7 hours ago, Wingate said:

I first began visiting Thailand while working in Japan and Hong Kong. I played a lot of our friend RockyRoad, traveling all around the country. In virtually every city or town of sufficient size, there were brothels catering to local Thais. They were not hard to spot...girls sitting outside beckoning local men. It isn't just "fat, smelly old farang" in Pattaya who serve as customers in Thailand.

My second point is that many women join not to take care of a child, but because the money is significant. In my non-entertainment business I employ several young Thai females. I know from them---their friends---that today many young women choose to enter the field because they like the money. Some are uni students serving as paramours of local politicians and military types. Some work the agogos of Nana and Soi Cowboy. They use the income to pay for a lifestyle that a job working the counter at KFC (~10,000 baht/month) simply cannot cover. An attractive young woman can earn more than the "old, fat, smelly farang" she services. When even "good women" hear their friends are making 200,000 or more in a Nana agogo, there is temptation.

I do not know the percentages, but I'm willing to bet the % of mothers working in the major agogos is quite a bit less than it was 10-20 years ago. The Thai fertility rate is way down from a decade or two ago, and that likely covers young women who might be fodder for the entertainment industry. The incentive now is that agogo work is one of the few ways a young woman can keep up with inflation. Very attractive women can make $60-120K a year in the trade, or else $4K a year working at KFC. Were I one of those women, I cannot say I wouldn't choose Nana over KFC.

I also think there is less social stigma to working that field. Other than the hi-so elite, most Thais are struggling and in heavy debt. They understand why young women might be tempted by such work. Perhaps the few remaining folks who look down on such women are hi-so wives of men who probably have paramours on the side. Whatever the view was in the past, I think it's a virtue signaling kind of hypocrisy that claims the majority of Thai society still looks down on bargirls and massage workers, at least in the major cities.

And there are young women who have the attitude that I'm going to have sex because I want to anyway, why not get paid?

The world has moved on from the morals of us who grew up in the world of the 1960's70's and 80's. Both in Thailand and especially the western world. Stories I have heard from high school dances in the west would make your hair curl. It's a different world out there for young people.

Don't worry, it never gets worn out.

10 hours ago, kenconagasaki said:

From your bar stool vista in Soi Bukaew .....where, you would have us believe, the hundreds of fuglies earn far more than the "bt12,000 " salary from Big C !

The slim pretties get to choose which foreigners they participate with.

Forget this Pattaya nonsense and see what's happening in every village in the country .

The reality is a really hot girl will make a lot of money. The average girl might get two or three customers a week and make their money from lady drinks. Never underestimate the power of the Thai society where the girls love to hang out together, regardless of boom boom. It's in their nature to have a good time with friends.

4 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, but by that logic you could argue that McDonald's is preying on obese men with no willpower.

A customer cannot view a sex worker the same way he views a McDonald's meal because he is interacting with another conscious human being. He is purchasing an agreed-upon service, not consuming a product. With McDonalds a burger is the product, with prostitution it is the service of a human body. Each time that human body is offering itself willingly, the burger had no choice in the matter.

8 hours ago, Wingate said:

I first began visiting Thailand while working in Japan and Hong Kong. I played a lot of our friend RockyRoad, traveling all around the country. In virtually every city or town of sufficient size, there were brothels catering to local Thais. They were not hard to spot...girls sitting outside beckoning local men. It isn't just "fat, smelly old farang" in Pattaya who serve as customers in Thailand.

My second point is that many women join not to take care of a child, but because the money is significant. In my non-entertainment business I employ several young Thai females. I know from them---their friends---that today many young women choose to enter the field because they like the money. Some are uni students serving as paramours of local politicians and military types. Some work the agogos of Nana and Soi Cowboy. They use the income to pay for a lifestyle that a job working the counter at KFC (~10,000 baht/month) simply cannot cover. An attractive young woman can earn more than the "old, fat, smelly farang" she services. When even "good women" hear their friends are making 200,000 or more in a Nana agogo, there is temptation.

I do not know the percentages, but I'm willing to bet the % of mothers working in the major agogos is quite a bit less than it was 10-20 years ago. The Thai fertility rate is way down from a decade or two ago, and that likely covers young women who might be fodder for the entertainment industry. The incentive now is that agogo work is one of the few ways a young woman can keep up with inflation. Very attractive women can make $60-120K a year in the trade, or else $4K a year working at KFC. Were I one of those women, I cannot say I wouldn't choose Nana over KFC.

I also think there is less social stigma to working that field. Other than the hi-so elite, most Thais are struggling and in heavy debt. They understand why young women might be tempted by such work. Perhaps the few remaining folks who look down on such women are hi-so wives of men who probably have paramours on the side. Whatever the view was in the past, I think it's a virtue signaling kind of hypocrisy that claims the majority of Thai society still looks down on bargirls and massage workers, at least in the major cities.

Ah, finger lickin' good!

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Did you ever read profiles of freelancers on dating apps?

Some of them write stuff like "I don't like men who look down on my profession" or sth along those lines.

So that means there must be some farangs virtue signaling / harassing these women on their profiles and telling them their line of work is unethical.

Born again Christians maybe?

It's pretty funny.

Those men probably treat them like siht and badmouth after they're finished.

17 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Did someone put you in charge of the Tourism Authority?

The entire tourism is set up that way.

As the article points out, it brings in 100 billion baht per year.

Shame on what?

Tourists visiting temples doesn't bring in money.

What do you mean, "tourist visiting temples doesn't bring in money?" That statement is completely inaccurate. Many tourist come to Thailand to visit temples, street food, Thai culture and beaches. These people rent hotels rooms, take Taxis, fly localy and bring in a large amount of money to Thailand. Are you saying that the only tourist who contribute to the economy are those here for sex tourism? I have been coming to Thailand for years both to live and visit and now live there half time. I love to travel Thailand and one of my favorite things to do is visit temples. I have never engaged with prostitution or that aspect of the Thai economy?

There is a sex industry everywhere.

What i don't like is Indian men in large groups solicitating openly around families asking for a discount.

4 hours ago, Issan girl said:

What do you mean, "tourist visiting temples doesn't bring in money?" That statement is completely inaccurate. Many tourist come to Thailand to visit temples, street food, Thai culture and beaches. These people rent hotels rooms, take Taxis, fly localy and bring in a large amount of money to Thailand. Are you saying that the only tourist who contribute to the economy are those here for sex tourism? I have been coming to Thailand for years both to live and visit and now live there half time. I love to travel Thailand and one of my favorite things to do is visit temples. I have never engaged with prostitution or that aspect of the Thai economy?

Sorry, my statement was inaccurate.

All tourists contribute to the economy.

Maybe those who engage in the nightlife scene contribute slightly more though.

22 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Did someone put you in charge of the Tourism Authority?

The entire tourism is set up that way.

As the article points out, it brings in 100 billion baht per year.

Shame on what?

Tourists visiting temples doesn't bring in money.

I see you have apologised for another one of your inaccurate comments.

Like I said earlier, Shame on those foreigners who have only come to Thailand, visiting Thailand for sex tourism. Taking advantage of these young girls.

My wish, I prey, one day soon these unfortunate girls I spoke about in my first comment will be provided with the welfare by the Thai government they deserve.

This would stop the majority of the despicable, detestable and loathsome foreigners arriving

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by SAFETY FIRST

5 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

My wish, I prey, one day soon these unfortunate girls I spoke about in my first comment will be provided with the welfare by the Thai government they deserve.

Yes, feel free to submit your proposal to the Minister of the Economy on how you would generate the 200 Billion Baht to replace what the nightlife industry generates.

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Yes, feel free to submit your proposal to the Minister of the Economy on how you would generate the 200 Billion Baht to replace what the nightlife industry generates.

You can't be serious?

No, revenue in the world is worth having your little girl work the streets to provide for her baby.

Do you have any children, have you any values?

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

You can't be serious?

No, revenue in the world is worth having your little girl work the streets to provide for her baby.

Do you have any children, have you any values?

The entire mindset of the poorer families in Isaan regions has to change. Putting an emphasis on a proper education for their kids has to happen. They allow their kids to leave school at 15 without a proper school diploma taking away even the slightest chance of a decent job. The boys leave school early and prey on the girls who left school early and make babies.

On 8/11/2026 at 8:22 AM, Hotchilli123 said:

If it wasn't for the sex trade thousands would be made unemployed, resorts, bars, karaoke and massage shops and the rest would collapse.

Most of the Adult entertainment in Thailand is geared to Thai. Only in the Pattaya, Phuket, Soi Cowboy, Nana and some small visitible areas in Krabi, Koh Chang etc is it geared to Westerners, which is what the tourists sees. Thai's prefer the big soapy massage parlors and upcountry those karaoke style joints with xmas lights. That is where those would probably end up working, if no tourists would come. Mind you, grosso motto Asian's like other girl types then Westerners do, so i guess they go where they are most wanted to make most money.

9 hours ago, anthonyT said:

Most of the Adult entertainment in Thailand is geared to Thai. Only in the Pattaya, Phuket, Soi Cowboy, Nana and some small visitible areas in Krabi, Koh Chang etc is it geared to Westerners, which is what the tourists sees. Thai's prefer the big soapy massage parlors and upcountry those karaoke style joints with xmas lights. That is where those would probably end up working, if no tourists would come. Mind you, grosso motto Asian's like other girl types then Westerners do, so i guess they go where they are most wanted to make most money.

I always here this statement by foreigners. Is it true that many Thai men see prostitutes, yes. But, that number has actually fallen considerably over the years. The large majority of the Prostitution industry is geared towards tourists.

I was a interpreter for a research study on woman, babies and AIDS in the Northeast of Thailand in the late 90's. It was when AIDS was exploding in Thailand, even in dusty Issan villages. What we found was that up to 55% of poorer Thai men from the Issan had thier first and second sexual experience with a prostitute, usually in Bangkok or other large cities where they went to find work. HIV was rampid in the prostitute population. The men then returned to Issan and married thier Thai sweetheart and passed on AIDS. The women would find out they had AIDS often when they came in for pregnancy checks. It was heartbreaking, often leaving HIV positive widows and then orphans in places without the means to care for them. The government did a huge PR and public education campaign about the issue. One of the results was that the number of Thai men who engaged with prostitutes dropped significantly.

Prostitution was always a reality in Thailand (as elsewhere); however, the explosion of prostitution and development of a whole areas that specialize in this industry didn't occur till the Vietnam War with thousands of American GI's flooding to areas like Pataya and Bangkok for R and R. As the article mentions..."Surang Janyam, director of the Service Workers in Group Foundation, known as Swing, said the country has more than 200,000 sex workers. The majority are in Bangkok and Pattaya." If most of the adult entertainment industry in Thailand was geared towards Thais, as you mention, then why are the majority of prostitutes in Pattaya and Bangkok?