Greece’s sex industry goes limp

The sex industry has traditionally been considered a non-cyclical activity, or one that becomes more profitable during bad economic times.

But times have gotten so tough in Greece that its once booming sex industry is now struggling to make ends meet.

During better times some 300 to 400 sex shops existed in Athens. Now, 3 out of 4 of those businesses have gone bust and the remaining shops are struggling to attract customers.

"We're making just €20 (A$25) a day, if at all," Marianna Lemnarou, a sex retailer told Reuters. "Some customers just don't feel like having sex - others can't afford to buy our stuff in the crisis."

Unattractive austerity

The sex industry is feeling the burden of strict austerity measures Greece adopted as part of the country’s international bailout deal. The wage cuts and tax hikes have lead to record unemployment and feeble consumer spending.

Symbolic of the broader economy

The troubles facing Greece’s sex and pornography industry echo those plaguing the wider economy.

Since joining the euro, local makers of sex toys and entertainment have suffered from soaring wage costs as have businesses in other industries.

The availability of cheaper products being offered from rivals abroad is also handicapping local producers. "The Chinese and the Turks are killing us," Lefteris Papadopoulos told Reuters, who offers discounted hot pants, garters and stockings for €5 (A$6) to €10 (A$12) apiece.

Dirt cheap online pornography has all but killed the pornographic production houses that once used the nation’s islands and beaches as backdrops.

A return to the drachma

Reeling from inconclusive general elections on May 6, Greece plunged into fresh political turmoil that fanned fears the country might leave the euro. "Since the vote, business has completely tanked," Lemnarou said.

A return to the drachma currency would not necessarily solve the sex industries problems. Almost all the sex toys sold in Greece are imported from countries such as Germany or Poland and a devalued drachma would send prices skyrocketing.

A vibrator that costs the average Greek around €20 (A$25) today could end up costing €50 (A$63) if the drachma was reinstated.