Thailand To Shed 'Sex Tourism' Tag Soon

[robertson468]

Not sure why a diplomat in India stating that they are promoting family tourism is news. This is a non story, although I'm sure this will get lots of ridiculous replies though.

I also don't understand why so many people get into such a tizwoz over sex. If it didn't happen, we wouldn't be here, most people indulge in it (in one way or another) and the majority of them enjoy it. Furthermore, some of the Thai Ladies in the sex industry do not want to do anything else - they enjoy the every night party scene and consider that sex goes with the territory. They are horrified at the thought of doing boring housekeeping, or waitressing or some such other job they are capable of doing, but might entail hardwork. I know, in my naivety of thinking I am saving them from "the sins of the body", have offered them these sort of jobs, with a good salary, food and accommodation. No chance, and anyway many believe they may find the man of their dreams who will give them (and their Family) a comfortable life and live happily ever after. In my experience there are many areas and activities in Thailand that are very much for the Family and sex is "not in your face" so to say. On the other hand, there are what appear to be quite distinctive areas where the sex industry is thriving. If you find it offensive, don't go there! Sure the Country is a mass of opposing contradictions and is rife with corruption, but for all it's idiosyncrasies and failings, I would much rather live here than anywhere else in the World. Finally, medical advice is that sex is good for you and gives you that "feel good factor" copulate coitus maximus (did I just say that!!).:jap:

[connda]

The Shinawatra are clearly back in the driving seat

Yes, changing the perception of the knock shop of SE Asia, to a family run kleptocracy.

You betchya the Shinawatra clan are back in busines.

The only upside? His kids aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.

George (Dubya) Bush. wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed either, and look at the damage he did.

[connda]

Not sure why a diplomat in India stating that they are promoting family tourism is news. This is a non story, although I'm sure this will get lots of ridiculous replies though.

I also don't understand why so many people get into such a tizwoz over sex. If it didn't happen, we wouldn't be here, most people indulge in it (in one way or another) and the majority of them enjoy it. Furthermore, some of the Thai Ladies in the sex industry do not want to do anything else - they enjoy the every night party scene and consider that sex goes with the territory. They are horrified at the thought of doing boring housekeeping, or waitressing or some such other job they are capable of doing, but might entail hardwork. I know, in my naivety of thinking I am saving them from "the sins of the body", have offered them these sort of jobs, with a good salary, food and accommodation. No chance, and anyway many believe they may find the man of their dreams who will give them (and their Family) a comfortable life and live happily ever after. In my experience there are many areas and activities in Thailand that are very much for the Family and sex is "not in your face" so to say. On the other hand, there are what appear to be quite distinctive areas where the sex industry is thriving. If you find it offensive, don't go there! Sure the Country is a mass of opposing contradictions and is rife with corruption, but for all it's idiosyncrasies and failings, I would much rather live here than anywhere else in the World. Finally, medical advice is that sex is good for you and gives you that "feel good factor" copulate coitus maximus (did I just say that!!).:jap:

+1 Agreed

[Sisimon]

I like the comment lots of Indian families come here, yes they do and you can see the men on Beach road trying to pick up one girl between 2 men as well.

Oh and they don't like spending money either, hence walking up walking street with a drink purchased from family mart

[ricku]

Well it is about time! However, I dont think this silly little plan is going to work, but I sure hope it will.

At least this is a step in the right direction, even if it might be a very small and pointless step. This country really needs to up its morality!.. A Thailand without prostitution, ping pong shows and disgusting sexpats would be a very beautiful place.

If elderly western men couldnt go to Pattaya for sex with young isan farm girls and no wife buying then Pattaya would become a ghost town in a few weeks.

Thaksin is definitely opposed to the isan sex/wife trade. He wanted to close patpong 10 years ago and develop a casino on the site.

Oh the horror!! Want to cry on my shoulder?

Seriously, this is one of the few things I like about Thaksin. I hope he comes back and turns the red light districts into parking lots.

Edited August 21, 2011 by ricku

[EyesWideOpen]

I propose that anyone who asks again what a lakh is should received a one week ban as that has been beaten to death.... Back on topic, if Thailand feels that the standard " sex in your face" is offensive to families, then there should be more of a separation of the areas. If you want a family holiday, go to boring Hua Hin, If you want to rock on in a gogo bar, head to Pattaya. I always thought the entertainment zone idea they had a few years ago was a good one. Of course they screwed it up by trying to create the entertainment zones in areas owned by the " right people". Then it just died away..... As one person pointed out, this could be the first scary shot over the bow of the Shinawatra clan trying to copy the western puritanical code of morality. I remember his campaign of trying to close the bars early, so the tourists could wake up early and visit temples like good tourists do.......

Edited August 21, 2011 by rhiekel

[maloyd1]

Did anyone answer as to how much two lakh is?

........

Many times read the thread

And some (sarcasm) fell on stony ground.

[thongsuknork]

This would only work if large numbers of well off families start flocking to Thailand for long holidays and it ain't going to happen.

Hello Sir How you Know this it ain "t going to happen i think it will happen may be it may take long time if you get cold it goes in three or 4 days this will go on future lets wait and see Hope

[alanferdi]

Sex tourism can be banished when Thai police are first educated on what Prostitution really means! A newspaper article once carried an article that the police invaded a pub for prostitution... I guess it was very hard finding one in Pattaya. it is mind boggling as to how they differentiated or filtered their search. Hmmmm Very hard ching ching!!!! <div><br></div>

[wiscoman]

i think the majority of the tourism in Thailand is not in the sexpat/sextourist genre. I've travled around Thailand a lot for the past two years and mostly I see normal tourism of familys, couples, and backpackers. The sex industry is just confined to spots of bangkok, pattaya, parts of phuket, and small red light districts in other places. But there needs to be a crackdown foreigners seeking underage women, and women being forced into prostitution.

[ricku]

Sex tourism can be banished when Thai police are first educated on what Prostitution really means! A newspaper article once carried an article that the police invaded a pub for prostitution... I guess it was very hard finding one in Pattaya. it is mind boggling as to how they differentiated or filtered their search. Hmmmm Very hard ching ching!!!! <div><br></div>

Obviously a pub who forgot to pay their bribe money.

But there needs to be a crackdown foreigners seeking underage women, and women being forced into prostitution.

All prostitutes are beeing "forced" into it, one way or another, even tho they put on a fake smile pretend to be happy.

Forced by beeing extremely poor, or forced by their parents and grandparents because they want money.

Do you seriously think that these girls goes happily into prostutution because they want to?

Edited August 21, 2011 by ricku

[Ulysses G.]

Virtually every Thai village has a place you can go for a romp. It doesn't matter who with, you will not be disturbed unless you are a moron with someone underage, or you are jumping the Puyaibaan's wife, and even that is frequently overlooked.

Wise words indeed!

[OzMick]

The Shinawatra are clearly back in the driving seat

Yes, changing the perception of the knock shop of SE Asia, to a family run kleptocracy.

You betchya the Shinawatra clan are back in busines.

The only upside? His kids aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.

George (Dubya) Bush. wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed either, and look at the damage he did.

GW might not have been real sharp, but at least he was straight (AFAIK)

[kerryk]

I left Pattaya years ago because the sex was too expensive. Good girls are cheaper. That's why they call them good girls.

[kerryk]

Sex tourism can be banished when Thai police are first educated on what Prostitution really means! A newspaper article once carried an article that the police invaded a pub for prostitution... I guess it was very hard finding one in Pattaya. it is mind boggling as to how they differentiated or filtered their search. Hmmmm Very hard ching ching!!!! <div><br></div>

Obviously a pub who forgot to pay their bribe money.

But there needs to be a crackdown foreigners seeking underage women, and women being forced into prostitution.

All prostitutes are beeing "forced" into it, one way or another, even tho they put on a fake smile pretend to be happy.

Forced by beeing extremely poor, or forced by their parents and grandparents because they want money.

Do you seriously think that these girls goes happily into prostutution because they want to?

You obviously don't speak Thai. The girls don't send any money home. That is a Farang con. They spend the cash on Thai boyfriends, ya ba and designer phones and purses. They are hookers because they are lazy like making as much as a doctor and actually working only a couple of hours a day.

[alanferdi]

Ha ha ha.....Prostitution laws? What does the police not understand about prostitution. Its definition or its masquerade! What is Thai understanding of family values: Have children and leave them with the parents for up bringing... not an attractive model, Well, I am sure the Indian and the chinese will buy into that. Lack of understanding of the law is not excusable defining it to make money is definitely treason!

Edited August 21, 2011 by alanferdi

[wiscoman]

Sex tourism can be banished when Thai police are first educated on what Prostitution really means! A newspaper article once carried an article that the police invaded a pub for prostitution... I guess it was very hard finding one in Pattaya. it is mind boggling as to how they differentiated or filtered their search. Hmmmm Very hard ching ching!!!! <div><br></div>

Obviously a pub who forgot to pay their bribe money.

But there needs to be a crackdown foreigners seeking underage women, and women being forced into prostitution.

All prostitutes are beeing "forced" into it, one way or another, even tho they put on a fake smile pretend to be happy.

Forced by beeing extremely poor, or forced by their parents and grandparents because they want money.

Do you seriously think that these girls goes happily into prostutution because they want to?

No not all prostitutes are forced into it. Many do it because they earn a lot of cash in a short amount of time, and the ones who make the decision for themselves and are safe about it are fine. It is referred to as the oldest profession. As for the fake smile, well you get a fake smile in almost every business/sales establishment you enter. You think a Mcdonald's worker making crap pay is really happy to serve you your greasy big mac?

[alanferdi]

I left Pattaya years ago because the sex was too expensive. Good girls are cheaper. That's why they call them good girls.

Good one Kerry! If God made women to work for sex like in Pattaya he would have inserted a slot for the coins on the side and a Tachometer.

[connda]

Sex tourism can be banished when Thai police are first educated on what Prostitution really means! A newspaper article once carried an article that the police invaded a pub for prostitution... I guess it was very hard finding one in Pattaya. it is mind boggling as to how they differentiated or filtered their search. Hmmmm Very hard ching ching!!!! <div><br></div>

Obviously a pub who forgot to pay their bribe money.

But there needs to be a crackdown foreigners seeking underage women, and women being forced into prostitution.

All prostitutes in Thailand are beeing "forced" into it, one way or another.

Forced by beeing extremely poor, or forced by their parents and grandparents because they want money.

Do you seriously think that any girl goes happily into prostutution because she wants to?

Hummmm. Some do. A good example is Uni students who "plays for pay" in order to supplement whatever their parents are giving them. Other women have a choice between making 8000 baht / month (a pretty average salary) working a "normal" job or making 15K, 20K or more doing p4p activities. Any expat who has lived in Thailand more than 3 years and doesn't understand this is either living a pretty sheltered life or has their head buried in the sand...or they're just ignorant (I don't mean "ignorant" in a bad way. I mean "ignorant" in the sense that they have never experienced that side of Thai society first-hand). Live in a rural Thai village for a while (like I do) or live in the Thai part of a big city (like I did) and really get to know the people. And open your eyes. It not that difficult to see if you're able to drop your ingrained Western biases and moral self-righteousness.

[OzMick]

Sex tourism can be banished when Thai police are first educated on what Prostitution really means! A newspaper article once carried an article that the police invaded a pub for prostitution... I guess it was very hard finding one in Pattaya. it is mind boggling as to how they differentiated or filtered their search. Hmmmm Very hard ching ching!!!! <div><br></div>

Obviously a pub who forgot to pay their bribe money.

But there needs to be a crackdown foreigners seeking underage women, and women being forced into prostitution.

All prostitutes are beeing "forced" into it, one way or another, even tho they put on a fake smile pretend to be happy.

Forced by beeing extremely poor, or forced by their parents and grandparents because they want money.

Do you seriously think that these girls goes happily into prostutution because they want to?

"Do you seriously think that these girls goes happily into prostutution because they want to?"

I hate to piss on your parade, but quite a few do, and for a number of different reasons. I like to have a few beers each evening and have a number of working girls as friends - they all know my long term g/f and also know that I don't play around. I help them with English and we discuss any number of subjects.

Jai Dee works bars because she doesn't want to be anybody's servant, and to be economically independent. Now in her mid-40s she owns land and businesses in her home province which she would place at risk by marrying a Thai man, and she has refused several offers from farangs.

I knew Noi's mother in Oz where she ran a Thai restaurant until deported. I visited them in BKK, met Noi, her husband and 2 kids - husband an electronics engineer, seemed a good guy. Mum and Noi came down to Samui to visit, Mum goes home and Noi is working in a bar &lt;deleted&gt;? Last heard she is living in Germany with new husband.

Many of the girls in any one bar come from the same village. One comes down to try it, sends the word home, next thing you know every girl in the village wants to give it a go. Phone, bike, gold, make-up, flash clothes, money in their pocket, dancing all night - beats the crap out of planting rice in Duckville, just outside Nakhon Nowhere. Maybe tonight's boyfriend isn't the Thai stud of her dreams, but he's a lot less likely to give her a punch in the mouth and empty her wallet.

Some turn into seasonal workers, showing up every year like xmas beetles. They usually borrow to do it (I have lent a few thou to friends, and been paid back, in cash), but go home after 3-4 months with a new set of clobber and enough to live on for the rest of the year. Not many have husbands, same reason as Jai Dee.

This culture has a completely different attitude to sex, and to women's position in society. Don't make assumptions based on your own values.

[connda]

Sex tourism can be banished when Thai police are first educated on what Prostitution really means! A newspaper article once carried an article that the police invaded a pub for prostitution... I guess it was very hard finding one in Pattaya. it is mind boggling as to how they differentiated or filtered their search. Hmmmm Very hard ching ching!!!! <div><br></div>

Trust me...the Thai police understand what Prostitution really means. Why do you think they "mistakenly" invaded the pub? If you understand the concept of "tea money", then the light bulb should switch on. [click]

[softgeorge]

I left Pattaya years ago because the sex was too expensive. Good girls are cheaper. That's why they call them good girls.

Good one Kerry! If God made women to work for sex like in Pattaya he would have inserted a slot for the coins on the side and a Tachometer.

I think a man who has to resort to buying it is surely a desparate man. Why spend thousands on airfares and accomadation simply just to have 5 minutes with a woman. I guess a desparate person in desparate times will do just about anything.

[kerryk]

I left Pattaya years ago because the sex was too expensive. Good girls are cheaper. That's why they call them good girls.

Good one Kerry! If God made women to work for sex like in Pattaya he would have inserted a slot for the coins on the side and a Tachometer.

I think a man who has to resort to buying it is surely a desparate man. Why spend thousands on airfares and accomadation simply just to have 5 minutes with a woman. I guess a desparate person in desparate times will do just about anything.

I don't spend any money on airfare because I live in Thailand. Sex with two good looking 18 year old uni girls costs less than dinner for one at a decent restaurant. So most nights when I go out I weigh the relative merits of each experience. Paying for women simply gives me the option of saying goodbye without tears. Nor do I feel the least bit guilty as I am helping with their education. They win, Thailand wins and I win.

Edited August 21, 2011 by kerryk

[SICHONSTEVE]

A recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report has pegged the number of female prostitutes in the country at 2 lakh.

can someone enlighten me? how much is 2 lakh.?

thaisabai

I was wondering the same - but chickened out about asking in case it was obvious and I was being ignorant or stupid in enquiring when everyone else knew what it means !!!!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakh

It's so easy to look up things using Google. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it became popular with the less well informed.

Maybe not stupid but definitely not proactive.

I would have done, but was busy and so there was a lakh of time to do so!!!! I knew that if I posted then someone would do the "donkey work" for me and supply me with the answer -

as indeed, they did!!!!

[Thaddeus]

Paying for women simply gives me the option of saying goodbye without tears.

Wasn't it Charlie Sheen who said "I don't pay women for sex, I pay them to leave"

[HeavyDrinker]

Thank you Maloyd1! Nice to see that not everyone is hung over this Sunday morning.

I think a man who has to resort to buying it is surely a desparate man. Why spend thousands on airfares and accomadation simply just to have 5 minutes with a woman. I guess a desparate person in desparate times will do just about anything

Well now, this is a key point in the debate really.

In many cases there is indeed desperation, loneliness and/or unhappiness (with life in the West) as a huge factor as to why people come to Thailand for the women (I won't use the word "sex" as it oversimplifies the situation).

However as a result of this "desperation" it usually winds up being a sight more than just a 5 minute association, often with large sums of money involved.

First of all the money for the direct liaisons, then the monthly stipend sent from abroad, then after the marriage, the houses, the financial "assistance to the family and so on.

The fact it that the financial implications of sex "tourism" in Thailand run so much deeper than just rolling into a bar and having a one hour roll around with a lass and it would be interesting to see how the "knock on" economy would be affected.

On another note, I wonder how seriously we can take the moral highgrounder's arguments in this debate though.

If their outrage and disgust aimed at "sex-tourists" and "sexpats" (and any other preposterous terms they can invent) can really be taken seriously then surely they must also have considerable experience of the sex tourism scene themselves which in turn would make them.....

[SICHONSTEVE]

A recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report has pegged the number of female prostitutes in the country at 2 lakh.

can someone enlighten me? how much is 2 lakh.?

thaisabai

I was wondering the same - but chickened out about asking in case it was obvious and I was being ignorant or stupid in enquiring when everyone else knew what it means !!!!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakh

It's so easy to look up things using Google. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it became popular with the less well informed.

Maybe not stupid but definitely not proactive.

It's also very easy to read the rest of the thread and see that 30 other people have already answered the question.

Google = Good

Google + Common Sense = Better

Perhaps he should have been more proactive!!!!!!!!

[robanywhere]

this news story is much ado about nothing.

the comments were made at an india event... obvviously the speaker was putting a positive family spin for the indian tourism market. most tourists from india are families. you will rarely see an indian in a beer bar, karaoke joint, or massage parlor.

however, i saw a number of groups of indian men negotiating with Walking Street freelancers last weekend.... very amusing.and pathetic because of their attempts to get group sex at discount prices...

[OzMick]

Sex tourism can be banished when Thai police are first educated on what Prostitution really means! A newspaper article once carried an article that the police invaded a pub for prostitution... I guess it was very hard finding one in Pattaya. it is mind boggling as to how they differentiated or filtered their search. Hmmmm Very hard ching ching!!!! <div><br></div>

Obviously a pub who forgot to pay their bribe money.

But there needs to be a crackdown foreigners seeking underage women, and women being forced into prostitution.

All prostitutes are beeing "forced" into it, one way or another, even tho they put on a fake smile pretend to be happy.

Forced by beeing extremely poor, or forced by their parents and grandparents because they want money.

Do you seriously think that these girls goes happily into prostutution because they want to?

You obviously don't speak Thai. The girls don't send any money home. That is a Farang con. They spend the cash on Thai boyfriends, ya ba and designer phones and purses. They are hookers because they are lazy like making as much as a doctor and actually working only a couple of hours a day.

While this may be true of the girls you know, it certainly doesn't apply to all. All the girls (that I know) who have children send some money home every month, even if they have to borrow it. You also seem to hang out in the seedier establishments - any girl caught using yaba, or even grass, would get the boot from any of the bars that I visit regularly. And they would know, there's no secrets with this many women around.

[stephen213]

Here is a free tip for Thailand. In Las Vegas , Nevada, the city " leaders" decided they did not want the reputation for the city to be sin and gambling. They then tried to redo all publicity to push for family tourism. Revenues fell WAY off, they came to their senses, and the new promotion became" what goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas". Thailand can certainly do whatever it wants, but if it kills off the sex trade just be sure to have regular jobs for all the girls from Issan...... This kind of government social engineering is made all the more funny by the fact that 80 to 90 percent of the sex trade is for the benefit of and used by Thai men. But I suppose that segment will not be going away.

On a side note, if they really do want family tourism, the government is going to have to do something about the endless scams. Those do not go well with families. Kids watching their dad get beaten up by jet ski thugs could have a detrimental effect on future families visiting......

Couldnt agree more!!!!!