Can Bangkok Curb Prostitution? And Should It?

[ozyjon]

Can Bangkok Curb Prostitution?

[connda]

I have to come back to the same argument - the foreigner targeted sex industry is the tip of the iceberg of a larger sex industry that services Thai men. They can close down the commercial venues in a show of 'morality', but it will just drive the business to other venues - and - it won't have any affect on the sex industry targeted at Thais. Too much ฿฿฿ involved imho. TPTB will make a big show, but at the end of the day they are talking about driving a stake though the heart of businesses owned and operated by Thais with money and power. Unless there is some kind of backroom wheeling and dealing going on, I seriously doubt if this is going to happen.

[Berty100]

I have to come back to the same argument - the foreigner targeted sex industry is the tip of the iceberg of a larger sex industry that services Thai men. They can close down the commercial venues in a show of 'morality', but it will just drive the business to other venues - and - it won't have any affect on the sex industry targeted at Thais. Too much ฿฿฿ involved imho. TPTB will make a big show, but at the end of the day they are talking about driving a stake though the heart of businesses owned and operated by Thais with money and power. Unless there is some kind of backroom wheeling and dealing going on, I seriously doubt if this is going to happen.

The Thai sex industry is invisble, however it is there and huge, while the sex industry in the tourist centra is in the eye and majority run by foreigners.

[bangon04]

I really don't get why Thais seem to think that farangs are the reason for the existence of prostitution in Thailand. The majority of people who make use of this service, and who keep it alive, are the Thais themselves. I don't have statistics to back up what I am saying, but from what I read prior-- farang would not keep this occupation running if it were dependent on our money. Just passing the buck to us ... agaiiiin...

Yes you can almost hear the Minister practising the sentence - "no Thai would do that", and specially not my husband.

Thai on Thai exploitation accounts for a major part of the sex industry, as (almost) everyone knows but many try to pretend it doesn't.

Another small problem - the Thai government would have to introduce a whole new social welfare system for Isaan, to replace the income from prostitution and gullible foreign sponsors who insist on buying /building houses in Isaan villages and buying pickup trucks, motocys and rice paddy fields..

[dontoearth]

A very famous Economist once said of Prostitution,"You can remove the supply, but there is nothing you can do about demand!"

[arrowsdawdle]

Curb prostitution....is that like drive-through?

[Mazungu]

Prostitution in Thailand seems to be a win – win situation for both the customer and the sex worker. The older farang customer gets to exchange his financial resources for sex with a younger beautiful woman. Maybe when he was younger back in his home country he wasn’t handsome enough or didn’t have the “right” social status or he couldn’t sweet talk (often meaning lie) to the ladies or he didn’t have a job that could afford the company of a beautiful woman. But now he’s older and often retired and he’s willing to exchange his money for sex. And it seems to be a big win for the sex worker too. The alternative for many Thai sex workers would be to work in a factory or as a farm laborer or at some other minimum-wage job where she makes about 300 baht (or $10) a day. Now as a sex worker she can often make 10 times that amount (3,000 baht for Go Go dancers) for one hour of customer time. And the actual “work” often only takes 2 minutes (according to Alfred Kinsey in his famous study three-quarters of men are finished in that amount of time). So really? Doesn’t it seem like a win – win for both parties? And if German women could make 10 times the daily minimum wage back in Germany (about $750) for one hour of “work” I bet you’d see just as many German women working in the industry back in Berlin and Frankfurt as you see in Thailand.

[Mickmouse1]

I wonder how many tourists go to temples n how many go to beaches?

Without reading the article I would like to ask, can Thailand do without their No 1 earner in the tourism industry?

How much money would POLICE not earn? other officials at various depts...etc etc

Sorry have to clean my patio..lovely day here in Bath?

[atyclb]

i did read that Dr. B.J. bar has re-surfaced, under another name, that took about a week i think from the police/army raid, to the re-opening. lol !!

likely the rumours that the Dr BJ staff have joined BJ's club http://www.bjs.com/ have no teeth!

[starky]

Prostitution in Thailand seems to be a win win situation for both the customer and the sex worker. The older farang customer gets to exchange his financial resources for sex with a younger beautiful woman. Maybe when he was younger back in his home country he wasnt handsome enough or didnt have the right social status or he couldnt sweet talk (often meaning lie) to the ladies or he didnt have a job that could afford the company of a beautiful woman. But now hes older and often retired and hes willing to exchange his money for sex. And it seems to be a big win for the sex worker too. The alternative for many Thai sex workers would be to work in a factory or as a farm laborer or at some other minimum-wage job where she makes about 300 baht (or $10) a day. Now as a sex worker she can often make 10 times that amount (3,000 baht for Go Go dancers) for one hour of customer time. And the actual work often only takes 2 minutes (according to Alfred Kinsey in his famous study three-quarters of men are finished in that amount of time). So really? Doesnt it seem like a win win for both parties? And if German women could make 10 times the daily minimum wage back in Germany (about $750) for one hour of work I bet youd see just as many German women working in the industry back in Berlin and Frankfurt as you see in Thailand.

Or maybe when he was younger he was killing it with the ladies or that your ability to pick up women has nothing to do with the reasons you visit prostitutes. Maybe he isn't hung up on some Western fairy tale notion where sex has to be be connected with love and honour and feelings. Maybe he knows that even in successful marriages all over the world that monogamy isn't necessarily a perquisite for a solid realtionship. Maybe he just realised that sex is a bodily function no different from taking a shit or having a piss and some people require it more than others and have no guilt or hangups about doing it when required. Maybe the girls in Germany are like the so many so called "escorts" in Australia and other countries employed in the sex industry that aren't damaged or abused who are actually empowered getting upwards of $250 dollars an hour or thousands for an all nighter or maybe they are where the real money is in stripping or webcams where they're making thousands of dollars without having to interact have sex or even talk to a customer if they don't want to. What's the fallacy that this is confined to Thailand and that only dirty old perverts partake of the services of prostitutes or that there is something morally bankrupt about paying for sex. Get over yourselves.

Edited July 29, 2016 by starky

[VN4now]

Either legalize it ala Amsterdam or close Soi Cowboy, Nana, Patpong, Pattaya gogos etc. Country looks foolish to say one thing, "prostitution is illegal", "we do not want sex tourists" and then have these sex trade centers out in the open. For a country so concerned about "face" these areas make them look like lying, hypocrites.

[tomacht8]

“We want the sex industry gone.“

Why does the minister want to make an effort?
The open sex bar scene in BKK will do it by themselves, with their greed for money.

Many Gogo and Beer Bars earn no longer money.
Already far too expensive, Customers stay away.
A drink, often adulterated and stretched with cheap booze 150 – 200 Baht
Lady Drink, piss Cola 150 - 200 Baht
Double Lady Drink Piss Cola Scam 200 – 300 Baht
1 minute sit by you Tequila Water drain Scam 150 Baht
Barfine 600 – 1200 Baht; on special days up.
Shorttime in the Tourist Traps Nana, Pong, SC 2500 – 3000
Longtime in the Tourist Traps Nana, Pong, SC 4000 – 6000
Dance quality in Gogos = 0
Music volume almost at ear splitting level.
Pushy service staff.
Mostly filthy toilets with give me 20 baht staff.
Bill peddling.
Rough bouncers.
Disinterested girls who prefer to play with their phones.
Too much ladyboys visible or as a surprise package after barfine.

I could write more.
But why?
The open red light milieu in Bangkok going downhill and kills itself completely soon.

Edited July 29, 2016 by tomacht8

[Wilsonandson]

Prostitution is extremely prevalent in Thai culture and the industry attracts natives as well as tourists in droves. The chief consumers of the Thai prostitute industry are Thai men. It is estimated that at least 450,000 Thai men visit prostitutes on any given day. Lines further illustrates this point by stating that close to half of Thai men lose their virginity to a prostitute and almost 95% of them admit to making use of prostitution services at least once. Thai men may be the most prevalent patrons of their countrys sex industry.http://www.selenasol.com/selena/struggle/thai_pros.html

It's a disgrace. Why can't Thai men behave properly and try dating women or courting women like we expats in our western countries. Unbelievable, let's hope the tourism minister wipes out this industry once and for all. Whore houses on every street, even your local hairdresser's are at it! "No, I want a blow dry!". Disgrace, selling your body, control your loose women Thailand. Well done Minister of Tourism, we can change, say with me Thai men and loose women "Yes, we can", again "Yes, we can".

[VN4now]

Prostitution is extremely prevalent in Thai culture and the industry attracts natives as well as tourists in droves. The chief consumers of the Thai prostitute industry are Thai men. It is estimated that at least 450,000 Thai men visit prostitutes on any given day. Lines further illustrates this point by stating that close to half of Thai men lose their virginity to a prostitute and almost 95% of them admit to making use of prostitution services at least once. Thai men may be the most prevalent patrons of their countrys sex industry.http://www.selenasol.com/selena/struggle/thai_pros.html

It's a disgrace. Why can't Thai men behave properly and try dating women or courting women like we expats in our western countries. Unbelievable, let's hope the tourism minister wipes out this industry once and for all. Whore houses on every street, even your local hairdresser's are at it! "No, I want a blow dry!". Disgrace, selling your body, control your loose women Thailand. Well done Minister of Tourism, we can change, say with me Thai men and loose women "Yes, we can", again "Yes, we can".

The Thai men that use prostitutes, and the prevalence in Thailand are not the concern of TAT though. They are trying to remove Thailand from the top of the sexpat list and make up that void with cleaner tourism. So removing the public play for pay scene of Nana, Soi Cowboy, etc. will leave the local trade like every country has. Not the worst idea if you want Thailand to move forward developmentally.

[Berty100]

“We want the sex industry gone.“

Why does the minister want to make an effort?

The open sex bar scene in BKK will do it by themselves, with their greed for money.

Many Gogo and Beer Bars earn no longer money.

Already far too expensive, Customers stay away.

A drink, often adulterated and stretched with cheap booze 150 – 200 Baht

Lady Drink, piss Cola 150 - 200 Baht

Double Lady Drink Piss Cola Scam 200 – 300 Baht

1 minute sit by you Tequila Water drain Scam 150 Baht

Barfine 600 – 1200 Baht; on special days up.

Shorttime in the Tourist Traps Nana, Pong, SC 2500 – 3000

Longtime in the Tourist Traps Nana, Pong, SC 4000 – 6000

Dance quality in Gogos = 0

Music volume almost at ear splitting level.

Pushy service staff.

Mostly filthy toilets with give me 20 baht staff.

Bill peddling.

Rough bouncers.

Disinterested girls who prefer to play with their phones.

Too much ladyboys visible or as a surprise package after barfine.

I could write more.

But why?

The open red light milieu in Bangkok going downhill and kills itself completely soon.

The gogo's aren't quiet because of the prices, they are quiet because of the economic situation worldwide, if everything was fine in the world they could double their prices and the punters would stil be there.

[Wilsonandson]

Prostitution is extremely prevalent in Thai culture and the industry attracts natives as well as tourists in droves. The chief consumers of the Thai prostitute industry are Thai men. It is estimated that at least 450,000 Thai men visit prostitutes on any given day. Lines further illustrates this point by stating that close to half of Thai men lose their virginity to a prostitute and almost 95% of them admit to making use of prostitution services at least once. Thai men may be the most prevalent patrons of their countrys sex industry.http://www.selenasol.com/selena/struggle/thai_pros.html

It's a disgrace. Why can't Thai men behave properly and try dating women or courting women like we expats in our western countries. Unbelievable, let's hope the tourism minister wipes out this industry once and for all. Whore houses on every street, even your local hairdresser's are at it! "No, I want a blow dry!". Disgrace, selling your body, control your loose women Thailand. Well done Minister of Tourism, we can change, say with me Thai men and loose women "Yes, we can", again "Yes, we can".

The Thai men that use prostitutes, and the prevalence in Thailand are not the concern of TAT though. They are trying to remove Thailand from the top of the sexpat list and make up that void with cleaner tourism. So removing the public play for pay scene of Nana, Soi Cowboy, etc. will leave the local trade like every country has. Not the worst idea if you want Thailand to move forward developmentally.

So why does the Tourism minister label foreigners as the ones who are the problem for Thai's sex industry when it is mainly the Thai's that frequent these establishments?

[manarak]

How about a poll asking Pattaya's middle aged single male tourists how many temples and cultural attractions and events they visited during their 3 week vacation?

How about asking yourself how you would feel if your home country was famous for sex tourism?

I would take some pride in knowing my country upholds individual liberties.

Obviously, people would come visit for things they cannot get in their home countries, and I would feel for them being miserable there.

There is such thing as sexual misery. Sex tourism is the answer.

Or what is your solution to sexual misery?

So you would take pride in the fact that the female population of your home country was portrayed as been hookers?

Now don't retract on your statement, because that is exactly how the female population of Thailand is pictured in the west.

Not by me nor by intelligent people.

The masses are made of stupid people with stupid beliefs, I don't care about what they think. Do you?

The actions of hypocrites are dictated by what others think.

[manarak]

How about a poll asking Pattaya's middle aged single male tourists how many temples and cultural attractions and events they visited during their 3 week vacation?

How about asking yourself how you would feel if your home country was famous for sex tourism?

Many of us would probably be still living at home with no complaints if that were the case.

Every Western country as far as I'm aware has a limited amount of brothels with prostitutes of any nationality, including Thai, you can think about. So for paid sex you don't need to cross your countries borders

France - no. USA - no. Sweden - no. Italy - no. etc...

Sure it is possible to have a quickie in Frankfurt for 20 EUR.

But cold mechanical release is not what men want and also not comparable with what is offered in Thailand, and I'm not only talking about sex but also about cuteness, friendliness, fun...

I'm surprised that it is necessary to explain that to you.

[Rhys]

Hmmmm wonder if this is the same strain passed around... in 3 years, a certain minister insists Thais, school kids will become fluent in Everyday English.. whooa dude you rock, word up... take in up the b....t

[VN4now]

Prostitution is extremely prevalent in Thai culture and the industry attracts natives as well as tourists in droves. The chief consumers of the Thai prostitute industry are Thai men. It is estimated that at least 450,000 Thai men visit prostitutes on any given day. Lines further illustrates this point by stating that close to half of Thai men lose their virginity to a prostitute and almost 95% of them admit to making use of prostitution services at least once. Thai men may be the most prevalent patrons of their countrys sex industry.http://www.selenasol.com/selena/struggle/thai_pros.html

It's a disgrace. Why can't Thai men behave properly and try dating women or courting women like we expats in our western countries. Unbelievable, let's hope the tourism minister wipes out this industry once and for all. Whore houses on every street, even your local hairdresser's are at it! "No, I want a blow dry!". Disgrace, selling your body, control your loose women Thailand. Well done Minister of Tourism, we can change, say with me Thai men and loose women "Yes, we can", again "Yes, we can".

The Thai men that use prostitutes, and the prevalence in Thailand are not the concern of TAT though. They are trying to remove Thailand from the top of the sexpat list and make up that void with cleaner tourism. So removing the public play for pay scene of Nana, Soi Cowboy, etc. will leave the local trade like every country has. Not the worst idea if you want Thailand to move forward developmentally.

So why does the Tourism minister label foreigners as the ones who are the problem for Thai's sex industry when it is mainly the Thai's that frequent these establishments?

Because they represent tourism and the outward face of Thailand. Tourist will never see the places that local Thai men patronize. But you can't miss Nana, Soi Cowboy etc.

[Berty100]

How about asking yourself how you would feel if your home country was famous for sex tourism?

Many of us would probably be still living at home with no complaints if that were the case.

Every Western country as far as I'm aware has a limited amount of brothels with prostitutes of any nationality, including Thai, you can think about. So for paid sex you don't need to cross your countries borders

France - no. USA - no. Sweden - no. Italy - no. etc...

Sure it is possible to have a quickie in Frankfurt for 20 EUR.

But cold mechanical release is not what men want and also not comparable with what is offered in Thailand, and I'm not only talking about sex but also about cuteness, friendliness, fun...

I'm surprised that it is necessary to explain that to you.

It's your problem if you want to make things uo just to sound intelligent, but you don't realise you fail.

You don't have to explain to me anything. I know at least 2 people personally that run a brothel in France for many years, of course they don't have a neon sign outside that says brothel.

I'm sure they're not the only 2 in France.

When about 10 years ago i visited the sister of my then Thai gf in italy, her Italian husband showed me where I could get laid for money.

Never been in Sweden, but I wouldn't be surprised it's the same as in the rest of the world, especially since they are really broad minded regarding sex.

I guess it's time to open your eyes for what is going on outside your narrow minded world.

[Wilsonandson]

Prostitution is extremely prevalent in Thai culture and the industry attracts natives as well as tourists in droves. The chief consumers of the Thai prostitute industry are Thai men. It is estimated that at least 450,000 Thai men visit prostitutes on any given day. Lines further illustrates this point by stating that close to half of Thai men lose their virginity to a prostitute and almost 95% of them admit to making use of prostitution services at least once. Thai men may be the most prevalent patrons of their countrys sex industry.http://www.selenasol.com/selena/struggle/thai_pros.html

It's a disgrace. Why can't Thai men behave properly and try dating women or courting women like we expats in our western countries. Unbelievable, let's hope the tourism minister wipes out this industry once and for all. Whore houses on every street, even your local hairdresser's are at it! "No, I want a blow dry!". Disgrace, selling your body, control your loose women Thailand. Well done Minister of Tourism, we can change, say with me Thai men and loose women "Yes, we can", again "Yes, we can".

The Thai men that use prostitutes, and the prevalence in Thailand are not the concern of TAT though. They are trying to remove Thailand from the top of the sexpat list and make up that void with cleaner tourism. So removing the public play for pay scene of Nana, Soi Cowboy, etc. will leave the local trade like every country has. Not the worst idea if you want Thailand to move forward developmentally.

So why does the Tourism minister label foreigners as the ones who are the problem for Thai's sex industry when it is mainly the Thai's that frequent these establishments?

Because they represent tourism and the outward face of Thailand. Tourist will never see the places that local Thai men patronize. But you can't miss Nana, Soi Cowboy etc.

The tourist doesn't need a big neon sign saying "whore house" they can search the internet instead. The recent sopy massage parlor crackdown was on Thai prostitution. But some foreigners go there as well. Blaming foreigners for the Thai sex industry is wrong. We didn't force Thai's to set up shop. So when you google Thailand about prostitution and it says "The Thai tourism minister wants to shut down the sex industry in Thailand to stop sex tourists coming to Thailand". That's nice. Blame the foreigner. Label all foreigner tourists who come to Thailand as sex tourists. Give us all a dirty look at the airport. When it's the Thai men who use prostitutes the most. Can she retract her accusations and instead say, " Thai men have been using whores to satisfy their needs for hundreds of years, we are sorry we opened up this business to foreigners who travel here. I will personally try to stop loose women selling their bodies to foreigners and close down Thai whore houses that over price and scam foreigners out of their hard earn money".

[manarak]

Every Western country as far as I'm aware has a limited amount of brothels with prostitutes of any nationality, including Thai, you can think about. So for paid sex you don't need to cross your countries borders

France - no. USA - no. Sweden - no. Italy - no. etc...

Sure it is possible to have a quickie in Frankfurt for 20 EUR.

But cold mechanical release is not what men want and also not comparable with what is offered in Thailand, and I'm not only talking about sex but also about cuteness, friendliness, fun...

I'm surprised that it is necessary to explain that to you.

It's your problem if you want to make things uo just to sound intelligent, but you don't realise you fail.

You don't have to explain to me anything. I know at least 2 people personally that run a brothel in France for many years, of course they don't have a neon sign outside that says brothel.

I'm sure they're not the only 2 in France.

When about 10 years ago i visited the sister of my then Thai gf in italy, her Italian husband showed me where I could get laid for money.

Never been in Sweden, but I wouldn't be surprised it's the same as in the rest of the world, especially since they are really broad minded regarding sex.

I guess it's time to open your eyes for what is going on outside your narrow minded world.

The places you mention are quite illegal and very expensive. Not my idea of "readily available". And as I already explained, the possibilities in those places are very limited, unless you are a very wealthy person.

[VN4now]

The fact that Thailand is one of the top sex tourist destination in the world is undeniable. That is the goal, to remove this distinction. And the fact that most prostitution among Thais is in part a lies, damn lies, statistics phenomenon. There are many more Thais in Thailand then farangs so of course they would dominate the prostitution statistics.

The tourist doesn't need a big neon sign saying "whore house" they can search the internet instead. The recent sopy massage parlor crackdown was on Thai prostitution. But some foreigners go there as well. Blaming foreigners for the Thai sex industry is wrong. We didn't force Thai's to set up shop. So when you google Thailand about prostitution and it says "The Thai tourism minister wants to shut down the sex industry in Thailand to stop sex tourists coming to Thailand". That's nice. Blame the foreigner. Label all foreigner tourists who come to Thailand as sex tourists. Give us all a dirty look at the airport. When it's the Thai men who use prostitutes the most. Can she retract her accusations and instead say, " Thai men have been using whores to satisfy their needs for hundreds of years, we are sorry we opened up this business to foreigners who travel here. I will personally try to stop loose women selling their bodies to foreigners and close down Thai whore houses that over price and scam foreigners out of their hard earn money".

Edited July 29, 2016 by VN4now

[PomPolo]

I have an opinion on this and by no means am I a very long term ex-pat in Thailand but I have lived here and been visiting many years and I love this country and the people that allow us to stay here. Prostitution as everyone knows is one of the oldest professions secondly what people consider as prostitution in Thailand is far from the definition in western countries where ladies are forced possibly into that line of work. My experience of any lady that may meet a man in Thailand that they gain a 'mutual' bond with is that generally the lady will always come out of that situation better and also their family will benefit - so I don't think that labelling ladies from their own free will who want to meet western or Thai men prostitutes that can take care of them and their family. I am sure there are situations where someone doesn't have free will but that happens in every country - I am happily married but see and understand what happens and if I saw a Thai lady being treated unfairly I would defend them before the farang. I understand Thailand want to maintain a clean reputation but it is going a bit too far now and making people more edgy and unwilling to visit probably one of the best countries in the world in my inexperienced opinion.

[dcnx]

How about a poll asking Pattaya's middle aged single male tourists how many temples and cultural attractions and events they visited during their 3 week vacation?

How about asking yourself how you would feel if your home country was famous for sex tourism?

They should have thought about that before they made their country famous for cheap sex tourism.

To add to that list, the Thais have also made Thailand famous for HIV, ladyboys, human trafficking, underage sex workers, and slavery.

And let us also not forget that all of the sex for sale that we see, for foreigners, is only 2% of the actual prostitution here. The other 98% is for Thai men.

My own view is, if a woman is doing it of her own free will, so be it. Legalize it, tax it, regulate it, and let it flourish.

[digibum]

Prostitution isn't going anywhere. Especially in a country like Thailand with poverty and corruption. Also, define what prostitution really is? A lot of the locals don't seem to understand themselves.

I was on a dating site recently and a local girl messaged me. The usual "Hello, how are you?" We go back and forth a few times and eventually swap Line adds. So, the Line conversation starts as normal. I asked where she lives and she said 'Sukhumvit 22'. Now, I'm not one to judge but that raised a red flag. She was a cute girl so I asked her "What are you looking for?". She said friends and hopefully a boyfriend. Okay, great.

Eventually, we go onto what her job was. She works in a massage shop 'on' Sukhumvit 22. Alarm bells going off again. "Okaaaay......" I said. "Would you like a massage?" she asked. I play dumb and just say I don't like Thai massage 'cos it's too painful. "I can give you a sexy massage" she says "Sexy?" I ask. "Sure, but you have to pay me 500 Baht" she replied.

Eventually, she says we can have sex. 1 hour for 2,500 Baht. (She wasn't direct because she was trying to make it seem like it was my idea) Now, I have nothing against prostitution or girls and boys who sell sex for money. God bless, but be safe. I simply told her that's not what I'm looking for. "Oh. you want sex for free!!!" she says. "Ehm, I didn't mention anything about sex. You did" I said. "Why farang come to Thailand and think can have sex with Thai lady for free!" she said. I just told her politely that we are on two completely different tracks. I'm not getting into this conversation.

Anywho, she saw sex as something to be sold. She didn't see anything wrong in that (and who am I to say she's wrong). For me, it simply doesn't appeal. Sex as a business deal simply isn't sexy for me. Quite the opposite. To each their own, but trying to really stop prostitution would be as successful as the war on drugs. Don't condemn people for doing it -actually find out why they do it.

Ultimately I think if one is honest with themselves, they know this is not healthy. She thinks it's okay because she's uneducated and raised in a society where morally bankrupt parents willingly turn a blind eye so their daughters can send money home and they can drink it and gamble it away.

I'm not being a prude. I'm just not deluded into thinking it's normal. I've had my fair share of good times with these gals but I don't fool myself into thinking Thais evolved a whoring gene which makes it ingrained into them.

[digibum]

No and it shouldn't.

How else will thousands of 60 + year old naive westerners find love if they do curb it? Where will they spend their hundreds of thousands of baht? Who will they leave at home when they drink their pension money with their pensioner mates at the local bar?

I think you're confusing sex with love. No 60+ naive westerners are finding love in Thailand.

[Ulysses G.]

I really don't get why Thais seem to think that farangs are the reason for the existence of prostitution in Thailand. The majority of people who make use of this service, and who keep it alive, are the Thais themselves. I don't have statistics to back up what I am saying, but from what I read prior-- farang would not keep this occupation running if it were dependent on our money. Just passing the buck to us ... agaiiiin...

Foreigners are only a tiny percentage of customers for the sex trade in the Land of Smiles. It is mostly Thai men.

[digibum]

Or is it all about preserving face and tell the world "you take prosititution serious" but you honestly couldn't care less about the prostitutes?

BINGO!!!! We have a winner.

When is the last time you've ever heard about cracking down on prostitution that isn't centered on Cowboy, Nana, Patpong, Patong, and Pattaya? What do all of those places have in common? They all cater to farangs.

The portion of the Thai prostitution industry that caters to Thais probably makes more in a single day than what the farang industry makes in a month.

But you know the big difference? The Thai industry doesn't feel the need to beat you over the head with it. They keep it discreet because the people who visit those places have wives and jobs nearby and they don't go around with GoPros trying to show off to their friends back home that they banged some Thai hookers.

I know I'm probably in the minority here but I actually lean towards cracking down on the farang prostitution. Hey, I love a good time as much as the next guy but the farang side of things has become a cesspool.