Image via Flickr user David Joyce. Queenstown is the adventure sport capital of New Zealand. But as the tourist numbers swell during the ski season, so do the stag parties, boy's weekends, corporate retreats, and international business meetings. As a result, the city has developed a largely hidden yet hugely profitable sex industry. For the sex workers who migrate south for the season, Queenstown is unique. Jasmine tours New Zealand's South Island throughout the year, but spends most of her time in the mountain town.
Currently at the end of a day stint, she is one of the longest-staying sex workers in Queenstown. Most of Jasmine's clients are between 26 and 50 years old, and almost all are international tourists. Business is so steady and reliable that she organizes rooms months ahead of time, booking them out for several weeks before even speaking to a client.
But people in town are often looking for more comprehensive attendance. The craving for companionship on holiday has led to another hugely popular service in Queenstown, the girlfriend experience GFE. She started Indulge Me NZ two years ago after noticing a spike in this market over winter, and it's grown steadily since. Girls are also often asked to cook or clean while undressed.
Whether it's a stag party or guys' weekend, they just want to see naked girls. Antonia and Jasmine say they both choose to work in Queenstown because the clients are nicer than in the rest of the country. Antonia notes she's only ever had to cancel two show bookings because the men were too drunk or rowdy.
Like any skiing or biking town, busy seasons in Queenstown revolve around sports, making July to October and December to March the busiest periods. During this time, Jasmine drives to towns like Nelson, where she began working in the sex trade, and has regular customers who guarantee her income. Antonia makes ends meet by bartending in Queenstown, although the bars are quiet too. The women say the quiet months are worth it though, as they more than make up for it during the busy ski season.
