MOPH’s plan to rub out illicit activities in Thai massage shops

[snoop1130]

 

The Minister of Public Health (MOPH) plans to clean up traditional Thai massage shops after 75% were found to secretly offer sex services. The Health Minister, Somsak Thepsutin, stated he aims to clean up the seedy side of the industry and promote Thai massage as a soft power.

 

The President of the Charawi Association for the Preservation of Thai Massage, Phithak Yotha, urged the MOPH to investigate foreigners working illegally in Thailand’s wellness industry. He also requested the ministry simplify massage therapist registration and encourage Thai massage as a soft power.

 

Minister Somsak agreed with Phithak’s suggestions, stating they align with the government’s measures to promote Thai massage.

 

Somsak disclosed that the Department of Health Service Support will improve Thai massage therapists’ skills and certify those able to treat musculoskeletal issues as Grade A therapists. Massage service costs will also be standardised.

 

Somsak then highlighted the illegal sex services secretly offered in some Thai traditional massage shops, which could negatively impact Thai massage. The minister stated that all massage parlours in Thailand must be free of sexual services.

 

Somsak threatened to close down all shops secretly operating as brothels. He hopes to clean up all massage parlours within two months before the next fiscal year begins.

 

The Director of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Taweesin Visanuyothin, reported that only 25% of massage parlours in Thailand operate legally, while the remaining 75% illegally offer sexual services.

 

Charawi Association President Phithak urged the MOPH to investigate those illegal massage shops, which can be found almost everywhere, especially in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit and Thong Lo areas.

 

Phithak stated that some illegal parlours use the word “massage” to disguise prostitution, even when it was clear they only offer sexual services. He cited an example of a parlour advertising massage with promotional models known in Thailand as “Massage with Pretties.”

 

By Petch Petpailin

Photo by Etienne Girardet via Flickr

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-08-02

 

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[Daniel Cully]

Chok Dee!!!!

[CharlieKo]

I think the use of the word to rub out, is unfortunate. That is on the menu in some establishments! 

[Artisi]

Bet they also believe in the easter bunny 

[Middle Aged Grouch]

What ? sex in the "health family oriented" massage parlours of Thailand ? 

 

Oh c'mon surely a misunderstanding...

 

In fact the other day the xx firm home delivery service  lady,  offered to "help me relax" if I wished with a big smile. A lovely new concept of COD apparently ?

[Pouatchee]

43 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Somsak threatened to close down all shops secretly operating as brothels. He hopes to clean up all massage parlours within two months before the next fiscal year begins.

 

this gvt is really doing everything it can to dissuade tourists from coming. where is the soapy king chuwit when he is needed?

maybe he is smoking weed, which he denounced, as part of his cancer therapy in England

 

 

[Mason45]

The Worlds oldest profession has stood the test of time, so can't see the horizontal rumba being "rubbed out" any time soon.

[kidneyw]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

The minister stated that all massage parlours in Thailand must be free of sexual services.

The minister stated that all massage parlours in Thailand must be free FOR sexual services.

That's better.

[proton]

I do wish they would drop this soft power nonsense, it's totally meaningless

[realfunster]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Somsak threatened to close down all shops secretly operating as brothels. He hopes to clean up all massage parlours within two months before the next fiscal year begins.

 

I recall many moons ago, these kind of nonsensical statements of X problem being cleared up in 60-90 days were common place. 

Obviously, for anyone with half a brain, such claims were ridiculous and stood up to around half a second of critical assessment.

 

It did seem to me that over the years, such statements had been on the wane. It unfortunately seems they are back in favour with the current government.

That doesn't reflect positively on either the politicians making such ridiculous claims, or an electorate that appears comfortable to accept them.

 

I do worry about the future for Thailand....one feels major changes are needed.

 

 

[motdaeng]

wouldn't it make more sense to clean up first the corruption among the criminals within the own government?  

 

[Ben Zioner]

Time to get a yearly subscription on Thai Friendly. 

 

They seem unaware that 80% of Thailand's attraction are these "sexual services". 15% for the beaches, 3% for the [street] food and 2% the temples.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

16 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

They seem unaware that 80% of Thailand's attraction are these "sexual services". 15% for the beaches, 3% for the [street] food and 2% the temples.

 

I'd revise that slightly, as follows:

 

81% of Thailand's attraction are these "sexual services". 15% for the beaches, 3% for the [street] food and 1% the temples.

 

🙂

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Director of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Taweesin Visanuyothin, reported that only 25% of massage parlours in Thailand operate legally, while the remaining 75% illegally offer sexual services.

 

But remember, there's NO prostitution in Pattaya, so the authorities often remind us... So all of that 75% must be going on elsewhere!  

[Hummin]

22 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Time to get a yearly subscription on Thai Friendly. 

 

They seem unaware that 80% of Thailand's attraction are these "sexual services". 15% for the beaches, 3% for the [street] food and 2% the temples.

you really know your statistics

 

where is your sources? 

[Ben Zioner]

32 minutes ago, Hummin said:

you really know your statistics

 

where is your sources? 

When they reached the 80% they nicknamed it Bangkok.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Minister of Public Health (MOPH) plans to clean up traditional Thai massage shops after 75% were found to secretly offer sex services. The Health Minister, Somsak Thepsutin, stated he aims to clean up the seedy side of the industry and promote Thai massage as a soft power.

It's what Thailand is famous for, and you want to "rub it out" ... they rub one out in the thousands every day.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The minister stated that all massage parlours in Thailand must be free of sexual services.

 

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, proton said:

I do wish they would drop this soft power nonsense, it's totally meaningless

Rather worrisome if it happens in a massage shop.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, motdaeng said:

wouldn't it make more sense to clean up first the corruption among the criminals within the own government?  

 

More chance of cleaning up the massage shops.

[stoner]

8 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

for the [street] food and 1% the temples.

 

 

excess temple visits :)

 

 

[Captain Flack]

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[CanadaSam]

So the gov't now wants to stop what's happening in private, hidden from the public, inside massage parlours?

 

No problem about the girls hanging around the streets in full view of families/children?

 

What's next, cameras inside hotel rooms to ensure tourists are not bringing paid girls to their rooms?

[eddie61]

I’m sure all the talented masseuses will give him a hand….

[OneMoreFarang]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Minister of Public Health (MOPH) plans to clean up traditional Thai massage shops after 75% were found to secretly offer sex services. 

[...]

The Director of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Taweesin Visanuyothin, reported that only 25% of massage parlours in Thailand operate legally, while the remaining 75% illegally offer sexual services

 

75% secret service

25% traditional service only

 

So where are the shops which prominently offer sex services without any secret? Another 200%?

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

I should be interested to know details of the MOPH's plan for cleaning up so many massage establishments within two months. How will success be determined? How will they be monitored thereafter?

 

 

 

 

[Suua]

14 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

What ? sex in the "health family oriented" massage parlours of Thailand ? 

 

Oh c'mon surely a misunderstanding...

 

In fact the other day the xx firm home delivery service  lady,  offered to "help me relax" if I wished with a big smile. A lovely new concept of COD apparently ?

Brilliant!

[sammieuk1]

Looks like it could all MOPH into unhappy endings with the phrase "I want my money back" trending 🤔

[movsrus]

Seems a contradiction where Srettha says he is going to legalize prostitution ( because we all know the short time women will certainly file taxes), recriminalize ganja, and now will clean up the nasty massage parlours to get rid of the unseemly "happy endings ".

 

Thai politicians operate in a different reality.

[Denim]

15 hours ago, CharlieKo said:

I think the use of the word to rub out, is unfortunate. That is on the menu in some establishments! 

 

Not to mention :

 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

he aims to clean up the seedy side 

 

Well....somebody has to.