Gambia apologises to Thailand over sex tourism comments

 

FILE photo

 

The Gambian government has officially apologised after one of its ministers said Thailand was a haven for foreign sex tourists.

 

Last month, Hamat Bah, Gambia’s minister of Tourism and Culture angered Thai officials when he said tourists who are looking for sex should go to Thailand because Gambia is not a sex tourism destination.

 

"We are not a sex destination. If you want a sex destination, you go to Thailand," Mr Bah said in an interview which first aired on Gambian TV on 12 January.

 

The remark gained attention when it was picked up by a travel news website more than one month later.

 

The comments resulted in the Thai government making an official complaint to its Gambian counterparts.

 

But now Gambia has officially apologised.

 

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia regrets the unfortunate comments made by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, in which he referred the Tourism Sector of Thailand in a negative manner during televised TV Programme aired on 12 January 2018, read an official government statement.

 

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to express its heartfelt apologies to the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and extends assurances that measures will be put in place to prevent the occurrence of such an unfortunate incidence. The Ministry extends its profound assurances to the Government of Thailand that the remarks of the Minister are not to be construed as a reflection of the  Government’s view on the Tourism Sector of Thailand,” it added.

 

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs values the excellent relations shared  with the Kingdom of Thailand and wishes to renew its commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two brother countries.”

 

Earlier this month in a statement released to Reuters, Thailand’s tourism body distanced itself from its sex destination image, saying it “strongly opposes any form of sex tourism”.

 

“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.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth also recently weighed in on the subject, urging all concerned to help Thailand shake its image as a sex destination for foreigners.

 

While Prayuth acknowledged that Thailand’s image has for a long time been tainted due to its image as a sex destination, he said that many people in the country make their living from working in the sex industry.

 

He said that while some people were forced into the sex trade due to poverty, many others did it through choice.

 

“Some people love expensive goods, but they don’t have the money, so they resorted to the easy means to earn quick money,” he said.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-03-07

If it's anything like a Thai apology, it ain't worth a carrot.

They can at least take consolation that the minister's name is Bah. Hope he's been moved to an inactive post already. 

And their fingers were crossed behind their backs when giving the apology! 

2 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

They can at least take consolation that the minister's name is Bah. Hope he's been moved to an inactive post already. 

yeah, that was a remarkably dumb official statement by bah

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“The Ministry extends its profound assurances to the Government of Thailand that the remarks of the Minister are not to be construed as a reflection of the Government’s view on the Tourism Sector of Thailand,” the statement read.

needless and pointless, the other minister called it exactly how it is

He just made an appology for beeing bah. On the other hand it was not anything untrue to appologize for.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

not to be construed as a reflection of the  Government’s view on the Tourism Sector of Thailand

 

Wow, massive victory for Thailand that.

 

 

 

Sticks and stones... but Thailand's reputation as a family's holiday destination will not be tarnished..

( why Just the other day, i saw nuns crushing grapes in Pattaya, and friars baking bread).....

Edited March 7, 20188 yr by ezzra

Cambodia and Phils are the s destinations. Thailand is a mainstream destination.

Just now, ezzra said:

Sticks and stones... but Thailand's reputation as a family's holiday destination will not be tarnished..

( Just the other day, i saw nuns crushing grapes in Pattaya, and friars baking bread).....

37m tourists. Most don't bother with Pattaya.

“Some people love expensive goods, but they don’t have the money, so they resorted to the easy means to earn quick money,” he said.

 

Others borrow them from their friends.

 

I guess if you say it enough sooner or later you believe it yourself?  See, the Thai official don't have to travel far or be tourist they run their own brothels.

Does this mean his photo can stay on the jam jars?

Everyone knows Thailand's reputation, does the "apology" really hold any water, has it or will it change anything?

I come from a country where the nightlife ends at 8pm. It is totally boring and life is not worth living. Here in Thailand I can always count on going out to meet people at the bar. Yes, many are bar-girls but I also meet many other. I really do not think in terms of 'sex'. I think in terms of being with nice people who like me...or better put...like my money. BUT, they are nice to me. Please leave it the way it is.

Oh Lordy, governments really do think we are all just all a bunch of dumb lemmings! The way the world currently runs I just can't see lasting in its current form. People are eventually going to get tired of all this BS and all these self entitled idiots running things. Unfortunately any change will just create a new bunch of idiots spouting the same nonsense from Ivory towers of self glorification. Its a very unfortunate, self sustaining cycle that human kind seems bent on repeating until we make ourselves extinct!

A slur on Thai hearts!  let's all boycott Gambia!  so now we have decided to boycott shall we go to Soi 6 Pattya? Nana or Soi Cowboy?

1 hour ago, Get Real said:

He just made an appology for beeing bah. On the other hand it was not anything untrue to appologize for.

Thailand can't handle the truth!

This man Hamat Bah, is no doubt a man of such ignorance, it boggles the mind. He is one of those fake puritans. A man with so many skeletons in his closet, that he reminds us of a Papuan Highlander cannibal. It is what is called deflection. We have solved all of our problems, and we are a pious nation. We are an Islamic nation, so of course we do not have prostitution, and nor do we have any other vices. Of course what he said about Thailand, was at least partially true. But it was unnecessary, arrogant, self righteous, and very ignorant for him to say it. 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Gambia apologises to Thailand over sex tourism comments

 

No kidding, now it's time for britain to do the same .  Oops , they run the world 

Bah bah bo bo.... "I am sorry Thailand is a haven for sex tourists" may have been first draft of apology

18 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Thailand can't handle the truth!

Jacko45k, are your last name by any chance Nicholson? You know, there are A Few Good Men. 

If Gambia is clever then they repeat this apology every month or so, just to keep it fresh in each other's brain and other organs. Everybody happy ... because one country less and the other more 'tourists'.

2 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

If it's anything like a Thai apology, it ain't worth a carrot.

Phew...that  was lucky for Gambia!

 

I understand that the aircraft carrier had been refurbished and the 5th battalion-the "Devil Dogs" had been embarked.

 

Victory was in the offing...

What's wrong with telling the truth?

2 minutes ago, TomAikins said:

What's wrong with telling the truth?

Which politicians do that?

Please give them some free rice as gift in return for the apology.

The truth in all its naked glory. Pun intended.

Ridiculous incidents like this one always remind me that diplomacy should really be called hypocritomacy

 

 

Edited March 7, 20188 yr by Yann55