A prostitute says goodbye to a guest at the infamous brothel 'Hotel Luxor' at the Reeperbahn red-light district in Hamburg March 18, We used to have 10 girls working here. Now we only have four. Pauli district and the Reeperbahn, its garish main street which is home to countless bars, strip clubs and discos. The clubs have also brought CCTV cameras and police patrols, a deterrent for customers but welcomed by some anti-prostitution groups who worry about the welfare of the women at work.
In its heyday in the late s when the booming harbour provided a steady stream of custom and the Beatles played in a club nearby, the Luxor, also known as the Mehrer hotel, enjoyed an international reputation. It was especially popular with Japanese, but also among British and Irish tourists. The women were wearing revealing black skirts and low-cut tops. These days the Luxor looks dated. Its plainly painted exterior and lack of neon lights or lurid pictures make it look drab compared with newer establishments on the strip.
The bar and rooms give an impression of comfort rather than seediness, with dark wood panelling on the ceiling, dim red lighting and a retro bar. Mehrer said Internet pornography had contributed to the decline in business, as had the rise of the credit card, as the women prefer to be paid in cash. She also complained about some of the new young prostitutes, many of whom are believed to be victims of human trafficking.
Prostitution is a legitimate occupation in Germany and nearly half a million prostitutes are estimated to ply their trade, serving more than 1 million clients a day. Most work in bars, clubs or brothels, while the rest operate as call girls, escorts or on the streets.
Around 10 percent are believed to be drug addicts, say welfare groups. She declined to say what the private investors intended to do with it. Discover Thomson Reuters. Directory of sites. United Kingdom.
