Thai sex industry under fire from tourism minister, police

[balo]

I hope they erase NANA from the map . Also Soi 6 and WS. Tourism will not suffer trust me. If you want sex use a dating app.

[212Roger]

I don't know how to use an APP to procure sex; I'm "old school." If I dial "36,36" do I get "free sex, free sex?

[thai3]

The redoubtable AD is making hay about this thread over on his blog....

meanwhile the Atlanta Hotel in Sikhumvit has been making a lonely stand for many a decade...

Don't think I like the attitude of the hotel itself. I don't have a problem with the hotel expecting certain conservative behavior but the way of enforcement without any explanation creates a situation where you end up insulting someone. i.e. making immediate judgements based on look rather than the guests behaviour.

Quite amusing when the joiner fee for your bar girl used to be 104 baht a night, even in this century. It was only when the old German owner died and his odd son took over that this anti sex worker type nonsense took off, it's the fawlty towers of Bkk. You cannot even go in there for a meal unless staying there.

Edited July 19, 2016 by thai3

[Buzzz]

Quite amusing when the joiner fee for your bar girl used to be 104 baht a night, even in this century. It was only when the old German owner died and his odd son took over that this nazi type nonsense took off, it's the fawlty towers of Bkk. You cannot even go in there for a meal unless staying there.

The Atlanta Hotel has the 'caveat' page on their website. Hilarious.

The Atlanta does not ask for or listen to explanations or excuses, and does not apologise for the manner in which miscreants are thrown out.

http://www.theatlantahotelbangkok.com/caveat.php

Edited July 19, 2016 by Buzzz

[reallybigken]

I hope they erase NANA from the map . Also Soi 6 and WS. Tourism will not suffer trust me. If you want sex use a dating app.

Sorry but I don't understand this attitude. If you don't like those places ... don't go to them. I sure there are other place you don't like to go in Thailand, and that don't have anything to do with sex. So don't go!!! Go to the place you like. Don't tell me how to run my life and I won't tell you how to run yours. Don't mess in other people business.

I don't like Horror Movies .... so guess what? ... I don't go see them. I don't want them to stop making them on my account. I don't run around telling people to stop making Horror films, or saying they should be wiped from the earth...........

I don't want sex trafficking, or underage workers, They should be stopped. But what consenting adults do is there own business.

I live in a so called free country (USA) and they keep taking away my rights. Because of religious zelics, misguided morality, presumed safety, and of course those with money and power taking advantage of others.

Please stay out on my personal business I will stay out of yours.

I have a simple motto: Enjoy your life as best you can without hurting or controlling others.

[thai3]

Come off it Nana is a cesspit that has gotten worse year on year, nothing nice about the place at all, it has become a noisy classless open air slum brothel. If the govt want it to go the same was as SOi Zero, Asoke corner, Suk Square, Clinton Plaza and the other eye sores around there then go it will.

Edited July 19, 2016 by thai3

[NCC1701A]

I had better jump on the train and head up to Bangkok before the whole place is shut down.

This is what hookup apps are for. the way of the future.

[thai3]

look at craiglist bkk personals to see the depth of human depravity, at least it's off the streets though

Edited July 19, 2016 by thai3

[juice777]

look at craiglist bkk personals to see the depth of human depravity, at least it's off the streets though

Oh it's of the streets then you won't have to worry about it will you, we wouldn't want to spoil your day would we.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Buzzz]

look at craiglist bkk personals to see the depth of human depravity, at least it's off the streets though

Good information.

[micmichd]

Come off it Nana is a cesspit that has gotten worse year on year, nothing nice about the place at all, it has become a noisy classless open air slum brothel. If the govt want it to go the same was as SOi Zero, Asoke corner, Suk Square, Clinton Plaza and the other eye sores around there then go it will.

Just wondering.

Where would you advise us to go?

[lvr181]

Jeez, only stupid people think you can legislate "sex, drugs and rocknroll" out of existence!

Legislation only drives these activities underground where they can then become totally controlled by the criminal element. Hold on, maybe that is what some want, so they can get their "pay envelopes" on a regular basis?

Smart(?) thinking by the current authorities! Devious but clever.

[Nasrullah]

Ohh yes......the expat's have been cleansed of their inner demons which brought them to thailand in the first place

[sahibji]

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.....

hi ezzra

you have the nerve of this matter right.

the tourist minister on this noble crusade is a female.wondering

if this factor will change your views in any way.

[micmichd]

Thats it. Bury your head in the sand that will solve everything. The main reason that this country is in a better financial

situation that some of the other south east asian countries is because of the millions of us dollars that was poured into

this country during the vietnam war, and why did they come here. Da. For the beer and the sex industry.

Or, it could have been the closest place they could build runways and hangars to bomb the crap out of the commies and everyone within 100 meters of the commies. I'm pretty sure they didn't select it on the basis of the women.

The women didn't attract the GI's money. It was the other way around.

Money and women are always attracted to each other.

[slippery snake]

Looking at post histories it's not surprising to find many of the pro-prostitute sexpats also share other views in 'common', ie: pro-Trump or pro-Brexit and/or pro-Thaksin, pro-gun even. Also many bang on about Thai xenophobes, yet back home are xenophobes themselves. It's somewhat ironic many are anti-immigrant back home, yet apparently it's ok for them to come to this country primarily to take advantage of economically disadvantaged young girls, usually young enough to be their own daughters (or younger).

Yes, the likes of Nana and other dens of desperation are on the wane as are the #s of equally desperate sexpats themselves. Might add, it's also nice it's becoming rarer to see a sweaty fat old sexpat groping his child-like 'rent a date' on the BTS as was prevalent a few years ago. All good.

Meanwhile, the 5 star hotels along the Choapraya etc are doing brisk trade with families and older couples, and young couples are enjoying holidays at guesthouses & mid range places at the beaches and up-country as well. Thailand's tourism and economy will manage just fine without desperate pathetic foreign sexpests thanks. However, if one's 'world' consists of Nana, or Cowboy etc, yes your world is fading fast and things will continue to become much bleaker for you. No wonder you lot are so angry all the time lol!

anti immigrants ??? They are only anti terroists, coming in as immigrants, when they can check them and document them properly then that will change.

The immigrants coming here to retire and to enjoy the great weather, great food and enjoy a sexy girl sometimes and maybe to marry one.

They are all checked well before being allowed in , I know as I am one. I had to have a clean police record, health record and funds to live here.

But if people were coming here with no documentation and to kill people, it would be a different story ?? The immigrants crossing into countries now have no checks and have nothing, and a lot are full of hatred. Would you want them coming here ???

[sahibji]

we wish the tourism minister best of luck in her crusade.

the sex industry is very deeply interwoven in the thai economy

and it will gargantuan task to reform it.

it is debatable as to what percentage of the leisure tourists (particularly repeat)

visit thailand for the beaches or its magnificent temples.

the sex industry appears to be their primary drive, of course complemented by

exotic and inexpensive cuisine and lovely accommodation options.

[micmichd]

Here we go again. One's terrorists is the other's hero. There's no such thing as a natural born terrorist. You only call them "terrorists" because you to greedy to share.

[LannaGuy]

Come off it Nana is a cesspit that has gotten worse year on year, nothing nice about the place at all, it has become a noisy classless open air slum brothel. If the govt want it to go the same was as SOi Zero, Asoke corner, Suk Square, Clinton Plaza and the other eye sores around there then go it will.

then, my self-righteous friend, don't go there!

reminds me of the anti-abortion zealots in the USA where I saw one pro-protester (a woman) with a placard that read

"don't believe in abortion? FINE don't have one"

you need to think about adopting this yourself and live and let live

[thai3]

Come off it Nana is a cesspit that has gotten worse year on year, nothing nice about the place at all, it has become a noisy classless open air slum brothel. If the govt want it to go the same was as SOi Zero, Asoke corner, Suk Square, Clinton Plaza and the other eye sores around there then go it will.

Just wondering.

Where would you advise us to go?

Angeles city, like Pattaya but without the sea

[slippery snake]

Come off it Nana is a cesspit that has gotten worse year on year, nothing nice about the place at all, it has become a noisy classless open air slum brothel. If the govt want it to go the same was as SOi Zero, Asoke corner, Suk Square, Clinton Plaza and the other eye sores around there then go it will.

then, my self-righteous friend, don't go there!

reminds me of the anti-abortion zealots in the USA where I saw one pro-protester (a woman) with a placard that read

"don't believe in abortion? FINE don't have one"

you need to think about adopting this yourself and live and let live

Great comment LG.. I agree, if you don't like it, don't go there !!!

[SoiBiker]

Come off it Nana is a cesspit that has gotten worse year on year, nothing nice about the place at all, it has become a noisy classless open air slum brothel. If the govt want it to go the same was as SOi Zero, Asoke corner, Suk Square, Clinton Plaza and the other eye sores around there then go it will.

then, my self-righteous friend, don't go there!

reminds me of the anti-abortion zealots in the USA where I saw one pro-protester (a woman) with a placard that read

"don't believe in abortion? FINE don't have one"

you need to think about adopting this yourself and live and let live

Ok, how about a deal? Normal folk don't enter Nana or Soi Cowboy. But in return, sex tourists stop shopping for dildos and Viagra on the main drag of Sukhumvit, and stop parading around Terminal 21 with a hooker on their arm? Edited July 19, 2016 by SoiBiker

[Siamwhiteelephant]

Look beyond the surface and the status quo. A country or empire built on or having slipped into corruption and depravity has never prospered in the long run. Normalization of a sex industry negatively impacts a country in many ways.

[spidermike007]

Foreigners often get a bad name for going to Thailand and being labeled as sex tourists, but the Thai official in the article says the industry caters mostly to Thai men.

When someone asks me why I live in Thailand, I have a great reply. I am a student of ancient architecture and design. I am especially interested in the Sukhothai portico designs, and travel the region studying them.

Man, does this shut them up, in a hurry!

[spidermike007]

Look beyond the surface and the status quo. A country or empire built on or having slipped into corruption and depravity has never prospered in the long run. Normalization of a sex industry negatively impacts a country in many ways.

Exactly. Just look at the US and it's embrace of lobbyists, and the institutionalized corruption it represents. And then look at the fact that the sex industry is larger in the US, than in Thailand. There may not be as many hookers, visible to the eye, but the amount of people involved in the industry is far greater. This is proven. It is nearly all underground. Most is hidden from view. Thailand is just more open about it, and far less hypocritical about it.

In my opinion, there is nothing healthier for a society, than normalization of a sex industry. Nothing. It allows people a channel to enjoy, and brings prosperity to a nation. It takes an industry that is underground, and brings it out into the open. Many countries allow prostitution in Europe. Does anyone see a problem with it, other than the Church? It cuts down on crime, due to lower levels of frustration. I could go on and on, about the benefits of having an open and transparent sex industry. Those that say otherwise have issues with the moral element, are hellbent on changing the world, are working for corrupt NGO's, or are living under a religious agenda.

[dageurreotype]

Looking at post histories it's not surprising to find many of the pro-prostitute sexpats also share other views in 'common', ie: pro-Trump or pro-Brexit and/or pro-Thaksin, pro-gun even. Also many bang on about Thai xenophobes, yet back home are xenophobes themselves. It's somewhat ironic many are anti-immigrant back home, yet apparently it's ok for them to come to this country primarily to take advantage of economically disadvantaged young girls, usually young enough to be their own daughters (or younger).

Yes, the likes of Nana and other dens of desperation are on the wane as are the #s of equally desperate sexpats themselves. Might add, it's also nice it's becoming rarer to see a sweaty fat old sexpat groping his child-like 'rent a date' on the BTS as was prevalent a few years ago. All good.

Meanwhile, the 5 star hotels along the Choapraya etc are doing brisk trade with families and older couples, and young couples are enjoying holidays at guesthouses & mid range places at the beaches and up-country as well. Thailand's tourism and economy will manage just fine without desperate pathetic foreign sexpests thanks. However, if one's 'world' consists of Nana, or Cowboy etc, yes your world is fading fast and things will continue to become much bleaker for you. No wonder you lot are so angry all the time lol!

anti immigrants ??? They are only anti terroists, coming in as immigrants, when they can check them and document them properly then that will change.

The immigrants coming here to retire and to enjoy the great weather, great food and enjoy a sexy girl sometimes and maybe to marry one.

They are all checked well before being allowed in , I know as I am one. I had to have a clean police record, health record and funds to live here.

But if people were coming here with no documentation and to kill people, it would be a different story ?? The immigrants crossing into countries now have no checks and have nothing, and a lot are full of hatred. Would you want them coming here ???

[dageurreotype]

look at craiglist bkk personals to see the depth of human depravity, at least it's off the streets though

Yeah. Kind of a window on the world of Thailand though.

[micmichd]

Come off it Nana is a cesspit that has gotten worse year on year, nothing nice about the place at all, it has become a noisy classless open air slum brothel. If the govt want it to go the same was as SOi Zero, Asoke corner, Suk Square, Clinton Plaza and the other eye sores around there then go it will.

Just wondering.

Where would you advise us to go?

Angeles city, like Pattaya but without the sea

Sorry, there's too many Cities of Angels. Do you mean Los Angeles, Krung Thep, or the one in the Philippines?

Love the sea, though.

[thaibeachlovers]

I've just returned from a two week stint in and around Bangkok - predominantly around the lower soi area of Sukhumvit. Of the bars I visited I guess I was in Nana Entertainment Plaza 3 times and this was to meet friends who had pre-arranged to meet up at specific establishments.

And to be totally honest some nights I did not bother to venture out but either read a book or caught up on collected media.

(The reason I mention that is because I would appear to be the classic profile of a sex tourist, white, 50's, single male traveller, etc. but I can tell you truthfully that if there is anything I find soul crushingly depressing it is a go-go bar. So much so that my tendency is to associate with the serving staff rather than the supposed eye-candy. Give me a bar any day.)

From these visits and other bars around the area to see acquaintances, both Western and Thai, I would say that the problem of venue based prostitution in this area soon may NOT be a problem The amount of venues with few or no customers in would unsettle me if I had connections to them. Add the fact that people were walking into some of these places and asking if and when Happy Hour occurred then you have a realisation that for many visitors the money factor is a big issue. As a consequence, those serving staff / bargirls, etc would be unlikely to be bought drinks, etc. thus ruining one of the objectives in working in a bar and so a cycle begins....

(And here I will go out on a limb. Whilst I realise it is the low / rainy season my prediction is that the high season in a few months time will see fewer people visit the "zones" than last year. Thailand is too expensive in relative terms and the economies of many nations have never really recovered from the 2008 Financial woes, regardless of what politicians say. I will hopefully be corrected on this in a few months time.)

Personally, if you removed prostitution from Thailand it would not bother me as a visitor and may actually improve my experience. My hotel was on soi 11 and a walk from there to my "local" on soi 7/1 was one long request for sexual services. All of which I declined. Outside the hotel, which now predominantly caters to those from the Indian sub-continent, were a myriad of massage girls, street walkers, etc. and one evening (thanks to thin walls and loud voices) I had the opportunity to listen to some Indian guy try to talk a price down from 400 Baht for a bareback full service. Luckily, the woman would not agree to this but did offer a bareback BJ at a slightly reduced price. Quality tourists indeed!

During this same trip I had occasion to visit the Dinosaur Park near Phrom Phong (soi 22) and realised that whilst the core visitors were Thai this was the type of attraction which would be needed if trying to tempt families into Bangkok/Thailand but on a far bigger scale and quantity. As others have said to break the cycle of prostitution you will need quality, well paying jobs and a decent welfare safety net should an individual hit problems. Both of which I cannot be easily solved in Thailand currently. You also need the means and availability of social movement but I guess given current conditions this is only available to many by marriage to some foreigner.

Worryingly and I work in the Tech sector, according to the Bangkok Post in the past 2 weeks, Thailand can no longer rely on its low labour rates to attract external investment due to the increase of automation and the introduction of AI technologies which allow companies to re-house their production base on to home territory. The given impact of this could extend to 12 million jobs within Thailand alone and I would guess the majority of these to be female. Given the current lack of welfare state and employment possibilities it is not difficult to see where some of these people may end up.

Contrary arguments I must say but in general I think the "in your face" sex scene is embarrassing the Thai people in charge who may wish to drive it away but due to economic pressure may allow loopholes or a more covert form to continue. And to survive many must adapt.

Can I assume that with 123 posts you are a newbie to LOS? You certainly write like it.

You make the classic mistake of all that decry the farang scene that it is "embarrassing" to Thais. You obviously have no understanding of Thai culture. Why would Thais that participate in the Thai scene as farangs going out to a pub back home be embarrased by prostitution? Just who do you think owns and runs it all?

Yes, silly ministers as in the OP routinely trot out some vague condemnation that will never amount to anything, but that is to placate the overseas wowsers, and no Thai takes it seriously as they drink in Thai bars and eye up the prospects for later. Have you ever been in a non touristed Thai town and checked out the numbers of bars offering attractive young ladies as "service" girls? I doubt it.

My hotel was on soi 11 and a walk from there to my "local" on soi 7/1 was one long request for sexual services

So you use an hotel in one of Bkk's most famous sex for sale areas, and then complain that you were propositioned. 5555555555555555555555555

BTW, I have walked that route many times and they never come on overty, as you imply, unless I make some move to indicate I am interested. Even then it is discrete.

Local on 7/1 Hmmmmmmmm Not the Beer Garden by any chance ?

Worryingly and I work in the Tech sector,

Quite right to worry, and I reckon your 12 million is just the start. Once western companies realise that they can build anything without a human labour force ( just imagine the future of 3D printing ) the jobs will be leaving Asia in enormous numbers. I have to wonder though, just who will be buying all that stuff when most are unemployed? Even movie actor's days are numbered ( computer generated actors are now completely lifelike, and don't make ridiculous demands on producers ).

However, this is a conversation that should have been held years ago.

I wouldn't worry about all those unemployed women ending up living in "shame" though. Sex androids will be soooooooo much better than the real thing, and one won't have to go all the way to LOS for a bit of horizontal folk dancing. Imagine, they'll come looking like anyone you fancy, and they will, literally, do anything to please.

[thaibeachlovers]

Look beyond the surface and the status quo. A country or empire built on or having slipped into corruption and depravity has never prospered in the long run. Normalization of a sex industry negatively impacts a country in many ways.

That would be every country in the world. There isn't a single country that doesn't have its elements of corrution and depravity, INCLUDING YOURS.