Thai sex industry under fire from tourism minister, police

[rooster59]

Thai sex industry under fire from tourism minister, police

BANGKOK:-- Thailand's infamous sex industry is under fire, with the tourism minister pushing to rid the country of its ubiquitous brothels and a spate of police raids in recent weeks on some of the largest establishments providing sex services in Bangkok.

Those who work in the industry say curbs on commercial sex services would hurt a flagging economy that has struggled to recover after political turmoil took the country to the brink of recession in 2014.

Thailand is predominantly Buddhist and deeply conservative, but is home to an extensive sex industry, largely catering to Thai men. Hordes of tourists also flock to the bright lights of go-go bars and massage parlours in Bangkok and main tourist towns.

Thailand's beaches and temples have been the poster child for Asian tourism for decades and the country expects a record number of arrivals in 2016.

Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul played down the role of the sex industry in drawing visitors.

Full story: http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-vice-idUKKCN0ZW16A

-- Reuters 2016-07-17

[Reigntax]

The minister has no idea. Get rid of the seedy side of Thailand and people will go elsewhere. People on holiday are looking for a contrast from the daily normality of life.

And there is nothing normal about Thailand!

Edited July 17, 2016 by Reigntax

[ezzra]

This man clearly, doesn't know his job or doesn't read the incoming tourists statistics, majority of male

tourist to the kingdom has to do wit a quest for some kind of sexual gratification of some sort,

if he ever bothered to leave his ivory tower and go down and mingle with the masses, he'd soon learn

that sex tourism is a major revenues earner, and by eliminating it, he'd be putting out as many as a million

hospitality workers that otherwise will go underground and still will ply their trade,

Not the minster, nor the PM and all their army and police men can stop the sex industry from being,

legalize and control it, will be the better way to go about it.....

[keith101]

so many businesses would shut it would be very bad for the economy

[Thian]

The minister has no idea. Get rid of the seedy side of Thailand and people will go elsewhere. People on holiday are looking for a contrast from the daily normality of life.

And there is nothing normal about Thailand!

I can't speak of South America but in Asia there is no bigger brothel as Thailand.

So where would those sextourists go then? Probably the Thai hookers will also go there.

[ripstanley]

This man clearly, doesn't know his job or doesn't read the incoming tourists statistics, majority of male

tourist to the kingdom has to do wit a quest for some kind of sexual gratification of some sort,

if he ever bothered to leave his ivory tower and go down and mingle with the masses, he'd soon learn

that sex tourism is a major revenues earner, and by eliminating it, he'd be putting out as many as a million

hospitality workers that otherwise will go underground and still will ply their trade,

Not the minster, nor the PM and all their army and police men can stop the sex industry from being,

legalize and control it, will be the better way to go about it.....

The minister is a woman.

[NongKhaiKid]

This man clearly, doesn't know his job or doesn't read the incoming tourists statistics, majority of male

tourist to the kingdom has to do wit a quest for some kind of sexual gratification of some sort,

if he ever bothered to leave his ivory tower and go down and mingle with the masses, he'd soon learn

that sex tourism is a major revenues earner, and by eliminating it, he'd be putting out as many as a million

hospitality workers that otherwise will go underground and still will ply their trade,

Not the minster, nor the PM and all their army and police men can stop the sex industry from being,

legalize and control it, will be the better way to go about it.....

The minister is female.

[NongKhaiKid]

What hypocrisy, Thailand is predominantly Buddhist and conservative, Yes and who runs the sex industry ?

[Mister Fixit]

That's it then. Expect a 90% drop in tourists in Bangers and Pattaya.

Well thought out, K. Khobkarn.

Edited July 17, 2016 by Mister Fixit

[NongKhaiKid]

That's it then. Expect a 90% drop in tourists in Bangers and Pattaya.

Well thought out, K. Khobkarn.

NO ! The good minster will have figures to prove otherwise, as ever.

[Artisi]

Probably only those not affiliated with the "right" people will need to be concerned with the crackdown (no pun intended), otherwise the crack down will be a cock up.

[mercman24]

wow, she has been quiet for a couple of months, about time she hit the headlines again, spouting the usual uninformed crap, got to justify her post i suppose, if this did ever happen (not in my lifetime) millions out of work, tourism zilch, economy down the pan. yep well thought out, just cant keep her gob shut can she.(hubby hight ranking officer, bought post, anybody ??)

[thai3]

Good luck to her, it's an industry riddled with crime, disease, drugs and despair. The country might start to be a decent place with less of it, although you cannot get rid of it completely, filth is best swept away as much as possible.

[colinneil]

Male or female the tourism minister is living in la-la land.

Rid Thailand of the sex industry randy farangs will go elsewhere.

Also unemployment/ poverty will increase 10 fold.

[rustinorman]

Thailand is predominantly Buddhist and deeply conservative, but is home to an extensive sex industry, largely catering to Thai men

The minister is aware of this fact?

[worgeordie]

Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul played down the role of the sex industry in drawing visitors.

No visitors usually come for the Temples and Food,is that what she is trying to say,without the easy

​availability of sex,Thailand's tourism industry would collapse ,but there is so much money involved

it would never happen.

regards Worgeordie

[ratcatcher]

Good luck to her, it's an industry riddled with crime, disease, drugs and despair. The country might start to be a decent place with less of it, although you cannot get rid of it completely, filth is best swept away as much as possible.

Good luck to her, it's an industry riddled with crime, disease, drugs and despair."

Nice sentiments, but do away with the "industry" and watch crime, disease, drugs and despair double. Vast numbers of people in the "industry" have made better lives, many have found life partners and some happiness. There will always be "casualties" and it is they that the government must help.

Do away with this "industry" and watch tourism numbers plummet. If Minister Kobkarn thinks all people come here for the warm and fuzzy feeling of being in Amazing Thailand with its pristine beaches, crystal clear waters, magnificent ancient temples and unique foods, she is in serious denial of reality.

Remove the "night life" from Pattaya and Bangkok and other tourist areas and watch the streets empty and the public outcry. Tens of thousands of people not actually engaged in the "industry" actually make a living selling food, souvenirs,hotel rooms and other peripheral things.

The Minister needs another look at the major ramifications of this so-called plan. I didn't even mention that three letter word.

[jaltsc]

"Thailand's infamous sex industry is under fire, with the tourism minister pushing to rid the country of its ubiquitous brothels..."

The choice here appears to be quite simple. Either, Eliminate the sex industry...or...Make room for more tourists.

Edited July 17, 2016 by jaltsc

[SoiBiker]

As ever, many people vastly overestimate the impact of sex tourism on the Thai economy.

[tuanku]

This man clearly, doesn't know his job or doesn't read the incoming tourists statistics, majority of male

tourist to the kingdom has to do wit a quest for some kind of sexual gratification of some sort,

if he ever bothered to leave his ivory tower and go down and mingle with the masses, he'd soon learn

that sex tourism is a major revenues earner, and by eliminating it, he'd be putting out as many as a million

hospitality workers that otherwise will go underground and still will ply their trade,

Not the minster, nor the PM and all their army and police men can stop the sex industry from being,

legalize and control it, will be the better way to go about it.....

"This man clearly, doesn't know his job"

This man is a woman, a genuine one I imagine.

The majority of customers in the Thai sex industry are Thai men of whom around 70% are said to lose their virginity with a prostitute.

When the Government says they want to shut down the sex industry they actually mean they would like it to be more discreet.

I think you are wrong when you state that the "majority of male tourist to the kingdom has to do wit a quest for some kind of sexual gratification of some sort" but if you can back that up with some evidence I will concede the point.

Legalising the sex industry would be the same as giving it approval from the Palace and that will never happen with the current occupant. For further information see this;

http://www.sexwork.com/Thailand/traditiions.html

According to reliable surveys of sexual behavior, every day at least 450,000 Thai men visit prostitutes. Thus, much of the impetus sustaining the incredible rate of prostitution in Thailand is cultural; "Thai men think it is their right to have cheap sex, ... and there are enough poor Thai women to make it possible."

Prostitution in many cases has become integrated with initiation rights: "[f]or many Thai men, a trip to the neighborhood brothel is a rite of passage, a tradition passed from father to son."

Edited July 17, 2016 by Scott
Edited for Fair Use

[waldroj]

"... Tourism Minister ... played down the role of the sex industry in drawing visitors ..."

He really needs to set up a committee to investigate, and gain some deeper insight. No doubt, there would be no shortage of applicants!

"... a spate of police raids in recent weeks ..." is hardly scratching the surface.

[ratcatcher]

As ever, many people vastly overestimate the impact of sex tourism on the Thai economy.

As ever, the government Minister vastly underestimates the impact of sex tourism on the Thai economy.

[SoiBiker]

As ever, many people vastly overestimate the impact of sex tourism on the Thai economy.

As ever, the government Minister vastly underestimates the impact of sex tourism on the Thai economy.

I'm guessing she's probably a little better informed on the subject than you are.

[ratcatcher]

This the Minister of Sports and tourism, Kobkarn Wattanavrankul. I believe she is correctly referred to as a woman.

[Somtamnication]

Watch the GDP plunge 30-60%.

[SoiBiker]

Backpackers will still come to khaosan and the islands for the party scene. The 'eat pray love' crowd will still come to places like Chiang Mai for the temples. Couples will still come for a relaxing beach villa stay on Samui - or even for their wedding. The Chinese will still visit in ever increasing numbers.

The bar scene is slowly dying out anyway, and anyone who thinks the tourist industry depends on it is kidding themselves. You're simple not as important to Thailand as you think you are. Time for the country to move on.

[DrTuner]

If it wasn't for the sex industry cows would still roam in the single strip Don Muang airport. Totty brought all the business in, Thais should celebrate their status as the largest brothel in the world.

Edited July 17, 2016 by DrTuner

[Thian]

Thailand is getting ready for more Asian tourists (Chinese) and they bring more money (together) than those few farang.

First let's start with arresting those pesky ladyboys along beachroads at night.

[LannaGuy]

ahhh the pious "we know what's good for the people" Junta

[bamukloy]

It has all been said (and not done) before, only difference is this time its a woman doing the saying.

I wager gagging orders have already been given.

Police, prominant people, entertainment area landlords..all probably all tapping this gals hubby on the shoulders.

What is a big cash cow for some is also a welfare payment system for others..

grain of salt