Tourism Child Safety First: Phuket Declares War on Sex Tourism

[simon43]

20 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Been to Phuket several times, but never saw any child sexual exploitation there.

The only child sex tourism will be that between kids and Thai men - I was a police volunteer in Phuket for many years, never once did we find any foreigner involved in child sex tourism (I don't regard a 17 year old young woman as a 'child', even though the legal definition may apply).

 

As to child exploitation, perhaps the authorities can arrest the parents of the young kids selling flowers at all times of the night, when they should be home in bed....

[simon43]

5 hours ago, ftpjtm said:

A friend of mine dates a Thai girl that many mistake as underage. She's actually 38 years old and mother of 3.

Yonks ago, I was stopped outside Nana Plaza by a group of Swedish men who said "It's wrong, it's wrong".  Apparently, they though my Thai female friend was a young girl.

 

She was 28 years old at the time.....

[connda]

Free dinner and a photo-op for participants. 

[Aussie999]

5 hours ago, wavodavo said:

On many of my trips to Phuket I saw many times a well dressed  elderly foreigner in a restuarant at a table or in a shopping centre  with a young Thai lad aged 14-16  ( hard to tell ) but young and I doubt they were stepson or son.That site used to make me sick in my stomach. If this crack down works then the restuarant or shop management ought to be made to report this to police.

Did you check their dares, to determine their age... Appearance can be deceptive.

[Andrew65]

15 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Yonks ago, I was stopped outside Nana Plaza by a group of Swedish men who said "It's wrong, it's wrong".  Apparently, they though my Thai female friend was a young girl.

 

She was 28 years old at the time.....

I knew a similar Thai lady. It can sometimes be hard to tell how old Thai people are.

[Aussie999]

5 hours ago, wavodavo said:

On many of my trips to Phuket I saw many times a well dressed  elderly foreigner in a restuarant at a table or in a shopping centre  with a young Thai lad aged 14-16  ( hard to tell ) but young and I doubt they were stepson or son.That site used to make me sick in my stomach. If this crack down works then the restuarant or shop management ought to be made to report this to police.

Did you check their dates, to determine their age... Appearance can be deceptive.

[Aussie999]

Here we go again...another rehashed crack down

[cynic1]

5 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Why didn't you ask them?

 

Why would a tourist ask a stranger that question and possibly end in a punch up? Wouldn't it be better if he  told a RTP cop to ask the that question? 

 

By the way in reference to, " I'm often out and about with my 13 yo son." Maybe I should also ask the RTP cop that women maybe a cougher. Better check her out. Works both ways Britman!

[TimBKK]

6 hours ago, cookie1974 said:

From my own experience i have not witnessed blatantly underage girls or children being offered for sexual services, and if i did the offender wouldnt be walking home, he would be in an ambulance on his way to the emergency department

 

[AdrianUk]

21 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Been to Phuket several times, but never saw any child sexual exploitation there.

There isn't any. These charities pay for these initiatives and events. So they can pretend to work and raise more money. It makes everyone look bad.

[Andrew65]

27 minutes ago, connda said:

Child Safety First: Phuket Declares War on Sex Tourism

 

 We need to declare war on Sex workers and Sex Tourism- "For The Children" of course. Throw the baby out with the bath water.

I'm not saying that there isn't pay for play with children in Thailand, there no doubt is world-wide and it's a terrible crime.
However!
Most gals working in bars and other establishments at least have ID stating that they are over the age of majority unless the owner of the bar is secretly pimping underage gals.  When I use to enjoy P4P, my target age was "thirty-something."  Most gals in the 30s have been around, know what they are doing, and can be really fun to..🤔...play board games with.  🙄.  30 yo is about as young as I want for my fortes into playing "board games."  😁

 "I want young, virgins!!!"
 Please - take them all.  They'll just lay there looking at the ceiling dazed and confused until they Pass Go and want $200.  

Anyway, been there, done that, party daze are over, don't do it anymore.  nâa bèuua.  Great memories tho'
 

I lived in Bangkok for 20 years. In the early years I was doing the bar girl thing all the time. However, during the last 5 years I hardly bothered at all. I became very cynical about that stuff, my thoughts:

It's too 'easy' to do, there's no 'value' to it.
Very often it was evident from her demeanour that she wasn't really 'into' what she was doing.
I would rather keep 3,000 Baht in my pocket.

Over the years I had a few Thai ladies who had ordinary jobs as girlfriends.I believe that many people who haven't spent much time in Thailand aren't aware that this is possible, partly because all they ever see is touristy-Thailand, where bar girls are 'everywhere'.

[BritManToo]

17 minutes ago, cynic1 said:

Why would a tourist ask a stranger that question and possibly end in a punch up? Wouldn't it be better if he  told a RTP cop to ask the that question? 

 

By the way in reference to, " I'm often out and about with my 13 yo son." Maybe I should also ask the RTP cop that women maybe a cougher. Better check her out. Works both ways Britman!

I have no interest in what other people do, so I wouldn't ask anyone anything.

But the poster I quoted did seen to have an interest, so he should have asked.

[StayinThailand2much]

57 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Yonks ago, I was stopped outside Nana Plaza by a group of Swedish men who said "It's wrong, it's wrong".  Apparently, they though my Thai female friend was a young girl.

 

She was 28 years old at the time.....

 

In China they once wanted to stop my then Thai girlfriend (26) from entering a horse-betting venue, cause they thought she was a minor.

[Nick Carter icp]

Its rather telling that numerous posters had girlfriends who look underage and who look like children .

   Underaged seems to attract them 

[StayinThailand2much]

6 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Hard to know if  you ask me. I doubt most of us can tell an 18 year from a 16 year old. Often Thai girls in their early 20s can even look like teens to me.

 

I once met a girl (22), I knew from a beer bar, who was then pimping out two 17-year-old girls... But that was in Pattaya. Neither I went for it, nor a few other guys who she offered them too. (But, yes, they looked quite a bit younger than 20.)

[impulse]

22 hours ago, Will B Good said:

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Strengthening the Protection Against Safe Tourism, Far from Child Sexual Exploitation

That'll stick in peoples mind......catchy.

 

It's probably catchy, perhaps even profound, in the native Thai.

[Will B Good]

11 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

It's probably catchy, perhaps even profound, in the native Thai.

 

Whatevs

[koele2]

So that means it will be a new destination for sexpats.  Can’t wait to see all those single guys milling about visiting the “beaches and temple.”

[Reddavy]

8 hours ago, jvs said:

Another newcomer tough guy?

If you would do that then where would you go?

 

He’s been watching to many Bruce Lee movies 😉

[cookie1974]

9 hours ago, jvs said:

Another newcomer tough guy?

If you would do that then where would you go?

 

Newcomer? Been here 21 years my friend, and what would you do? Give him a pat on the back and wish him all the best?

[jvs]

5 minutes ago, cookie1974 said:

Newcomer? Been here 21 years my friend, and what would you do? Give him a pat on the back and wish him all the best?

I apologize for assuming your are a newcomer to Thailand.

So i you have been here over 20 years and have never seen it it can't be to common right?

 

I have already posted in this topic what i did when it happened to me, on a few occasions.

Now can you answer my other question please?

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Campaign for everything once in a while, do nothing inbetween. Reading the title I also thought they're closing the entire island 😆 but also agree with others that Phuket specifically doesn't seem like a hotbed for child exploitation. If anything it's a haven for hookers who's best before date has long expired. Typical Phuket girl is in her 30s or 40s settling for one nights while she's looking for a long term sponsor.

[Magictoad]

What is the legal age of consent in Thailand? Isn't it 15 years old?

It's the Americans who are getting their knickers in a twist because in the states it's so much older even 18 to 21.

In the UK it's 16 and in France it's just been (in the last 10 years), raised to 15 from 11.

Go figure.

[Geoff914]

13 hours ago, wavodavo said:

On many of my trips to Phuket I saw many times a well dressed  elderly foreigner in a restuarant at a table or in a shopping centre  with a young Thai lad aged 14-16  ( hard to tell ) but young and I doubt they were stepson or son.That site used to make me sick in my stomach. If this crack down works then the restuarant or shop management ought to be made to report this to police.

Why do you doubt they were his step son?

[Geoff914]

26 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

What is the legal age of consent in Thailand? Isn't it 15 years old?

It's the Americans who are getting their knickers in a twist because in the states it's so much older even 18 to 21.

In the UK it's 16 and in France it's just been (in the last 10 years), raised to 15 from 11.

Go figure.

I questioned that recently but isn't it 17 if the young person is employed in some way. Not that prostitution is employment.

[Magictoad]

On 7/21/2025 at 5:45 PM, Hummin said:

Good for you, do you see it other places? 

Kings Cross UK about 15 years ago. Kids peddling  their asses for smack money. Many underage as far as I could see. It's gone now; or should I say moved? But I've NEVER seen it in Thailand in 40 years.

[Magictoad]

12 hours ago, Sandboxer said:

They should focus on the very young girls on the beach bothering tourists by constantly trying to push sunglasses/trinkets etc., and who are run by LOCAL syndicates (so several Thais have told me). So

I don't think they are actually 'local' girls but Burmese & Laos. So I've been told.

[Felton Jarvis]

The continuing effort to lump "sex tourism" with crimes against children. Cohabitation with a 37-year-old woman has nothing to do with children.

[geisha]

14 hours ago, wavodavo said:

On many of my trips to Phuket I saw many times a well dressed  elderly foreigner in a restuarant at a table or in a shopping centre  with a young Thai lad aged 14-16  ( hard to tell ) but young and I doubt they were stepson or son.That site used to make me sick in my stomach. If this crack down works then the restuarant or shop management ought to be made to report this to police.

The thing is , you don’t know , that’s the problem. When I lived on Phuket, well known high rise next to Simon Caberet, there was a gentleman  of 50 playing with 2 young girls at the pool. Gossip was rife , except we knew this was the father of the 2 girls and a good one at that. I personally put a few people right on the matter. 
Things like that happen in closed circles, and unfortunately starts at the family home. Never seen anything untoward either, though some of the younger ones look very young, but could very possibly be over 18. 

[CallumWK]

14 hours ago, cookie1974 said:

and if i did the offender wouldnt be walking home, he would be in an ambulance on his way to the emergency department

 

Oh, we have Rambo on the forum