Thai sex industry now worth 260 billion baht, say Thai media

[spidermike007]

3 hours ago, Thechook said:

Prostitution is ilegal 

Why does that mean anything? Are you saying the government is all knowing, and full of wisdom and vision?

[NanLaew]

3 hours ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

They go from billion to million and then back to billion again in the article. 

 

It is certainly worth more than what the industry generate in income annually. From the title I thought they were doing a IPO of love.

You missed the trillion...

[flyingdoc]

I am sure that the correct figures are in fact billions, not millions !!

[Pattaya28]

260 million or 260 billion ?

Either way, that's alot of perverts "sorted". 

Maybe the media should categorise the sum.

 

[eeworldwide]

Prostitution will never be made legal in Thailand, even though to many people it may seem to be a logical or sensible solution.

 

Lots or reasons for this, but not least because the Thais would lose a lot of face as a country if it was made legal.

 

Secondly, the boys in blue would stand to lost out on some serious income.

[jak2002003]

Where are all the 'outraged' Buddhist Thais on this one?  Seems they are more upset about a foot on a temple or someone spraying graffiti on a wall.

[spidermike007]

I consider most sex workers in Thailand, to be far, far more honest than the average American woman. At least here, a man knows where he stands, if he wants sex with a woman. In a minute, you can determine exactly what it will require financially, and what you will get in return. In the US, it can take multiple dates, and countless dinners and gifts, to get to the precious zone. There is no set price. There is no knowing what it is going to take. Many of the women I have dated, have been with hundreds of men, in a similar way as many of the massage girls here. And those men have paid dearly. The only difference was that the price was not stated up front. 

 

There is no doubt that the industry here is vast, and accounts for a significant amount of the GDP. I think that figure of 2% is pure nonsense. It is far higher. The authorities seem to be determined to slowly rid the country of the industry, to make way for the massive growth of Chinese tourism. If you have any doubts about that, just visit Samui or Phuket. They are pale shadows of their former selves, in terms of the industry, and available choices. It is just another in an incessant chain of bad decisions being made by this horrific and grossly incompetent administration. 

 

Unless, and until the young women are given better alternatives, the industry will continue. When a person decides to devote four years of their life, and a substantial sum of money, to attending a university, and then graduates, and is able to earn only 5,000 to 10,000 baht more than the one with no education at all, there is something wrong with the system. 

[Lupatria]

4 hours ago, rkidlad said:

There is no sex industry in Thailand. It’s this unique and special country and culture that defies its naughty human urges by being saintly. 

I bet you got this profound insight from the former sporty tourism Lady. 

[bbbbooboo]

hmmmm...... hard to believe innit?

[phantomfiddler]

4 hours ago, Thechook said:

Prostitution is ilegal 

So,it would seem, is correct spulling :)

[rtco]

4 hours ago, Ossy said:

 

Nationalise it, I say and, until he comes clean about all his asses assets, give Prawit the doorman's job at the Victoria massage parlour . . . it's a no-brainer!

A doorman's role is to keep "watch" on what's going on so Prawit certainly has the credentials for the job ...

[TechnikaIII]

 

What a disgrace that there is not a credible education system, with follow up employment, providing a decent income, so the girls who are caught up in this don't have to hide their faces in shame.

The current situation is the consequence of the total absence of good governance and nothing else.

 

Edited January 16, 2018 by metisdead
Oversize and intrusive emoji removed.

[Phaser]

So here is the inconvenient truth no one wants to say publicly (if you are Thai)

- Sex work/Prostitution is part and parcel of Thai culture and has been for a very very long time all over the country

- Thai men make up the vast majority of men who pay for sex (either directly or via the Sugar Daddy route). Ever notice that in a Farang venue (think club, bar and of course the Nana and Soi Cowboy etc) there are  working girls (many times 90% other times mixed in with 'normal' girls, but the Thai venues have a venue for working girls (member club, Karaoke, Cowgirl bars) and venues like bars, clubs where there are 'normal' girls. Remember, Thai MEN designed, built this system/culture. They know what they are doing.

- Police and Military are not exempt from the second point above (and actively enjoy)

- Yes, Farang men come here for sex tourism but that is the tip of the iceberg. Farangs did not create prostitution in Thailand

-Thailand business culture (media, entertainment, music industry) is just as bad (worse) as Hollywood/Harvey Weinstein is (this is not good)

 

Final Point: having come from a Western country would I change most of the above in Thailand? Absolutely Not. Love it here - I guess I am a pig after all :) 

 

[diehard71]

what is the use of reporting this over and over again ,nothing is going to change ,it is like beating a dead horse it is not going to stand up.

[masuk]

5 hours ago, Thechook said:

Prostitution is ilegal 

[sammieuk1]

Time for a buy one get one free sale!

 

[yogavnture]

it creates jobs. thats a good thing

[lucjoker]

don't worry ......there will be a happy ending 

[hansnl]

I wonder how much is stomped up by the locals and how much by the tourists and expats

Guess 95%-5% respectively.

[Mickmouse1]

Finally it is official. Out of that sum allocate a minimum of 10% to a certain protection "squad" on regular basis and another 5% immediate cash for when they turn up or passing by etc etc.No wonder it is always protected and seldom raided or challanged.?

[Tchooptip]

Thailand the only and sole country in the world with a sex industry without prostitutes! 

[natway09]

Sorry, only estimates available as the money changers here would know.

Until social security can look after 50,000 families in Isaan who have at least one member of the family happily working in the industry & sending money home the Government will not rock the boat to heavily.

The Victoria Secret debacle is about mainly non Thai girls & big bucks & heavy corruption along with maybe 

the envelopes getting smaller

[EnlightenedAtheist]

They excluded the young women going with the rich foreigner bit?  (Pun intended) Mind you that is a pretty international, dare I say, universal paradigm. My apologies to any aliens out there.

[micmichd]

5 hours ago, Thechook said:

Prostitution is ilegal 

Traditional Thai massage is rather paramedical wellness than prostitution. 

Thailand is not obliged to comply with Western puritanistic labels. 

Edited January 16, 2018 by micmichd

[johnc925]

Who 'tipped' them off ? [emoji23]

Sent from my SM-A910F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[DefaultName]

There's certainly some of my "hard" currency counted in there.   

 

I do wonder if they're counting only money given to the end provider (pun intended).  Or also drinks, lady drinks, transport, restaurants, hotels, etc, etc. used mainly as part of the industry - many, many would go bust without it.

[Ossy]

59 minutes ago, diehard71 said:

. . . . it is not going to stand up.

In this sex industry context, that has to be the euphemism of the day.

[recycler]

It is only adding to the economy when the money comes from outside Thailand, other wise it's part of the services industry and nothing but pumping money around and moving it up the food chain.

[nanoth]

All over the world, people admire the thai way of living...so why to comment so often and almost everyday,the "sex side" of this culture? I have worked in 17 countries (Asia,Africa,Europe...) and everywhere adult men and ladies have sex for any reason ,including love but also money or material or professional advantage....so is life...Thailand makes no exception!

[LionofMedaCM]

Thailand/Gross domestic product: 406.8 billion USD (2016)

Thai sex industry: 260 billion baht 

63.91 % of the Thai GDP 

unstable sector