No worse than any other country in the world take a look at Germany, Amsterdam or London to name but a few If there is a way to make a good living then I can understand some of these ladies / girls as they have parents and family to support I also read that a lot of young girls do it so that they can pay to go to University in there eyes it is a quick fix to better themselves

"The question is, why has prostitution become so huge inThailand that it is now famous for it?"

Are you serious? You don't know? It may be illegal on paper, but in terms of reality it is not only legal but almost impossible to avoid. Laws mean nothing if they are not inforced. I can't even take my 6 year old daughter bowling without seeing 65 year old men groping and grabbing teenage hookers in their underwear. If a family wants to come to any of the cities in Thailand and not be exposed to prostitution, they'd better stay locked up inside their hotel.

"Thailand is a Buddhist country"

Thailand CLAIMS to be a buddhist country. I have studied buddhisim and very very very little, if any of the every day behavior in the populated areas of Thailand has anything to do with the teachings of buddhisim.

"He explained that the TV clip really damaged the image of Thailand"

I've said it before on here... It's always amazing how the actions and policies of the Thai's, especially the government, are never considered damaging to the image of Thailand.

Where else can you get laid for £40 quid, that's the reason!

Sometimes Politicians should learn to keep their mouths shut, he is making a fool of himself and Thailand by even writing such a letter to the US embassy. It shows a lack of maturity in Thai politics, they have to ask another country to save the Thai image! Yet Thais do more than enough to damage that image without the help of some TV sketch.

I think Thailand's "minister of culture" is drawing more attention to the country's prositution. True, it is the "sex tourist" that helps to support this industry; however, what does WORSE damage to the MAJORITY of the tourists that visit Thailand are the dishonest touts who tell one that the palace is closed... the rude hot head Phuket tuk tuk drivers...the jet ski scams in Pattaya and Phuket, the un maintained sidewalks that causes one to be injured when walking, the dishonest taxi drivers that are still working, and the poor customer service one gets in a "normal" shop (not counting the hotels).

No worse than any other country in the world take a look at Germany, Amsterdam or London to name but a few If there is a way to make a good living then I can understand some of these ladies / girls as they have parents and family to support I also read that a lot of young girls do it so that they can pay to go to University in there eyes it is a quick fix to better themselves

Also an easier way to get the money to buy drugs and booze!!

As you write in the article, it is the money that lures most girls in. And they have babies at home. Why not finally make laws that acknowledge the responsibility the fathers of these children have in supporting them at least financially. That way more of the girls will have something to chose between.

Prostitution is not embarrassing. It is a fact of life. Deal with it. Buck up, and be a man. What is embarrassing are tiny minded men like Mr. Sonthaya Khunpluem from Thailand’s Ministry of Culture. He is a 13 year old in a man's body, with the mindset of a quaker, from the 17th century. A false puritan. A man without any sense of self. He is simply attempting to but a tiny band aid, on what is essentially a severed artery. I am not saying Thailand is in need of repair. All I am saying is that what he is doing is the opposite of addressing, this, or any other problem. Yak, yak yak. All talk, and no action, which in reality is probably a good thing. LOL.

But that's exactly the point! Feign concern until people stop paying attention! Then go back to business as usual.

And yet this why most of male tourist come here for

The Billions of Baht generated from Prostitution is Never Embarresing

There is nothing wrong or immoral about up front voluntary prostitution. It is the open honesty of it that galls the self righteous hypocrites. Give them a big cheer and deserving recognition for their outstanding contribution to international happiness and the Thai economy.

This is the most stupid biased and uninformed article i have read in awhile

To the author; wake up moron!!

Maybe you would like to write a clever, unbiased, informed reply rather than simply abuse the author.

As I understand it the Thai prostitution industry is aimed mostly at the local Thai market. The remainder catering to foreigners is just more visible worldwide.

As long as this is not recognized and admitted by Thai, they seem to just embarres themselves.

And now back to scolding NokAir for their ghastly calendar

Thailand has a serious case of misplaced priorities. A totally corrupt government system and police allowing or turning a blind eye to human trafficking. I'm sure most of you have read or heard the horror story about the burned slave girl. Her treatment was an example of heartless people who will likely get away with kidnapping and torture.

I want to read one of these that doesn't blame the foreigner.

Prostitution and minor wives are endemic here in local population. Just look at the native soapies and the pretty massage places. Even in up country areas where there aren't foreigners.

Why are they embarrassed? They sell their own daughters and elect pimps who made fortunes off the back of their women.

I thought they were proud...I mean, how else do a lot of these girls get so much gold and new iPhones and their parents can sip whiskey all day and not work?

(Sarcastic joke, no need to point out there are more honest, hard working girls than prostitutes)

When in Rome do as the Romans do.

A racist article blaming non Thais for the prostitution situation here in LOS. Yes people come here for sex but the majority of users are Thai men. Blame tourists for the mess that pattaya and Phuket for example have become. Blame them for nana, cowboy etc, but these are just new forms of a Thai prostitution scene that existed long before sex tourism kicked in.

Thailand's Prostitution Image Is Embarrassing ? ? ?

I believe the Way in Which the State 'Has Sex' With The Thai Population is a Million Times More Embarrassing ! ! ! !

They are getting 'done' Left, Right & Center:

1. Corruption !

2. State-Finances: Mismanagement !

3. Graft !

4. Poor Educational Standards designed to keep the masses dumb !

5. Very poor enforcement of the Law !

If Thailand is a Democracy, I'd HATE to see a Totalitarian Nation !

A disgraceful job? Is it more disgraceful than a journalist making things up? A banker stealing from society or a bribe taking politician or policeman? More disgraceful than a soldier killing a protestor or a monk demanding money from the poor to get a better chance on a good next life? And above all is it more disgraceful to be a prostitute or a to be a customer who scoff at the girls but visits her and than return to his family as if nothing has happened?

There is not so much wrong with prostitutes in a matter of fact they are the backbone of Asian societies who keep their families going.

it is not prostitution if you are only paying her to leave

This continuing loss of face starts with the governance of the country. Since Thai's accept corruption and deem it okay, the rest is simply subsidiary loss of face on the way down the food chain until it gets to the streets.

Tarnished as Thailand is and remains, until it gets it's collective act into gear, starting by real law enforcement, remove all the corrupt political components, remove the incentive for young kids having to earn a living on their backs (or knees) then the whole article and what it is trying to pervade (evade) is a ridiculous thing to even write about.

You can't tarnish a reputation that is already the laughing stock of the world!

A racist article blaming non Thais for the prostitution situation here in LOS. Yes people come here for sex but the majority of users are Thai men. Blame tourists for the mess that pattaya and Phuket for example have become. Blame them for nana, cowboy etc, but these are just new forms of a Thai prostitution scene that existed long before sex tourism kicked in.

In a matter of fact, sex tourism is just the tip of the iceberg. Blame the pearls of society the men with the great jobs who visit an massage parlour weekly. I can be mistaken but I see an awful lot of Mercedes's and BMW"s in the parking lot of brothels even being washed by the boys.

Funny, now the world accepts that this country really is a hub for something and the Thais don't like it... tzzzzzz

Amsterdam - Las Vegas - Bangkok, and hundreds other cities, what a biggie>

ah, the problem is that In Thailand prostitution is illegal so Thai authorities "do not see the problem". just react when so TV station or program is "damaging Thai image". Lol

if the Thais would actually follow their own law, perhaps situation would be a bit different.

On the other hand it pisses me off when my friends in US or Europe "accuse me" of living in Thailand just because i want to enjoy Thai women. And that's because of the image Thailand has abroad they think i;m just another sex tourist...

anyway, <deleted>

Thais should be embarrassed how stupid their politicians are. How corrupted and unqualified they are for their jobs

REPRESENTATIONAL PROBLEMS:

Thai prostitution is a representational problem. The exact nature of surrounding issues is unknown. What is known, is that sex-slavery is foremost an issue of poverty, and is run by politicians, business people, military generals, police chiefs and is supported by the World Bank, international airlines and hotel chains.

It is a cultural problem; an educational problem; a problem of political corruption; a problem of making the correct distinctions between sex-slaves and sex workers; a health problem; a problem of exploitation; a social problem; a problem of misdirected self-interests; a problem of carelessness; a problem of putting the economy before humanity. It is a problem that needs to be addressed both locally and internationally.

SURROUNDING ISSUES:

Prostitution is one of the oldest professions in the world, but that is not to say it is not a normal part of human social formation. So-called sex-work is prominent within sexually suppressed societies however, it is rare in societies that are otherwise sexually permissive. This difference illustrates that prostitution is not a universal social norm. Moreover, some experts argue that prostitution is an abnormal form of promiscuity that develops from strict governance of sexuality within a society.

Women who do not consider themselves sex-slaves resent organizations that deny them the right to make a living in the way they see fit. Some have argued that Western countries take a patronizing approach towards non-western women by ignoring sex-work as an issue of personal income and labor. Furthermore, placing all sex-workers into the same category, casting them as victims, denies them the chance of participating in the decision making process that affects their own future and does not respect for them as people who deserve positive rights.

Vigilantes have raided brothels in the past to rescue slaves but have not been aware of the fact that they put not only the lives of the sex-workers at risk but also their families. Many girls escape their rescuers for this reason, or because they did not consider themselves in need have being rescued in the first place. Some girls may even escape out of fear of being killed by brothel owners.

In Thailand, children are the property of their parents and it is culturally acceptable for them to do with them whatever they wish to protect their livelihoods. Thailand’s government celebrates the economic benefits of prostitution, developing a highly successful national plan to support its “sex-tourist industry”, despite its connections to child prostitution. Thailand’s current period of dramatic economic growth – labeled the “Asian Miracle” is reliant on the sex-tourist industry. The demand for new prostitutes has increased, resulting in the widespread recruitment of child prostitutes through debt peonage arrangements in small brothels.

Many Thai foundations claim to help the victims of child prostitution but merely coerce them into sweatshop work by subjecting them to arrest without warrant.

Evangelical Christian's, exploit the issue of sex slavery to grow their follower base and political strength. Their captors and their rescuers so heavily exploit these women and children and as such, the line between captors and rescuers has become increasingly blurry. Hence, the true voice and story of these girls is unheard. Self-styled US vigilantes have raided brothels in the past to rescue women, which resulted in gun battles and other disappointing results. For example, girls rescued in these raids and similar escape from their rescuers within the first 24 hours. 678 girls reported that Trafcord [an anti-trafficking NGO] continually interrogated them as if they were hardened criminals and are threatened their release will be delayed if they do not reveal the identity of their traffickers.

The Thai State government depresses agricultural prices, which enables landowners and loan sharks to exploit farmers and accumulate capital. This is because Thailand did not have a history of technological development or capital formation. The ruling class sought to specialize in sex-tourism to stimulate the accumulation of capital. The growth of the Thai economy is based on impoverishment of peasants and intensive exploitation of labor. Peasants are indebted, incomes plummet as prices decline, forcing many into low paid industrial and 'service' employment.

Since prostitution is illegal in Thailand it is difficult to estimate exactly how many girls are work in the sex tourist industry. However, the total estimate is around 2,000,000. 800,000 of which are teenagers and children.

Falang laugh at thai prostitues, and Thai people laugh at falangs who take prostitues for thier wife HAHAHAAHA who are more stupid???

You think that's embarrassing, you just wait until you figure out how the rest of the world considers your level of corruption!

Thais live to maintain face! Once lost they take it on everybody... Corruption is the root of thailands proble and it needs to clear it first in its own Government and law force.

Thailand is 'famous' for it, because Thai are open about it and allow foreigners to participate. Other Asian countries have just as much if not more prostitution than Thailand. It is omnipresent in every Asian society. But in other countries foreigners aren't even permitted to enter most of these places, and foreigners seen with a local female can get very hostile reactions and the woman herself sometimes will be openly insulted by native males. Additionally Thailand is an attractive coubntry to visit in general, so many people will go here and see it occur, and not realize that in China, Korea, etc it is everywhere too. So no, it is not 'fair' the reputation Thailand receives, when they are simply the more open about it.

Well I've been here 12 years and this is news to me. Of course you can read about it as here but it's not like I've actually seen a 'prostitute' with my own eyes.

Seems like most Thai women are prostitutes on some level. If anyone thinks Thai women expecting compensation for their sex or even their time is limited to the bars they know nothing about this country. You can walk into pretty much any 7/11 anywhere in Thailand and most of the women will go with a man for the right price. Prostitution is part of the culture in Thailand whether they are willing to accept it or not.