Sex Tourism Is On The Decline

[Ulysses G.]

The world economy is very slow, but it will recover eventually - Thailand's famous nightlife too.

[capKnuckle]

there's a reason Its called The oldest profession. it's going nowhere. as long as men are born with small heads there will be an industry for them to bury them in.

The profession itself may always exist but whether or not it flourishes in Thailand is what the topic of this thread seems to be about. I don't think anybody is suggesting a binary future where either there is or isn't prostitution in Thailand. What was being suggested is that perhaps people are taking their prostitution dollars to other destinations.

agreed!

airport closings is one thing. just mad grannies........the avg tourist will be back.

seeing downtownbangok on fire is another thing! the time may be coming where the tourist is the target! i doubt anyone believes the red shirts are done.

[Samuian]

The falling value of the dollar and the Euro, in comparison to the Thai baht, has something to do with it. And, the problems between the Reds and the Yellows presented a lot of bad press in foreign countries. Tourism will pick up in a month and a half. Everything runs in cycles. It will turn back again in a few years.

See it a bit more from the operators side, the clientel has definately changed, more young couples, more asians and the punters who have been doing the elbow bending are a bit short of a dime or two, some need to be wheeled in....this is going on for - what, 40+ years now...?

And there is much, much more freelancing going then ever before, here on samui, certain entertainment venues, not connected to the typical sexindustry quarters, are brimming after 02:00 with females obviousely from the trade...so there is something going on, partly the decline of major currencies, change in clientel and let's face it the whole scene somewhat had it's time, hardly innovative, still too loud, still too expensive, still too much adoo about nothin' much, this yelling and if one comes ONLY for some pool, a drink or two, abusive behavior from some, lack of even the slightest pinch of class... well, after all guess it's paytime, they still can go into the cafeteria of Tescos or BigC and clean the tables... or behind the counter McDonalds, building sites, fish canneries, sweatshops, rice planting and harvesting chilli cultivating..this way they may learn something!

[StreetCowboy]

The OP highlighted the decline at Nana particularly - a sad and sombre shadow of what it used to be.

Personally, I blame the police and municipal authorities for failing to take care the area generally. From Soi 8 towards town, and on the other side, its quite an unpleasant experience walking up there, with the hookers lining the streets and illegal bars and agressive lady-boy pickpockets. I would far rather see such activities tucked away off the main road, into, for example, Nana Plaza, so that the innocent and respectable are not regularly accosted. However, whenever they launch a "clampdown" it is always just an excuse to kick licensed businesses - and not even in a constructive way, checking over fire permits or whatever, but generally just further constraints on trade; so that the only place you can get a drink after hours is anywhere you like, from street corner criminals.

SC

I'd also like to see the footpaths made safe for walking.

[jcbangkok]

and why are you complaining? , just means you get a better selection, and of course a better price

Not sure about the working girls but my experience in Thailand is if there are few customers and business is bad it means you should raise your prices.