Thai sex industry worth 260 billion baht
January 17 2018
The value of the Thai sex industry is estimated at 260 billion baht. This has been calculated by the news platform “Sanook Money”.
This calculation is partly based on statements by Chuwit Kamolvisit, a former brothel owner in Bangkok, who later entered politics. According to Chuwit, the sex industry was worth 2007 percent of gross domestic product in 2: or 163 billion baht.
“Sanook Money” has calculated that this share has now risen to 260 billion baht.
Source: Der Farang
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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This photo reminds me more of “loiterers”!
In any case, not worth 260 billion Baht.
Great that this has been calculated. At least we have something to do with that. What a waste of money if true and 2% of gross domestic product. I have no words for it, it's too sad to read. And to think that there are still many people on this planet who are dying of hunger or in hopeless situations. Yes, resisting temptation is very difficult or impossible for many. This is also visibly present with gambling addiction and alcohol addiction and there too a lot of money is lost which can be spent much better. That Chuwit is indeed very proud, because he has earned a lot of money with his six or seven brothels. Now he shouts your ears off on the morning news in Thailand and pretends to fight injustice. What do they call that type again? I know.
Humanity in its diversity, we will have to make do with it.
I sometimes like to be seduced like many others. Is that bad mister Jacques? Does that make me bad?
Dear Hans I'm not saying you're bad, I don't know you but I have an allergy to the amount of prostitution that takes place in this country. I also don't think highly of the average user of this industry. I see a lack of discipline and self-understanding in a lot of people. It's about one's own comfort and not being able to resist temptations. Not only in the field of prostitution. Of course people hide behind the idea that it is paid for and that the folds do it themselves out of love for the profession. That is partly true and I will not deny it. We do not all have the same values and standards. I like to see the women and I am certainly not averse to it. But a woman is much more than a sex product. In my opinion, they are selling themselves short by practicing this so-called profession. In my opinion, this gives a negative image of the entire country. I know that there are people who find this a nice image and also go to Thailand for it. So my argument is legit anyway. But I impose the necessary on myself, because I think this is necessary to keep it livable. There are many people who have no respect for themselves and you often find that with the prostitutes. Everything for money and poverty. I have been with my Thai partner for years and we have a good time. Do many things for each other and with each other and we are happy like this. So you won't see me rolling around with one of the prostitutes, no matter how attractive they are. What you do is up to you. I have no influence on that. I do think it is a sign on the wall that a country apparently collects so much income from something that is forbidden. I think the law should be enforced or else abolish that trade. That ambiguous stuff is really writing on the wall. It only encourages corruption and abuse, as we see happening every day. In addition, there is an incredible amount wrong in the sex industry. Books have been written about this and I am not going to elaborate on it. I plead for a lot of refraining from this kind of stuff. The foreigners must respect the law as long as it is in force and lead by example. That has fallen on deaf ears, I am aware of that. Humanity in its diversity, I can't make it more beautiful.
The practice of prostitution is indeed a profession. Unfortunately, many people do not recognize the seriousness of this and the expertise that is required.
Partly thanks to this profession, Thailand has created a better future economically and many families in the Isan have benefited from this.
The condescending attitude that some feel they can afford, not only towards the ladies who practice this profession but also towards their clientele, suggests a complete lack of empathy and a sense of reality. Shame.
Leo,
I agree with that profession, heaviness, lack of realism and empathy.
But I don't believe that this profession has created a better future for Thailand economically. Of course a number of families have been helped, but at what cost? And as for the ladies themselves? Why is the average income in Isaan still half of the average income in the whole country? I argue that places where many of these ladies come from are lagging behind.
Perhaps you should consider who benefits the most from this profession. It is generally not the ladies themselves. It is the proprietors, the owners of bars and massage parlours, the pimps and traffickers who benefit by far the most. We need to look at that and maybe do something about it.
I'm betting on the elite rather than those who own pretty much all of the exploitable land with the real estate on it. The pimps and operators are relatively very small boys/girls, just like human traffickers. The same elite also determines politics, which completes the circle. That same elite benefits if part of the population remains stupid and disadvantaged. The only thing that can help in the longer term, I think, is good education. So there is still a very long way to go.
Incidentally, it seems to me that there are very few women who would voluntarily earn their living as prostitutes if they could do it in another way, without literally letting their bodies live out with all the health risks that entails.
@Jacques: that money is not lost, as you say. Hundreds of thousands of people work in that industry, and they all get paid from it. Some more than others, that's true, but at least it won't be lost!
I would like to see the calculation before I pass judgment on this amount.
In my opinion, the calculation is full of assumptions that can hardly be checked.
Fortunately there are still so many righteous Dutch people who can tell the rest of the world what is good for them, I personally am much more afraid of that
Think that amount can be increased tenfold.
All ex-barmaids who still get money from a foreigner or rich thai.