Could it be the primary aim is to make a statement to the world, not to solve the alleged problems? Considering it is mostly the places visited by tourists which are affected, there is going to be a drop in tourists looking for gogo bars etc and easily available sex in pleasant surroundings etc.

Maybe it is not such a 'stupid' policy afterall, if this is what they want.

What would you do if you wanted to change Thailand's image as a sex-tourism destination?

Stroll- Doubt Thailand's image will ever change. It is what it is, and the only way if the politicians were actually serious about making a change would be providing good jobs to their people. Until this happens the perception will always be there.

I heard the game plan was to try and shift all the "adult entertainment" activities to Pattaya along with a perennial casino.

Makes sense really quarantine it off ,keep BKK clean for big biz and Phuket for the family and upmarket tourists.

What would you do if you wanted to change Thailand's image as a sex-tourism destination?

Change a nations culture!

That would be somewhat more difficult than changing the closing hours, even for our esteemed leader.

Thailand - the hub of culture change?

The Worlds greatest leader is at it again. Drugs are sold openly 24/7, the vendors will just sell the same regardless of the regulations, and most of the half decent ladies are bedded before curfew times. Its the same old story in Thailand if the Government cut back on politicians and associates excesses and paid policemen a reasonable salary they maybe shocked to find a these problems are handled for them.

early closing times just pushes everyone to the streets... this has been seen already... it does not fix the actual problems that they are focusing on... what is next to fix the problem of all the people in the street... a curfu...

secon that!

I wonder what's behind this "cleaning up"... the accomodation lobby?

Phuket is a Democractic Party stronghold. Election time soon. TRT wants to cut their funding before the election eg. contributions from entertainment venues.

I always smile when I read about such foolishness. As others have noted in this thread, if anyone is serious about eliminating human trafficking, then attention will have to be focused on one heck of a lot more places than just Patong.

There also will need to be attention paid to Thais involved in the flesh trade, not only foreigners.

And, of course, the various authorities are going to have to wake up and realize that a lot of the women in the sex industry are there by choice, or at least NOT because someone forced them into the business. In a lot of cases, yes, economic need drives them into the trade, but that doesn't constitute human trafficking.

And "economic necessity" hardly explains the university students who go to some venue or another, park the Mercedes somewhere out of sight, then go freelance. I once even saw a young lady from the university at which I was teaching at the time on an a-go-go stage -- and she came from a very wealthy family. mWhen I asked her why she was working as a dancer, she told me she enjoyed the thrill, the sex, and the money, but freely admitted she didn't really need the money, given that her parents paid all her expenses and gave her a generous monthly allowance (more than my salary, by the way). Wonder what the Phuket governor would say to her?

FIX THE POLICE...thats all it takes...why does the government always try to work around them....

I was chatting with a couple of upper-middle class, Canadian educated Thais about this issue a couple of days ago. They were worried how this would affect Thailand's economy. They were wondering if the tourists would go to Singapore or somewhere instead of Thailand in the future.

The thing I found interesting is that these Thais, who have NEVER been near Nana, or S. Cowboy or Panpong, were aware of and worried about the potential problem!

I always smile when I read about such foolishness.

There also will need to be attention paid to Thais involved in the flesh trade, not only foreigners.

My thoughts exactly.

It is all very well to close the bars on the tourist strips in Phuket, Pattaya and Bangkok,

but what about the karaoke bars where the Thai's go. Are these going to close as well?

I bet they don't.

As for the plan for 20m tourists in the near future..........

They will all be flocking to the temples and ancient monuments?????????

I know these sites are worth a visit, but not high on the agenda of the average tourist.

This IS great- the result of this early closing hours legislation has been to push the girls out of the bars and onto the streets. That means no bar fine- great for people like me who enjoy Thailand for what it is. I was on Sukhum. the other night and their was a strip from about soi 7 up to soi 15 of working girls sitting on plastic chairs drinking and carrying on as though they were in the bars.

Brothels are now on the streets- a more fun version of what we already had!

Lets keep it this way.........or I might have to go home to the REAL world which isn't much fun..

Derrida

I was chatting with a couple of upper-middle class, Canadian educated Thais about this issue a couple of days ago. They were worried how this would affect Thailand's economy. They were wondering if the tourists would go to Singapore or somewhere instead of Thailand in the future.

The thing I found interesting is that these Thais, who have NEVER been near Nana, or S. Cowboy or Panpong, were aware of and worried about the potential problem!

If the people that travel to Thailand for fun, find out about the nightlife in Bintan,Indonesia (1 hour ferry from Singapore) they will never go back to LOS.

From what i've been told, Bintan is cheaper in all respects and heaps of fun.

Batam and Bintan: Don't give the secret away

Batam 20 km from Singapore, Bintan Island, 10 km East of Batam Island.

Now these are places where the insiders go. Even worthwhile to stay on Batam if you have to do something in Singapore, take the ferry back to be on time.

Batam and Bintan: Don't give the secret away 

Sorry but... try this link

http://sammyboy.com/balai.html

Could it be the primary aim is to make a statement to the world, not to solve the alleged problems? Considering it is mostly the places visited by tourists which are affected, there is going to be a drop in tourists looking for gogo bars etc and easily available sex in pleasant surroundings etc.

Maybe it is not such a 'stupid' policy afterall, if this is what they want.

What would you do if you wanted to change Thailand's image as a sex-tourism destination?

Stroll - according to some threads i read on here Thai men frequent the sex workers more than Farang men True?? so how can it ever be changed?? it is already known for this Sad to say.

Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura = One of the best examples of what's wrong with having an central government-appointed governor as opposed to having the local populace directly elect their chosen leader.

Im so happy to see the Bar Owners taking action that will hopefully get the message across to the Goverment. Maybe the same method of protest would work in other parts of the country - Patpong for example. I wonder how much business Phuket is willing to loose? Should be interesting.

Agreed. Hope the association has enough money and support to weather the closure as the government can be extremely stubborn. They can look towards the EGAT workers successful protest for inspiration, taking note of the weeks they had to endure in order to win.

This is Thailand...

No Logic

and

No common sense

to close the nightclubs earlier? the governor has no idea about the human nature! what does he think about the reasons, why women are selling their bodies? and if they did their decision, they will it do as freelancers on the streets. how control ist? impossible! so the governor is creating crime! the prime minister should him send in a monastry.

The Governor appeared unmoved

If all entertainment businesses had a strong back and the means to close down for a long period in the peak season and at the same time let the International press know that "Patong is closed", I’m sure the Governor would be moved.

BTW, Could be nice to. See Patong Beach again. Not only Tuk Tuk`s and Tailors.

lets buy another football club to change image and to make marketing for thailand

hahahahah

the time is o.k.

let s close at 11 and i will sit in front of 7/11 and have my beer there with many nice girls and no stress with water drinks and bar money

i like street partys much more fun then in bars and more easy to get a personal 1 to 1 contact with no stress off any barkeeper

I love it, 8 story monster sized, neon signed, brothels on Ratchada, and they say they are concerned about human trafficing.

These are the places that hold northern girls hostage, not some outdoor bar on Patong.

I give the bar owners applause if they can hold out with the strike, and for just doing in at all.

In the end, Patong will just wind up like Sukhumvit late night, and fewer and fewer of the "quality family tourists" that they are trying to attract, will return after a preview of that.

On Sukhumvit late night, the display is hidden by the mask of a huge downtown with towering buildings, in Patong a scene like that will stick out, like a Viagra convention in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

Could it be the primary aim is to make a statement to the world, not to solve the alleged problems? Considering it is mostly the places visited by tourists which are affected, there is going to be a drop in tourists looking for gogo bars etc and easily available sex in pleasant surroundings etc.

Maybe it is not such a 'stupid' policy afterall, if this is what they want.

What would you do if you wanted to change Thailand's image as a sex-tourism destination?

Model it on Spain's Costa del Sol where the tourists shag each other instead of the locals?

Ok all you lively 20-something female backpackers - I've organised an orderly queue of sprightly 70-year-old farangs that are gagging for it

well if they are on the street theres no bar fine.

Love it.

Could it be the primary aim is to make a statement to the world, not to solve the alleged problems? Considering it is mostly the places visited by tourists which are affected, there is going to be a drop in tourists looking for gogo bars etc and easily available sex in pleasant surroundings etc.

Maybe it is not such a 'stupid' policy afterall, if this is what they want.

What would you do if you wanted to change Thailand's image as a sex-tourism destination?

Model it on Spain's Costa del Sol where the tourists shag each other instead of the locals?

Ok all you lively 20-something female backpackers - I've organised an orderly queue of sprightly 70-year-old farangs that are gagging for it

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.....

There's only one way to stop the sex tourists coming to Thailand, and that is to Jail them, or heavily fine them. If say for example 2000 were jailed every year, and another 50,000 fined upwards of 100,000 baht and banned from entering Thailand for 10 years, that would send shockwaves across to the sex tourists worldwide to stay the <deleted> away from Thailand. I mean why not take this route, after all prostitution IS illegal in Thailand!?!?

Another solution would be to do what they do in Laos, whereby if a foreigner wants to go to a hotel room with a local girl, he has to get a licence or written permission from the local authorities 2 weeks in advance!!! and also has to provide all sorts of documents, letters etc that the girl is actually his 'girlfriend'.

There's only one way to stop the sex tourists coming to Thailand, and that is to Jail them, or heavily fine them. If say for example 2000 were jailed every year, and another 50,000 fined upwards of 100,000 baht and banned from entering Thailand for 10 years, that would send shockwaves across to the sex tourists worldwide to stay the <deleted> away from Thailand.

Impractical at best. Besides the system is too corrupt- you are assuming the govt and police are motivated by good intentions apart from profit.