymakers is driven by concerns related to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This has caused academic researchers and clinicians, as well as the aforementioned journalist, to speculate about the seriousness of the potential threat to health posed by the risk of acquiring HIV and STD infection through unprotected sexual intercourse abroad (Feachem and PhillipsHoward 1988; Behrens and Porter 1990; Ellis 1990; Hawkes and Hart 1993). It is well recognised that the spread of STDs, particu larly gonorrhoea, is associated with population movement and tourism (De Schryver and Meheus 1989): thus the sexual habits of the more than 31 million UK residents who travel abroad each year (Baty and Templeton 1991) assume particular interest.
