Picture courtesy of The Pattaya News

 

Business owners in Pattaya have expressed alarm after witnessing foreigners using children to sell roses on Walking Street, causing fears of exploitation. The complaints emerged early on September 23, when women and men were seen employing children aged one to seven to sell flowers priced at 100 baht each. Tourists reported feeling pressured and uncomfortable as the children would cling to their arms if they refused to buy.

 

Local operators argue this practice is tarnishing Pattaya's reputation as a leading tourist destination. Business individuals emphasize the inappropriateness of young children being out so late, arguing it damages the city’s image. This activity predominantly occurs between 3am and 4am when nightlife venues close, drawing intoxicated tourists who might be more vulnerable to these sales tactics.

 

Despite previous police interventions, locals claim these groups persist, suggesting that current enforcement measures are insufficient. They say that while police do conduct arrests, these efforts are inconsistent and only gain momentum when the issue hits the media. There is a call for systematic, strong enforcement to address this ongoing problem.

 

Pattaya's business community urges officials to take definitive actions to preserve the city’s image. They believe police should implement thorough operations instead of sporadic checks, ensuring tourists feel relaxed and welcomed, not harassed. The concern underscores broader issues around child exploitation and its implications for Thailand’s international reputation.

 

Moving forward, authorities pledged further investigations, but residents and business operators insist on more robust and consistent enforcement to eradicate these practices. As Pattaya copes with challenges linked to its nightlife, crime, and exploitation issues, local stakeholders are rallying for an improved approach to safeguard the city's global standing.

 

Key Takeaways

• Business owners in Pattaya are worried about children being used to sell roses, impacting the city's reputation.
• Authorities need to enhance enforcement against these practices to protect tourism.
• The issue highlights wider concerns over child exploitation in Thailand.

 

Related Stories:

French National Arrested in Bangkok for Child Exploitation

Police Raid Bangkok Pub, Arrest Manager for Child Exploitation

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-09-24

 

 

When you say foreigners do you mean Cambodians or Burmese? maybe say that

Nothing new here, this practice has been going on for years

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Business owners in Pattaya have expressed alarm after witnessing foreigners using children to sell roses on Walking Street, causing fears of exploitation.

This falls a little flat seeing as it has been going on since i first ever came here way back when! When the girl doing acrobatic tricks was a actually a small child!

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

current enforcement measures are insufficient. They say that while police do conduct arrests, these efforts are inconsistent and only gain momentum when the issue hits the media.

Pattaya police force in a nutshell.

30 years or more, are the authorities finally catching on?

2 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Nothing new here, this practice has been going on for years

 

Exactly. DECADES 

 

So, new foreign mafia squeezing in on the Thai mafia. Oh, the crocodile tears

 

While morals and ethics are utterly lacking the kids are generally within sight if their minders more or less

The shrugs and knashing of teeth lol. Any non woke western police force would have Pattaya entirely sorted out in a year. Just for the record. 

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

When you say foreigners do you mean Cambodians or Burmese? maybe say that

Ok, what do you call people outside your home country? They are not foreigners? For all we know, it can be Arabs, Chinese or Russians as well. They never mentioned any specific country. Do you feel guilty?

Had this before for years in samui but haven't seen it last year or so around the bars , unless they are on the beach trying to sell them.

Same thing was happening along Jomtien beach.  Parents know the kids will get more sympathy money than adults 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Local operators argue this practice is tarnishing Pattaya's reputation as a leading tourist destination

It’s always about Pattaya’s reputation. No mention of exploitation of very young kids!

My goodness holy cow, how dare they "tarnish Pattaya's reputation as a leading tourist destination". 

Until now Pattaya sprang to mind as the planet's biggest house of ill repute, now children of foreigners (which in almost all readers implicate Caucasians) are pushing the ladies, boys and everything in between aside. 

Chidren of (il?)legal Asian immigrants ply the roads with ......... might be more to the point. 

"Tourists reported feeling pressured and uncomfortable as the children" - does this implicate that the locals (all those honest business entrepreneurs in Pattaya) do NOT feel pressured and hence comfortable? No, of course not, but they could simply not care less! 

Maybe proofread an article before publishing; this particular example beams all lights in the wrong direction .......... 

Are they saying exploiting children is one of those protected professions for Thais only?

Foreigner's kids doing this !  How dare they it's a Thai only job.

2 hours ago, brian69 said:

Foreigner's kids doing this !  How dare they it's a Thai only job.

Every inch of Walking Street impacts the city’s reputation..

People seem to be missing the real issue here. Exploiting children like this is OK as long as it's being done by Thais. This is one of their protected jobs.

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Ok, what do you call people outside your home country? They are not foreigners? For all we know, it can be Arabs, Chinese or Russians as well. They never mentioned any specific country. Do you feel guilty?

Rubbish..stupid statement.

People who have been here for a while know that 99% of the child beggars, rose and candy sellers in Pattaya are  Cambodian and Myanmar nationality. Always have been.

4 minutes ago, couchpotato said:

Rubbish..stupid statement.

People who have been here for a while know that 99% of the child beggars, rose and candy sellers in Pattaya are  Cambodian and Myanmar nationality. Always have been.

That was not the point. The point was who is controlling them. What mafia?

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Ok, what do you call people outside your home country? They are not foreigners? For all we know, it can be Arabs, Chinese or Russians as well. They never mentioned any specific country. Do you feel guilty?

obvious to most, rather than tarnish everyone with the same brush "foreigners" be specific, they know who they are

Very sad and another reason to stay away from that Key Hole.  

8 hours ago, LennyW said:

30 years or more, are the authorities finally catching on?

 

I remember 25 or so years ago they introduced a law banning young children being out unaccompanied at nights to stop this.

Nothing happened of course.

22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

tarnishing Pattaya's reputation as a leading tourist destination

😂

1 hour ago, petedk said:

 

I remember 25 or so years ago they introduced a law banning young children being out unaccompanied at nights to stop this.

Nothing happened of course.

I don't think they were ever 'unaccompanied'. There was always someone lurking in the background ready to collect the money. 

 

Same with a lot of the 'homeless' beggars. The majority of them are controlled by someone taking the lions share of the ill gotten gains. 

I first came to Chiang mai in 1979, Burmese kids eire going round hotel bars selling flowers even then.

21 hours ago, TonmaiYai said:

The shrugs and knashing of teeth lol. Any non woke western police force would have Pattaya entirely sorted out in a year. Just for the record. 

Most seem incapable of keeping the thieves and beggars off the capitols streets in the Western world, maybe Russia and China could keep it sorted. 

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Most seem incapable of keeping the thieves and beggars off the capitols streets in the Western world, maybe Russia and China could keep it sorted. 

 

But that's purposeful and lack of resources. The ability is there. 

 

It's also present in Singapore, China, Korea, Japan 

Recently saw a family young kids included at breakfast in a hotel on Soi Buakhao in Pattaya.

The only thought I had was how could anyone bring children to one of the most famous sextravel destination in the world . Did they believe TAT telling us that its family friendly ? 
apart from the sex industry there’s pollution, a filthy sea, traffic chaos, potholes and no footpaths on many a busy Soi. 
needless to remark I only visit for the temples.

47 minutes ago, terryofcrete said:

Recently saw a family young kids included at breakfast in a hotel on Soi Buakhao in Pattaya.

The only thought I had was how could anyone bring children to one of the most famous sextravel destination in the world . Did they believe TAT telling us that its family friendly ? 
apart from the sex industry there’s pollution, a filthy sea, traffic chaos, potholes and no footpaths on many a busy Soi. 
needless to remark I only visit for the temples.

Many foreign families with kids live in Pattaya.  There are at least three really good international schools.  Most of Pattaya is fine for families.

On 9/24/2025 at 6:29 PM, scubascuba3 said:

When you say foreigners do you mean Cambodians or Burmese? maybe say that

Been going on for years