Thailand Cracks Down on Shady Massage Parlours

[proton]

48 minutes ago, actonion said:

Any Massage should be given by a fully medicaly l trained physiotherapist,   the others do more damage 

 

Very true, many don't know what they are doing

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

You basically have anyone with hands just turn up take a days training and are let out on customers.

You have evidence of that being factual in the case of traditional Thai massage shops?

[connda]

1 hour ago, CharlieH said:

In 20 years, I've never seen the term "nuad Thai," used anywhere! So I dont see any danger of that being misrepresented. Every shop I have ever seen or used just states "Thai massage" where from my experience, you're twisted like a pretzel with absolutely no thought or consideration given to contraindications, general health questions, etc. Probably shown what to do by the girl in the next cubicle when it's quiet. Zero actual knowledge of anatomy and physiology in most places.

There may well be "legitimate" and correctly trained ones out there, but I suggest they are few and far between compared to the "happy ending" variety.

I could walk you down Loi Kroh in Chiang Mai and point out a dozen or more instances where the term "nuad Thai" which is actually a mis-transliteration of นวด ไทย which has an unaspirated "t" sound hence more accurately "Nuat Thai" but is printed on signage in either form.  A lot of times there will be the term "Thai Massage" with นวดไทย in Thai also on the sign.  If you don't read Thai you won't see it.  The Thai government will be insisting on the term "นวดไทย" being removed in shops that are not certified and will provide rules for the English terms that will denote "Certified Thai Massage."

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, proton said:

as for happy endings I can do that myself for no charge.

...and give yourself a decent tip, to boot!

[GammaGlobulin]

So far...I have not had even one massage in Thailand.

 

And, I have no plans for a massage, anytime soon.

 

Swimming is better than massage...IMHO.

 

[faraday]

33 minutes ago, connda said:

For those who wish to look for it, the script for Ap Op Nuat is:  อาบ อบ นวด  👈 Literally - "Shower Bake Massage"
These are legally run businesses.  This is where Chuwit Kamolvisi made his money.  These establishments are a Thai institution.  They aren't going anywhere.  And they are not aimed at non-Thais.  Most non-Thais probably don't ever know they exist - well, unless you're a Western expat who lives in the Thai community and can read and write Thai.  The BIB may bust a few for show, then it's back to business as usual. 

In the context used, อบ, means steam.

But I expect you'll argue.

[Liverpool Lou]

38 minutes ago, connda said:

For those who wish to look for it, the script for Ap Op Nuat is:  อาบ อบ นวด  👈 Literally - "Shower Bake Massage"
These are legally run businesses.  This is where Chuwit Kamolvisi made his money.  These establishments are a Thai institution.  They aren't going anywhere.  And they are not aimed at non-Thais.

"And they are not aimed at non-Thais".

Yet they welcome non-Thais.

[connda]

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

It's not even the dirty massage shops. You basically have anyone with hands just turn up take a days training and are let out on customers.

I've lived in this world in both the US and in Thailand and know exactly how it works.  Really, you don't have a clue. In some cases what you say has some truth, a "trainee" has to start somewhere, but you completely miss the bigger picture. Fyi, the owners of most shops will tell their clients they are being given a massage by a trainee and "is that ok?"  By the way, this isn't the West.  My ex-wife was a "certified massage therapist"in the US.  The certification programs there are complete overkill in typical Western nanny-state fashion.  I've had significantly better massages here in Thailand by what you would consider to be "untrained" masseuses. My exwife's massages as well as her "trained, US certified" staff sucked by comparison.  There is training, but the way it is passed down is actually in the Tradition of Thai Massage which IS a UNESCO recognized profession. You think that all Thai masseuse learns their trade in a Community College like in the West (rhetorical - no you don't).  It doesn't really work that way, although it can. There are two paths: on-the-job training and certification programs. Having learned "on-the-job" does not in the least discount a masseuse's abilities to perform Thai Massage.  However, the Thai government wants to give "Thai Massage" legitimacy hence the Skilled Local Massage Practitioner program by the Thai MoH.  By the way, there are Traditional Thai Massage certification programs already in place and they have been here for years and available through the Trade Colleges here in Thailand. There is already a tiered certification program in place. I know Thais who are have certificates.  They earned those certification so that they could leverage that in the massage shops as being staffed with Certified Thai Massage Practitioners and therefore could command a higher price for massages, or promote the certification as a means to advertise their shops. Honestly?  Some people want a massage and a hand-job, and some people just want a good Thai Massage. Now it looks like the MoH will be given the power enforce certification by limiting the promotion of "Traditional Thai Massage" on a shop's signage only to those shops with certifications. So in the future more Thai masseuses and masseures will more than likely be required by shop owners to get certified. In typical Thai fashion it will not be the state mandating certification, it will be the owners of Thai massage shops. 

That's not a bad thing.

Like I say, you and others who think they understand this - don't.

[connda]

38 minutes ago, faraday said:

In the context used, อบ, means steam.

But I expect you'll argue.

Not necessarily.  Like the English language, a word can have multiple meaning.  You have to place it in context.  Also, if you look up the term "steam" and "bake," the term "bake" is a primary translation for อบ, "stream" although it can be translated that way is not normally directly translated to "op" อบ as it's primary translation, but can be.  Steam, bake, warmed - context.  They all work.

[factual monk]

This news headlines made my day... 

I had a hearty laugh... 😆 🤣 😂 

[factual monk]

This news headlines made my day... 

I had a hearty laugh... 😆 🤣 😂 

[Harrisfan]

I like the ones outdoor in the sun

[LukKrueng]

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

In 20 years, I've never seen the term "nuad Thai," used anywhere! So I dont see any danger of that being misrepresented. Every shop I have ever seen or used just states "Thai massage" where from my experience, you're twisted like a pretzel with absolutely no thought or consideration given to contraindications, general health questions, etc. Probably shown what to do by the girl in the next cubicle when it's quiet. Zero actual knowledge of anatomy and physiology in most places.

There may well be "legitimate" and correctly trained ones out there, but I suggest they are few and far between compared to the "happy ending" variety.

I think you've been on Thailand long enough to know that "Thai massage" is the English translation of "nuat Thai".

And according to your testimony it's obvious you've never been to a legitimate massage place, but only to the more, well, not so legitimate places that offer mainly the fun part...

[factual monk]

If it ever happens... I will miss the common line phrases used in the bars and massage parlours...

1 - where are you plom...

2- you look handsum...

3- you very strong...

4- ohh you got biggg... 

😆 🤣 😂 😹 

[jvs]

As far as i know there are actual massages for your manhood and your testicles.

And it  does involve a happy ending.

I had it twice in Thailand and it was done in a very professional way,a lot better feeling than just a happy ending.

There is actual training for that and it has a special name.

It is not seen as anything sexual,there are also places that do prostate massages.

Again you can not compare this with a shop that uses "massage" to hide prostitution.

[connda]

3 minutes ago, jvs said:

As far as i know there are actual massages for your manhood and your testicles.

And it  does involve a happy ending.

I had it twice in Thailand and it was done in a very professional way,a lot better feeling than just a happy ending.

There is actual training for that and it has a special name.

It is not seen as anything sexual,there are also places that do prostate massages.

Again you can not compare this with a shop that uses "massage" to hide prostitution.

Yep. 

[Harrisfan]

3 minutes ago, jvs said:

As far as i know there are actual massages for your manhood and your testicles.

And it  does involve a happy ending.

I had it twice in Thailand and it was done in a very professional way,a lot better feeling than just a happy ending.

There is actual training for that and it has a special name.

It is not seen as anything sexual,there are also places that do prostate massages.

Again you can not compare this with a shop that uses "massage" to hide prostitution.

Professional tantra?

[connda]

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

Professional tantra?

Nothing "tantra" here - just a "ball massage." 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thai government is ramping up efforts to restore the esteemed reputation of nuad Thai massages, as concerns grow over shady establishments tarnishing its reputation.

 

[Lacessit]

3 hours ago, CharlieH said:

In 20 years, I've never seen the term "nuad Thai," used anywhere! So I dont see any danger of that being misrepresented. Every shop I have ever seen or used just states "Thai massage" where from my experience, you're twisted like a pretzel with absolutely no thought or consideration given to contraindications, general health questions, etc. Probably shown what to do by the girl in the next cubicle when it's quiet. Zero actual knowledge of anatomy and physiology in most places.

There may well be "legitimate" and correctly trained ones out there, but I suggest they are few and far between compared to the "happy ending" variety.

The sign "nuad" in Thai script is outside just about every massage shop, Sometimes the sign "Thai massage" in English goes along with it.

 

IME a massage shop with only young and  good-looking women is a pretty good indicator special services are on offer. As you say, they are usually terrible practitioners.

 

OTOH, it's safe to say shops with old and homely women are legitimate, and they do know what they are doing.

 

My 61 yo massage lady has a certificate on her wall, saying she did 3 months of training. She does anywhere between one and six massages a day.

[dallen52]

Put an end to "you want extra".

Or special massage. 

Let's face it,  there's an abundance of physiotherapy places available. 

Even public hospital offers for 240 a session. 

 

I put it in the same context as "no prostitution in Thailand "

 

Just another knee jerk.

(Or knee tremble lol)

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

So far...I have not had even one massage in Thailand.

 

And, I have no plans for a massage, anytime soon.

 

Swimming is better than massage...IMHO.

 

I have 2-3 massages a week.

 

Without them, I would probably freeze solid.

 

 

[Scottie12]

800 hours (33 days) advanced training, yeah,right.

[Formaleins]

3 hours ago, ozz1 said:

Omg that's half the country gone what will we do

I know! Why not open up a Coffee Shop!

[SLOWHAND225]

14 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I have 2-3 massages a week.

 

Without them, I would probably freeze solid.

 

 

Same here, I've had monthly 2 hr massages for 20yrs. Saw the same woman for the last 10
Come here and I'm on the hunt, 2-4 per week until I find my person. Been close a couple times but so far....................striking out. lol

[Beat666]

2 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

and a woman too!

 

bob.

And together, it gets you a 4 hand massage🤭

[khunjeff]

I'm having trouble understanding exactly which type of "shady" massage parlor they're trying to crack down on - the ones that are really just providing sexual services, or legitimate massage shops with poorly trained staff? 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The move, reported by the Bangkok Post, also includes adjustments in pricing strategies to reflect the therapist’s level of training, ensuring that more qualified practitioners command higher wages.

 

Micromanaging the pricing structure of thousands of massage shops seems like a pointless endeavor, and one that they'll never be able to enforce. 

 

2 hours ago, connda said:

For those who wish to look for it, the script for Ap Op Nuat is:  อาบ อบ นวด  👈 Literally - "Shower Bake Massage"
These are legally run businesses.  This is where Chuwit Kamolvisi made his money.  *** The BIB may bust a few for show, then it's back to business as usual. 

 

Not only Chuvit - a former Minister of Commerce came from the family that owns the huge Poseidon Entertainment Complex on Ratchada.

 

And you're right, many of these establishments have folded for economic reasons - there are more valuable ways to use the land that they sit on - but the ones that have been closed down by authorities were accused of illegal use of ground water or employing minors, not of offering sexual services.

 

 

[koolkarl]

Several years ago, a friend of mine had a traditional massage and now he has a disc problem forever because of it.

I wouldn't try it if it was free.

[crazykopite]

And how will they manage to shut down the 1,000s upon 1,000s of massage shops and we havnt even mentioned all the sleazy lady bars where prostitution is rife with even the bar owners making 1,000s in bar fines. When Covid arrived all the girls joined the likes of Tinder and Thai Friendly on the presumption of finding a life partner only to be told when you turned up on the date that there was a cost for additional services !

[Katatonica]

4 hours ago, Cameroni said:

So it is an esteemed cultural treasure but only NOW are they introducing a national certification system. Before that it was the massage schools who issued certificates based solely on their own standards with no supervision whatsoever.

 

Goes to show how superb verbal cultural teaching works in SE Asia.

There is an existing certification system for properly anatomically, pressure point etc trained massage practitioners.