Tourism minister wants to end Thai sex industry
Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports wants to eradicate the sex industry in Thailand. Opponents of her plan believe that tourism will decline as a result.
Although it seems that the sex industry mainly focuses on tourists, in reality this is only a small percentage of the actual size of this business. It is not clear how many tourists come especially for the erotic nightlife. Prostitution is officially banned in Thailand and therefore no figures are kept. According to a UNAIDS report, there are about 125.000 sex workers in Thailand, but insiders think there are many more.
Thailand mainly wants to profile itself as a luxury destination in order to attract wealthy tourists. They spend a lot of money which would be good for the Thai economy. Because of the image of a sex destination, people would be less successful in this.
According to Minister Kobkarn, the sex industry plays only a minor role in tourism. “Tourists don't come to Thailand for that. They come here for our beautiful culture. “We want quality tourism in Thailand and that is why the sex industry must go”.
However, according to experts, it will be difficult to end an industry that is so deeply rooted in society. Many corrupt officials and police officers depend on the sex industry for their additional income.
Organizations that care about the welfare of sex workers also say that Kobkarn's plan is unrealistic. “The military government denies the magnitude of prostitution and its contribution to the economy and tourism,” said Panomporn Utaisri, director of NightLight, a Christian NGO that helps women from the sex industry find work. “There is no denying that the industry generates a lot of income,” says Panomporn.
Sex worker organizations say they would be excited about closing the brothels if the government had a plan to guarantee prostitutes a different way of making a living. “If the government wants to close down the sex industry, they must first have an alternative for sex workers,” said Surang Janyam of SWING, an organization that provides free health care and vocational training to prostitutes.
Source: Reuters
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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Besides temples, I wonder what there is so much to experience in Thailand in the cultural field? Historical buildings ? Works of art ? Museums ? Books ? Movie ? Music ? Theater ?
Here you will find 32 (thirty-two) museums in Bangkok alone
http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-museum/#
Music can be found everywhere in Bangkok, classical, jazz, Thai in all kinds of genres
etc. etc.
If you want to see and hear everything, you'll be busy every day for the next 10 years. I skip the temples.
My good friend used to say when I suggested visiting a temple, "What!!!"
I know and know that…..nevertheless, most people will certainly not blame me that Thailand is little culturally. It is not Japan and certainly not China….
I don't think many tourists will travel to Bangkok for the concerts and those museums…which in my opinion don't amount to much.
complete nonsense, I lived in Bangkok for years and there is a lot of culture to be found, you have to be open to it and go outside the shopping centers and night market
Classical music ? Jazz ? If you ask 100 people on the street in Bangkok who Beethoven is if they have ever heard of Dizzy Gillespie, I will give you a piece of paper that no one can answer you. I do not deny that there are many nice things in Thailand, but don't tell me that it is a culturally high-quality country .... By the way, they have almost never had contact with the outside world ... ... and until 25 years ago there was absolutely nothing.
My first visit to Thailand was for an opera in Bangkok. The Rape of Lucretia by Benjamin Britten. And then I got to taste the culture of Thailand. In the end I also found my lover there with whom I have been married for 7 years now. But I'm sure I'll be an exception.
In fact, there is really nothing to see. The cities? Now compare Bangkok with Amsterdam or Florence or Paris. Except for a few temples and palaces, it is all unimaginable, I repeat unimaginably ugly! All streets are similar in ugliness. Urban planning? Does that exist in Thailand? Money rules. But there is no money to paint buildings! Fortunately, the sun cheers things up a bit. In a Dutch climate, this would lead to collective depression. Ugliness seems to have something purposeful in Thailand.
Also don't forget:
– the untouched nature with many nature parks;
– the most beautiful beaches in the world;
– the highly valued culinary kitchen;
– the rich traditions of the country and its religion;
– the boundless friendliness of the average Thai;
– the pleasures of traditional Thai massage;
– etc.
Untouched nature is disappointing compared to other countries. Wherever roads lead to, it is often too populated in Thailand to call it untouched accessible, unless you want to spend days hiking and camping in a tent. Most beautiful beaches in the world? Ahh. Have you ever been to the Caribbean, Brazil, Indonesia or beautiful parts of Oceania? There are also nicer ones to be found in Europe when it comes to affordability.
Personally, I think it is good to close things like Patpong, Ratchada entertainment palaces, Nana plaza, soi cowboy, etc. in Bangkok. Just like in all the islands in the country, it can be eradicated. Pattaya (I won't be there myself) can then possibly remain as the only destination, then you at least ensure that the image does not press on the country, but on a single place. The farang will of course always come for the Thai women, also outside Pattaya. It just can't be paid for anymore but you have to use your mouth a bit to get it 😉
-The most beautiful beaches in the world where you often can no longer lie on a bed and with another 2000 mainly Russians and Chinese in a clump (definitely never been to the Philippines more beautiful and emptier beaches and I could go on and on ).
-You also have to look for untouched nature between the construction pits and construction cranes.
-I find the boundless friendliness especially in big cities often very hard to find.
Not that being in Thailand is a punishment, but let's not overdo it 😉
The most beautiful beaches in the world ?? Have you ever been to Algarve or Fuerteventura to not look too far? You won't find a cigarette butt on those beaches either…..while in Thailand a lot of beaches are downright garbage dumps…..And the average Thai is especially very friendly as long as he can earn something from you…..if this is not the case then I think the average Thai not at all friendlier than the average European… on the contrary.
If that only happens in Thailand? Not that I approve or disapprove of it, everyone has to decide for themselves. Name me 1 country where the oldest profession in the world is not practiced?
For example, if you want to see the well-known ping pong shows, you don't have to fly 12 hours, go to Hamburg, this is closer to the reberbahn. The lady's grand plans are as hypocritical as can be. There will be a few raids to set vb but business as usual. Many owners are highly placed. It will be the same cinema as the fake clothes and CDs to the outside world. It is quite simple, you can visit Thailand the way you want and that is the case all over the world. I was in China there it is also not kosher. Many of those girls end up in private circuits. If you know that the minimum wage in Thailand is 9000 baht and those girls easily earn 25000 baht/week and in Phuket alone, for example, 3000 jobs in the hotels are not filled, then you can deduce that they know what they are doing and many choose it because it is “easy money”
Easy money, you say? Ever had a good conversation with a Thai prostitute, you good, handsome man? So no.
And as far as those benefits are concerned, you are completely wrong. That might be true for a single, young, pretty and charming lucky lady. There are many who have few customers and earn no more than 10-20.000 baht per month. And then I'm not talking about the many women who only work for Thai men.
If they indeed work for the mentioned amounts, why don't they choose a job for the same money, around 15.000 baht, to work in shops or factories?
It is always their voluntary, own choice. Look at the employment in the factories. An awful lot of young women choose to work there for 10.000 – 20.000 a month.
Many ladies see bar life as a paid dating site, where they eventually hope to find a farang to marry. You don't see that in the factory.
Nowadays, for 20 years now, there are dating sites to get in touch with foreigners.
And the women who choose to associate with foreigners: estimates indicate that this is only a small proportion of women, a few percent. Most women only deal with the Thai men.
It is a choice of a profession as a sex worker or working in another job.
If by 'those girls' you mean an average Thai lady in a bar, the statement that they 'easily earn 25.000 Baht a week' is a bit exaggerated. In the expensive Agogo's you can probably find ladies who make it, but those are exceptions.
A large majority of bargirls are happy to keep you company for a week for an amount between 5000 and 10.000 Baht, especially in the nine-month low season.
I do know bargirls who go for the big money and earn 100.000 a month (after deducting all costs), but they usually go to Manama, the capital of Bahrain, for example, for half a year, where they are available 24/7 in hotels for people from surrounding countries where the rules from the Koran are enforced more strictly.
In addition to the high accommodation costs and the extremely unpleasant working conditions there, there is also a substantial amount for security, a fine for the unavoidable overstay plus bribes and some 'conversations' in locked rooms at the airport with the appropriate government officials.
If the Thai Minister goes through with the plans, more girls and tourists will go abroad, which on balance does not improve the world and which does not help Thailand at all.
I think that 25.000 Bath a week is very exaggerated, and even if this were true in one instance, it is certainly a great exception, and certainly not a regular occurrence. Although many farangs like to tell it otherwise, it is often so Fransamsterdam already written often has a paid dating site. Most Thai women get to know their future farang partner here, whom they would never have met in the countryside or in any other job. However, there are many women who are not lucky enough to find a good partner, so that they often have to earn a living. deserve, having to play the same play every night, of sweet laughter, and kind words. Many farangs who think no further, and see themselves as the greatest, think that with this kindness they show that they do their work with great pleasure, while this kindness is nothing but part of the Job. If you look closely at what kind of characters they often use to pay the rent the next day, for example, then I put a big question mark, whether this is really "easy money".
So you can immediately see from the first reaction that the average visitor to Thailand is very focused on the discussed tourism. As Tino indicates, Thailand has countless choices that are definitely worth it and are indeed far too little visited. Because people focus on bangkok, pattaya phuket, samui, hua hin and chiangmai. In addition to temples, there are countless special buildings and historical sites. A versatile nature. Beaches, lakes, mountains and diverse cultures. In addition, many historical and cultural events throughout the year. So YES much more than just temples.
There must be more to Thailand than bars and temples, but does anyone want to fly to Thailand for that?
Historical and cultural events?
Is there anyone who knows something about the history of Thailand, or would be interested in it at all?
And then also would be willing to fly all the way to Thailand for that.
That's probably not a big market.
In Europe you have a lot of beautiful history.
Cultural events?
They are probably just as fake as the cheese carriers in Alkmaar, Zeeland girl and meadow milk.
The beaches and natural parks?
If you want to recommend them, you have to start by making sure they are and remain clean and not full of rubbish.
And you should make sure that people can rent chairs and beds on the beach.
People don't come to walk up and down the beach all day and look at the sea.
The nature parks would not survive mass tourism at all.
Nor does the coral survive tourism.
what peace
and what do you think of nature, and the beaches, there are also many people, if you want to enjoy peace, that is very well possible there, on Samui or something, I often went far into the jungle with the scooter in the morning in, enjoy peace and nature, and meet no one who is in a hurry, pure nature.
I think it's a good plan, I often get annoyed with the Western men who often come to Thailand especially for 1 thing. If it is limited in Thailand, it will happen more behind the scenes, money wants these women (and men) to stay in a simple but very degrading way.
Or these tourists will travel to other countries, most foreign visitors really go to Thailand for the culture, the beautiful country ect.
Don't forget the Thai men who also visit the brothels, that is a much bigger problem because of them they are treated much more disrespectfully..I should know I have a few Thai friends who used to work in this sex industry.
The western man is often nice, that's why they prefer to work with them, with many exceptions, you will always love crazy people.
A large part of Isaan depends on the income of their daughters in the sex industry on the one hand and on the other hand on the generous gifts of Farangs who sponsor their sweethearts. Abolition of the sex industry is deadly for the Thai economy, which is already struggling. So don't!
Is that right, Colin?
A good estimate is that 300 million dollars per year, that is 10 billion baht, is transferred to the Isaan by sex workers. That would correspond to 100.000 sex workers who each transfer an average of 100.000 baht per year. Will be about right.
There are 20 million people living in Isan. That money from sex workers is therefore 500 baht per year per inhabitant of the Isaan.
There are perhaps 100.000 people (families) in Isan who depend wholly or largely on the money of their daughters in the sex industry.
I often hear your 'a large part of the Isaan dependent etc' as an excuse for the sex industry and it is therefore not true at all. Those Western men beat their chests: "Look how much we contribute to those poor Isaners!" So nonsense.
If the sex workers stopped transferring money to the Isaan, a good number of families would suffer, but the economy of the Isaan as a whole would hardly suffer.
I don't know why $300 million would be a good estimate, but money sent to isan by sex workers isn't all natural.
If you close the industry, you first have 100.000 new unemployed in Isan from the sex workers who go home, plus all the unemployed who come in from all the jobs around the sex industry.
That is probably more than 100.000.
Because the sex customers are disappearing, many non-sex-related jobs in catering hotels are also disappearing.
The question is, to what extent this will be compensated by class tourists – if they will come at all.
Moreover, that class of tourists only provide low-paid jobs for the ordinary Thai.
The big money goes to the wealthy Thai and to international hotel chains and then out of the country again.
If you want to change the sex industry, you have to do it carefully.
The way tourism is currently being managed is not very insightful.
For example, chasing people away from the (heavily polluted) beaches and nature reserves.
That Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul wants to play for the new Don Quichotte in this century is brave.
This minister can also try to extinguish a peat fire with his hands.
The oldest profession in the world cannot be eradicated.
Even in the Netherlands, where social services are much better than in Thailand, prostitution continues to occur.
Legal or not.
An alternative to work or benefits is not offered in Thailand!
There is 1 possibility to solve this problem: Call them all “Mia Noi” then prostitution will no longer exist.
The sex industry encompasses much more than the entertainment venues in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket known to Western foreigners. In Hat Yai there are a lot of brothels with mainly clients from Muslim Malaysia and in Chiang Mai the brothels are mainly visited by the Thai themselves. Throughout Thailand there are plenty of karaoke bars, which are in fact brothels for the Thai themselves. Thinking that only tourists visit a prostitute is a big fallacy, the Thai man is a frequent visitor (some figures speak of an average of twice a month) of a prostitute. Prostitution in Thailand existed long before mass tourism discovered Thailand.
Been coming to Thailand since 1992 and have never used the sex industry. I do think that this industry is not limited to the known areas but is much more deeply woven into society and that the boundaries of this industry are difficult to define.
Apart from the fact that the minister seriously underestimates the income of the sex industry, I do follow her opinion that she wants to tackle sex tourism.
I do not mean that sexual services should no longer exist in Thailand, that is crazy for words!!!
What I want to say is that it can all be reduced a bit and that the corruption and any exploitation that goes with it should stop.
The sex industry in Thailand is not an ordinary affair as it exists in almost all other countries in the world, but a real commerce and a banner that has worldwide fame.
I don't like that very much, because the country and its female population deserve more respect.
I see so many losers of men who never get further than their Dutch or Flemish village, but they do go to distant Thailand.
And it's not for the beauty of the country or to spend an active holiday, but to finally score with the women...
They feel like a king there with their small Western income, because there the ugly, often stinking gentlemen can unpack with the ladies.
Later, on the home front, they tell with great pride about their conquests, which they only made because they had some money to spend and not because of their handsome personality or appearance…
I find that disrespectful attitude towards the Thai girls reprehensible.
Prostitution is a must and a good thing, but not in the overly commercial way that only exists in Thailand!!!
A beautiful word; quality tourism. I think they are tourists who use their bonus pass to buy out shopping malls with quality items and visit a few temples and other hotspots in a controlled environment.
Attract rich people? The common people are not good enough? The beautiful beaches are not in Pattaya anyway, filth all over the streets, land, and on the beaches. That harms more than the sex.industry. Don't think that the rich man is waiting for these to disappear. If they do away with that, it will fall on its ass here, even more vacancy of condos. Is already the case.
Rich people want sidewalks….decent roads…decent public transport and no rats in the kitchens……Rich people want to be able to cross the street safely and not be confronted with a rubbish tip every 100 meters…Rich people want to be able to communicate at least in English and to be addressed with their name and not with Falang……Rich people want rights and not just duties…..should there still be sand?
In fact, the question is whether this would have an impact on tourism and the number of visitors.
In my opinion, tourism could benefit from this. More quality tourists, who spend their money on sights and the like, and less sex tourists who spend their money on booze and female company, where the money disappears without a trace.
May this dear lady first ensure that people receive a decent education to begin with, because that leaves immense gaps. and causes part of the problem.
FF coming out of her ivory tower, and having a look around the people can help with that, if you don't lack anything yourself, it is of course easy to speak.
And as for the rich, they go to the west with their manners and dollars, and the lesser class (chinese, among others) with hardly any money and ill-mannered come to Thailand.
There are few or no skilled workers, it seems to me that people are steadfastly holding on to the fact, as if people here in Thailand invented hot water and the wheel, and still don't really realize or understand that we are now in the 21st century have arrived.
Sheltering herself almost fearfully (or at least that's how it comes across) will set them even further back in time. a beautiful country with an awful lot of produced junk on the market and in the shops, is not really the solution for a healthy market, or for more progress, if one is only focused on exports and to a lesser extent on imports, unless collecting excessive taxes then unfortunately people are not doing very well, I think.
Here, in order to give people a decent future (and less red light situations) one must start with education.
Even studied at the university. hardly speak English because Thai is thought to be part of the world language.
Don't be under too many illusions, it is not because something is banned that it has been eradicated.
Also in the west there are those who think (usually “smart politicians”) that if you ban something or give it a different name, the problem is solved. Nothing is less true.
Regards.
unimaginable,
Hundreds of thousands live off this industry and then many branches Then the discos will also have to be closed because many freelancers also come there Most sex workers do not come into contact with foreigners, but many tourists do take a bone with them
Closing all of this is as likely as an invasion of UFOs on Sukhumvit road in the heart of Bangkok!
125000 ladies working in the sex industry okay and then the rest, the other staff in large a go go's and large soapy salons (soon about 15 men per business) the mamasan's and cashier's in the beer bars, Hotel staff because the ride goes often to a hotel for the finish 😉 so who often brings you a taxi car or motorbike. What is not drunk in all those bars etc. so income from tax for drink suppliers in the last place also for Singha, Chang, Samsom you name them.
We can talk about it long or short, but closing it down will simply cost more than 125000 people their jobs and will cause Thailand to miss out on billions of euros in income (yes, that industry is that big, so yes).
And there is other work, so the economy in Thailand is not going very well at the moment.
And who would be the greatest victims under the line again, the poor population in Isaan because, as indicated earlier, it is mainly they who have to rely on this income. Do some here know what a kilo of rice actually yields…
I've only been there a few times, but on an island like koh samui, as a rookie I couldn't see the woman anymore. When night falls (which is always early in Thailand) the ladies come out of their hiding places (let's call it that). Some have several jobs, and try to catch extra money in the evening. Walking with your friends to the party streets is already a strange mix. As a farang, small and close to 50, I am already completely written off in Europe. Here you have to push the ladies and ts far away from you. It is a strange excess where beauty has been supplanted by necessity to live on. Someday I would like a Thai woman, but sex is not a priority if you want to enjoy each other for more than a few months.
If a government wants to discourage this, they must first eliminate the gigantic corrupt gang behind it. Those outside and maintain.
If you go to Thailand on holiday to only have sex then in my opinion you are very crazy (Nuanced) because Thailand has something to offer for everyone, whether you like culture (museums, temples, visiting companies), adventure (jungle tours ), relaxed (beach), sporty (diving, fishing, kayaking), culinary (learning to cook Thai food and good food), there is something to do for everyone, from the north to the south with various options. Nobody is bored and you really relax in Thailand because the people are relaxed and very friendly. I myself am single and in Thailand and in the evening I sometimes go to a bar and in my case a gay bar and it also happens that I just meet a boy and we just stay together for the whole holiday so I think there is nothing wrong with that, so I find it strange that Thailand now suddenly wants to close these bars, but I don't think that will happen soon.
Quality tourism? Are they those people who are in expensive resorts and hardly ever come out? This way the money stays within the club of rich Thais…
Furthermore, I am now convinced of the stupidity of, especially, this lady...
Will she kill the goose that laid the golden eggs?
Thailand probably has beautiful beaches, pristine and not really clean. Thailand probably has museums, but outside BKK it is already less.
How much money do Ms Ministers think is flowing back to Thailand from the relationships of Thai men and women with foreigners?
Or is it that the less wealthy Thais are not allowed to benefit from “tourism”?
If you want to shrink the sex industry (I think eradicating it is impossible) you first have to ask yourself what circumstances led to this industry becoming so big (or in political terms: too big). And then do something about the circumstances: create a climate (and measures) that automatically reduce this industry. Without being exhaustive (I have neither studied nor looked into it) the following matters play a role:
1. the great income inequality in this country. Not only because of this, poorer women get into this business, but also the rich Thais and foreigners pay huge amounts for sex with escorts, models and movie stars (up to 1 million Baht per night). Try to resist the temptation of money if you are poor and feel pressure from family to provide for them;
2. the low salaries if you do regular work. A starting academic receives 15.000 baht per month (full-time job). An average sex worker earns this in one or two weeks of part-time work.
3. the double sexual morality: on the one hand against sex before marriage, but many marriages are more or less arranged and have little to do with the romantic ideal of love. Consequence: sex becomes a product. Some Thai sex workers have more difficulty with kissing than with the intercourse act.
4. the looser morality of 'western' (single) men in recent decades. How can I not explain further
5. the varied sex market (including ladyboys) in Thailand can be reached with lower airfares for several target groups of men (and women)
6. the image of Thai women as sexy, willing rompers
7. the whole (shadowy) business built around the sex act in this country: pimps, bars, 'police protection' etc.
8. more sex on the internet: in my opinion, has not reduced or replaced the demand for real sex, but rather fuels it.
9. the positive experiences of women who have found a (preferably foreign) partner in this way.
I have a feeling (but can't prove it) that the market is shifting a bit from mainstream bar and nightlife to trying to get a date with a Thai woman over the internet before the man comes to Thailand. First talk, then skype or whatsapp so you see what you get. The man does not want to go to a bar, to be seen there (or traced via his mobile phone) and the fear of HIV/AIDS also plays a role. And the man knows that the affection is played. This shifts the sex industry (if you can still call it that) more to the twilight zone.
In short: no sinecure and in my opinion the government can do nothing about a number of things. Repression alone, of course, does not work. Everyone knows that.
here you will find a nice article whether thailand needs this industry economically, http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/reader/reader412.html and what this minister says makes sense.
For clarity!!! The minister says he wants to tackle sex tourism. Not the entire entertainment sector. Say that discos and hotels should close. It's nonsense. Apart from that, the industry was created commercially by us Westerners, especially the Americans themselves. Who gave their soldiers leave and could / could blow off steam with sex. There are more than 400.000 jobs available in Thailand. If you want to balance the economy, you have to encourage equal purchasing power. This and the export yields more than the sex industry. Both financially and socially and psychologically.
As with everything that is brought up, everyone has their opinion ready. The proponents and opponents often have their own arguments based on what they themselves would like. The bars full of young women ready for the intercourse or more of something else that may shed a different light on this population group. It is still the case that the average person in the Netherlands, when they hear the term Thai woman, thinks of a slutty type. This has become less and less, but it will take a long time before these ideas are eradicated. So the Thai woman has built up a name that is world famous and this is a thorn in the side of the minister and I agree with her. There are also other ways in life, how you can relate to each other. Relationships that you invest in and build up, that is much more necessary than all those bars. The fact that a lot of others also earn a large living from the sex event makes it difficult to eradicate. Corruption and exploitation work. We all know it but look the other way. The seduction and the pleasure predominate in those who are receptive to this. You will find the sex tourists all over the world, but Thailand is a winner in this area. Sad but true. I don't see this changing as quickly as the arms industry in America. Superpowers with a lot of money in them and not much will change. Life in its diversity. I can't make it more beautiful. I do hope that the sex business will decrease, then life and humanity will look a bit better in my eyes.