Thai tourism body says it opposes 'sex tourism'

[webfact]

Thai tourism body says it opposes 'sex tourism'

 

Tourists pray at Erawan Shrine, a Hindu shrine popular among tourists in central Bangkok, Thailand, October 16, 2017. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's tourism body has said in a statement that it "strongly opposes any form of sex tourism" as it hopes to welcome a record number of holiday-makers this year.

 

Known for its beaches, Buddhist temples and world-famous cuisine, Thailand is consistently voted one of the world's top destinations. It expects to welcome a record 37.55 million tourists this year.

 

But it is also known for sex. Although prostitution is illegal in Thailand, it is tolerated and brothels frequented by Thais and foreigners can be found in most major cities.

 

Thai police on Monday arrested a group of 10 Russians who were running a sex training class for their compatriots in the seaside town of Pattaya, and have charged them with working in Thailand without permission. 

 

"The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) ensures that its marketing strategy and policy to move Thailand forward as the 'Quality Destination' has stepped in the right direction ... and strongly opposes any form of sex tourism," the TAT said in a statement late on Wednesday.

 

Signs offering "soapy massages" - bubble baths given to brothel clients that usually end with sex - and go-go bars have helped to bolster Thailand's reputation as a sex destination.

 

There are around 123,530 sex workers in Thailand, according to a 2014 UNAIDS report.

 

Thailand and sex tourism have become so synonymous that last month British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson alluded to the issue during a Brexit speech.

 

"... more than a million people ... go to Thailand every year where our superb consular services deal with some of the things that they get up to there," said Johnson.

 

In 2016, Thailand's then-tourism minister said she was pushing to rid the country of its ubiquitous brothels and wantedThailand to be about "quality tourism". That pledge was followed by police raids on some of the biggest establishments providing sex services in the capital Bangkok.

 

But experts say ridding the country of an industry that is so entrenched will be extremely difficult.

 

The TAT statement this week follows tension between Thailand and Gambia after Gambia's tourism minister was reported to have told tourists last month to go to Thailand for sex rather than visit the West African country.

 

That prompted Thailand's foreign ministry to file a formal letter of protest with consular offices representing Gambia.

 

Last year, Thailand's tourism industry recorded its highest revenue in history, raking in $53.76 billion, a 12 percent increase from 2016.

(Reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-01

[khwaibah]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai tourism body says it opposes 'sex tourism'

 

Bull shyt.

[keith101]

This kind of tourism probably brings in the most money along with sport so to completely close it down would set Thailand back financially and create even more problems for the families of those working in this business to keep them in food and children in school and support for the elderly .

Edited March 1, 2018 by keith101
spelling

[Wallander4]

Does anyone at TAT actually use their brain if they have one ... ?

 

But I guess when you have bought your job then you are safe at all times

[Justfine]

Maybe the blame lies elsewhere. No sex in Britain so they fly overseas. Deport 50,000 hookers from Pattaya to GB. Problem solved.

[darksidedog]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

But experts say ridding the country of an industry that is so entrenched will be extremely difficult.

Nigh impossible would probably be more accurate.

Shows once again that image will always be more important to Thais than reality.

Edited March 1, 2018 by darksidedog

[shady86]

Immigration should add “Sex Tourism” on TM6 forms to check purpose of coming to Thailand. 555


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[Get Real]

42 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai tourism body says it opposes 'sex tourism'

Must mean that there is one body that is not a prostitute yet. Good to know! 

[Darcula]

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai tourism body says it opposes 'sex tourism'

 

The body and soul need to come to an agreement on this issue.

[ezzra]

Ban sex tourism and might as well shut down half of Thailand's touristy towns, cities and islands,

and will probably lose big chunk of incoming tourists and will have a million or more Thai people out

of works overnight....

[Thailand]

They wouldn't endorse it would they!

[StayinThailand2much]

Well, they wouldn't officially endorse it, would they? 

 

Oops, Thailand beat me to it! Thailand without prostitution as a mainstay, as if!

Edited March 1, 2018 by StayinThailand2much

[Samui Bodoh]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

But it is also known for sex. Although prostitution is illegal in Thailand, it is tolerated and brothels frequented by Thais and foreigners can be found in most major cities.

 

Er... Ahem... oh...

 

That would be "...in Thailand, it is tolerated and brothels frequented by Thais and foreigners can be found in most  ALL major cities."

 

Fixed it for ya'

[worgeordie]

"Known for its beaches, (dirty) Buddhist temples (some rip offs) and world-famous cuisine"(

full of chemicals) .

regards worgeordie

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

That prompted Thailand's foreign ministry to file a formal letter of protest with consular offices representing Gambia.

Quote: "We paid your government that the Gambia prime minister says it, not the tourism minister..."

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) ensures that its marketing strategy and policy to move Thailand forward as the 'Quality Destination'

tat

Tat Noun. 1. Rubbish, junk. Abb. of tatty. 

Used to refer to the kind of junk sold by crafty Cockneys to unsuspecting tourists in central London.

 

 

[jenny2017]

But it is also known for sex.

 

But it is also known for temples.

 

But it is also known for World Class Education.

 

 

[poanoi]

i couldnt care less if prostitution is banned,

but i would regret i came here every day for the rest of my life if go-go bars are banned

[Thian]

14 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

"Known for its beaches, (dirty) Buddhist temples (some rip offs) and world-famous cuisine"(

full of chemicals) .

regards worgeordie

Try Indonesian/Malaysian dishes which are free from MSG and cooked with loads of natural herbs/nuts/ingredients....really awesome food....Try chicken/beef rendang, satay lilit, deepfried banana and so on.

[owl sees all]

10 minutes ago, jenny2017 said:

But it is also known for sex.

 

But it is also known for temples.

 

But it is also known for World Class Education.

Tounge-in-cheek humour. Like it!!

[Jimbo in Thailand]

Of course, if the Thais weren't so...

• lascivious
• lecherous
• lustful
• licentious
• libidinous
• salacious
• lubricious
• prurient
• naughty

And most of all... HORNY... then LOS wouldn't be known as the sex tourism capitol of the world.  Of course, to save face, the Thais always blame we farangs.  T.I.T.

Edited March 1, 2018 by Jimbo in Thailand

[StayinThailand2much]

4 minutes ago, Thian said:

Try Indonesian/Malaysian dishes which are free from MSG and cooked with loads of natural herbs/nuts/ingredients....really awesome food....Try chicken/beef rendang, satay lilit, deepfried banana and so on.

Also there (Indonesia, Malaysia); free/fairly priced temples (incl. Buddhist temples) and nice beaches. No sex trade/go-gos - why would one travel to Thailand?? Oh, I forgot, the inspiring name-calling and dual-pricing...

[Justfine]

8 minutes ago, Thian said:

Try Indonesian/Malaysian dishes which are free from MSG and cooked with loads of natural herbs/nuts/ingredients....really awesome food....Try chicken/beef rendang, satay lilit, deepfried banana and so on.

Thai food has loads of herbs.

[Justfine]

1 minute ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Also there (Indonesia, Malaysia); free/fairly priced temples (incl. Buddhist temples) and nice beaches. No sex trade/go-gos - why would one travel to Thailand?? Oh, I forgot, the inspiring name-calling and dual-pricing...

They are muslim countries with lots of problems. Malaysia has a lot of crime and the people are boring.

[Justfine]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Indonesia

[KiChakayan]

7 minutes ago, Jimbo in Thailand said:

Of course, if the Thais weren't so...

• lascivious
• lecherous
• lustful
• licentious
• libidinous
• salacious
• lubricious
• prurient
• naughty

And most of all... HORNY... then LOS wouldn't be known as the sex tourism capitol of the world.  Of course, to save face, the Thais always blame we farangs.  T.I.T.

Quite right, I often wondered who mimics whom, between the soi dogs and the locals..

[tifino]

 

Thai tourism body says it opposes 'sex tourism'

 

 

they are being very scientific about this...

 

... simpleton logic, using magnets:

 

Opposites Attracts

 

Edited March 1, 2018 by tifino

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, Justfine said:

Maybe the blame lies elsewhere. No sex in Britain so they fly overseas. Deport 50,000 hookers from Pattaya to GB. Problem solved.

Careful now, the brexiteers will be after you for that comment...

[spidermike007]

The goons in charge are focusing their efforts in all the wrong areas. They are trying to make Thailand a Quaker State. A land of purity. Total BS. Nonsense. Misplaced priorities, and wasted efforts. They should be focusing their efforts on traffic and public safety, easing import tariffs, making visa policy simpler, and more friendly, boosting Western tourism, real crackdowns on slavery, and illegal fishing instead of nonsensical hyperbole, cleaning up the water, the air, the rivers, and the beaches, and other things that actually improve lives.

 

I am seeing the result of their efforts on Samui, Phuket and in Chiang Mai. All of those places are a pale shadow of their former selves, when it comes to the sex trade, the quality of the women, and the bar scene. They are trying to make them into family friendly destination, and seem to be having some success with the campaign. Fortunately for many, they have had little success with Bangkok, Pattaya and Hua Hin, to date. Keep those buggers at bay!

 

Little P. Not making Thailand great again. And moving the nation backwards at an astonishing and alarming pace.  

[johnny49r]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Known for its beaches, Buddhist temples and world-famous cuisine, Thailand is consistently voted one of the world's top destinations.

There are two types of tourists that frequent Thailand:

1) Those who come for the crowded dirty beaches, rundown temples,  and unhygienic food.

2) Those who come for pleasures of the flesh.

Which would you guess to be the majority?