During the World Economic Forum (WEF, Davos Forum), when leaders from around the world and heads of global corporations gather, demand for prostitution in Davos, Switzerland, surged by up to 40 times the usual level.
According to the Swiss daily 20 Minuten on the 29th, on the 19th, when the Davos Forum opened, there were 79 requests for prostitution through an adult service platform. The outlet said, "Compared with the usual average of about two reservations a day, that is about a 40-fold increase." Switzerland, where the Davos Forum is held, is a country where prostitution is legal.
At this year's Davos Forum, about 850 global corporations CEOs and chairpersons attended, including U.S. President Donald Trump; Jensen Huang, Nvidia chief executive officer (CEO); and Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO. Including senior government and corporate officials, activists and journalists from around the world, attendance reached about 3,000, the largest on record.
According to the report, use of prostitution platforms by users from the United States, Russia and Ukraine rose especially sharply. One user was said to have paid about 96,000 Swiss francs (about 178 million won) to have five women stay for four days. A platform official said, "This year, demand for Black women increased rapidly."
The French regional daily La Dépêche du Midi reported, "Among the women in prostitution are students, teachers and travelers who gathered aiming for high income during the Davos Forum," adding, "Some attendees paid large sums to the women in prostitution."
This is not the first time controversy has arisen over a spike in prostitution during the Davos Forum. In 2020, British media reported that at least more than 100 women in prostitution were active around Davos, sparking controversy.
At the time, the U.K.'s The Times reported, "Women in prostitution visited hotels where national delegations were staying, and some were forced to have sex with men far older than expected."
As the controversy spread, the Davos Forum advised female corporate executives and participants at the time not to attend events or parties alone.
A Davos Forum Spokesperson said, "The organizers apply a zero-tolerance policy to harassment and inappropriate conduct," while noting, "We cannot be held responsible for what happens outside official events at the Congress Center."