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An Overview of Legalising Prostitution in Thailand

• First Online: 24 December 2023

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• Jason Hung 2  

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In March 2023, Thai lawmakers drafted a law proposing the legalisation of engagement in prostitution for anyone aged 20 or above. The proposed legislation has initially been called the Draft Act for the Protection of Sexual Services B. E . The proposed legislation will expectedly replace the existing Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, B. E. 2539 , enacted in 1996, that criminalises and penalises those who are involved in the provision of commercial sex services. Thailand and Cambodia have been internationally recognised as among the world’s largest sex tourism, sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, child pornography and prostitution hubs. In 2014, some one-third of all inbound international visitors entering Thailand were expected to be sex tourists—those travelling primarily to satisfy their sexual needs. In this chapter, the author, first, briefly outlines the origins of sex tourism and prostitution in Thailand. The author highlights how, to date, the problems of prostitution have remained profound, despite the criminalisation of sex work. The author notes that neither can Thailand pragmatically practise a zero-tolerance stance against prostitution (primarily due to severe police corruption and its heavy reliance on the sex tourism economy to support the national economic growth) nor is Thailand willing to fully crack down on the domestic sex industry (due to economic and cultural concerns). The author delineates how legalising and decriminalising prostitution, along with continuing to implement policies and interventions that alleviate the root causes of prostitution, can help Thailand build a more inclusive society and a less-prostitution-reliant economy in the long term.

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Hung, J. (2024). An Overview of Legalising Prostitution in Thailand. In: Legalising Prostitution in Thailand. SpringerBriefs in Sociology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8448-0_1

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Thailand is a global capital of (illegal) sex work

The country has long been one of the world’s major sex tourism destinations. the majority of sex workers in the world are women, but it’s men who make the decisions about what they can do with their bodies.

The neon-lit red light district screams of sex.

In an apartment near Pattaya’s infamous Walking Street, Auchanaporn Pilasata studies her reflection in the mirror, applies another layer of plum-shade lipstick, and touches up her black eyeliner. In the corner of her mirror are two photographs: one from when she looked like a scrawny 15-year-old boy, and another, post-transition, as the stunning woman she is today.

The 37-year-old, who goes by Anna, has been a transgender sex worker for 17 years. While transitioning, she left a low-paying job in a cosmetics packaging factory on the outskirts of Bangkok to become a cabaret dancer in nearby Pattaya, a beach town with a reputation for wild nightlife. She took a temporary job at a “special” massage parlor to earn some cash. Her very first client propositioned her for sex.

“He said, ‘I give you 3,000 baht [$85]. One hour,’” Anna recalled. “[When] I worked in factory, [I made] 6,000 baht in one month. This is the beginning [of] my story [as a] sex worker.”

Thailand has long been one of the world’s major sex tourism destinations. Estimates of sex work’s contribution to GDP vary widely because the industry operates almost entirely underground. But in 2015, the black market research company Havocscope valued it at $6.4 billion per year — about 1.5% of the country’s GDP that year.

Despite earning billions annually, the industry is effectively illegal , controversial among Thais, and highly stigmatized. Now, the debate over sex work is spilling into public forums, with a progressive lawmaker introducing a bill in parliament to legalize it. Its proponents argue that criminalization has deprived sex workers of basic labor rights and protections enjoyed by other workers, making them more vulnerable to health risks, harassment, exploitation, and violence — while making sex work itself no less visible.

Visiting Thailand and not noticing any sex workers? It’s like going to “KFC and you never see fried chicken,” Anna said.

The majority of sex workers in the world are women, and a 2017 projection by the Thai Department of Disease Control conservatively estimated that 129,000 of 144,000 sex workers in the country were female. But it’s men who make the decisions about what they can do with their bodies.

Women held 16% of Thailand’s parliamentary seats in 2021, the same figure as 10 years ago. By comparison, women made up 20% of Saudi Arabia’s governing assembly and 28% of the U.S. Congress that year.

The fight for legalization is an uphill battle. Conservative factions within the country and global anti-trafficking organizations remain strongly opposed to sex work. The U.S. Agency for International Development calls Thailand a “source, transit, and destination country” for trafficking, and opponents of the bill say the sex industry enables widespread abuse of women and children across the country and in neighboring Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

Surviving day by day

Historical reports of sex work existing in Thailand date back to the 1300s. The modern sex industry in Thailand boomed while serving a wave of Chinese immigrants in the early 1900s, Japanese soldiers during World War II, and U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War. But many Thais grew resentful of its visibility and notoriety. The country adopted the Suppression of Prostitution Act in 1960, followed by the 1996 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act , which outlawed almost all of the activities associated with sex work and income earned from it.

The push against prostitution was further bolstered in the 2000s, when the U.S. government, the religious right, and abolitionist feminists came together in an unlikely alliance . Their goal was to eliminate prostitution. The U.S. movement gained traction globally as those forces traveled to campaign against sex work in countries abroad, including Thailand.

Within Thailand, officials often downplay the prevalence of prostitution in order to present a more positive view of the country to the outside world and appease constituents opposed to sex work. After a Jan. 14 inspection, police said they were “satisfied” after finding no “illegal prostitutes” working in Pattaya, much to the amusement of social media commentators.

“Why don’t they ask all the girl [sic] standing all around if they have seen some sexworkers,” one Facebook user posted.

In practice, the revenues from sex work sustain a robust illicit economy and can be an important lifeline for women whose backgrounds range from educated college graduates to poor rural farmers. Many believe that some form of legal recognition, either decriminalization or legalization, would help to reduce violence against sex workers and give them rights and benefits that would help them, particularly during difficult financial times.

In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill and global tourism dried up, around 91% of Thai sex workers lost their jobs due to lockdowns, border closures, and social-distancing measures, according to the World Health Organization. As illegal workers, they did not qualify for government relief benefits during the pandemic.

“A lot of [sex workers] could not pay the rent and they had to sleep on the street,” said Supachai Sukthongsa, the Pattaya manager of Service Workers in Group (SWING), a services and support group. “They worked and cleaned up at the bar in exchange for small money and food, just enough to survive day by day.”

The pandemic also reduced access to health care services. Whether they get their business through dating apps, pimps, or on the street, sex workers face numerous risks to their health and safety. The Sex Workers Project, an advocacy organization based in New York, found that sex workers globally face a 45% to 75% chance of experiencing violence on the job. Transgender women such as Anna face an added layer of danger from clients who turn violent after discovering their identities.

“When I go to the police station,” Anna said, they don’t “help me because [of] my job, because I work illegal work here in Thailand.”

Sex workers frequently accuse Thai police of extorting or ignoring them. Researchers such as Ronald Weitzer, a sociologist and professor with expertise in sex work in Thailand, also accuse police of being heavily involved in sex tourism and profiting off of the industry.

“The authorities, especially the police, have a vested interest in keeping prostitution illegal,” Weitzer said. “They get payoffs.”

Gen. Surachate Hakparn, deputy commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police, said he believes legalizing sex work could cut down on such activities.

“I admit that there is corruption going on, but it’s only a fraction of police officers doing that,” he said. “From a law enforcement perspective, if it is legalized, it’s good for the police. We don’t need to keep disciplining our subordinates about corruption. And we can put the resources and time into something else.”

Push for legalization gathers momentum

Globally, the legal status of sex work is divided into three broad categories: criminalization, legalization and decriminalization.

The legalization model regulates the registration, health care, and welfare of sex workers. In contrast, the decriminalization model simply removes penalties for pursuing the activity.

There are also hybrid models, such as the Nordic model in countries such as Sweden and Norway, which blend elements of legalization and decriminalization.

It’s the criminalization model that’s employed by about half the world , including most of the United States. It involves the criminalization of every party: the seller, the buyer, and third parties such as pimps or traffickers.

According to the 2018 Global Slavery Index , published by an Australian human rights organization, Thailand is home to about 610,000 human trafficking victims. Although the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says most of these victims are trafficked for manual labor, some women and girls are forced into sex work.

While the U.S. government says the Thai government is doing an increasingly good job fighting against trafficking, hard-line anti-traffickers remain vehemently against legalization.

“It’s consumption with nothing in return,” said Sanphasit Koompraphant, the chairperson of Thailand’s Anti-Trafficking Alliance. “It’s sexual exploitation.”

But the criminalization model most anti-traffickers support has come increasingly under attack from sex work activists.

A growing body of research shows that criminalization forces sex workers to operate under more dangerous conditions, increasing risks of sexually transmitted infections, physical abuse, and exploitation — including by police. Aside from stigmatizing the work, bans also mean that many sex workers will end up with a criminal record if caught soliciting, making it harder for them to get other jobs and pushing them deeper into the sex industry.

Weitzer argues that criminalizing sex work has not succeeded in stopping its proliferation and has strong parallels to the U.S. war on drugs.

“The evidence is clear that it’s a complete failure,” he said.

In June 2022, Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, a progressive parliamentarian with the upstart Move Forward Party, drafted a bill that would establish designated zones for legal sex work. To ensure compliance with its proposed regulations, he said the bill calls for random checks to be carried out to verify licenses, the age of the sex workers, and whether illegal drugs are present.

He said the bill also outlines how the industry will be taxed and specifies locations where it can’t be practiced or advertised, such as near temples and schools.

“It has to [be] away from the children,” Tunyawaj said.

But some sex workers also oppose legalization. Juno Mac, a prominent sex worker and activist, said legalization can create a “two-tiered system” in which wealthier establishments can afford to comply with regulations, while marginalized sex workers operating independently cannot.

Rather than the special regulation and taxation that comes with legalization, Mac prefers decriminalization, which treats sex work like any other work.

Weitzer noted that decriminalization also has limitations, with the lack of regulations allowing existing bad actors — rampant throughout the industry — to continue exploiting workers.

But its supporters say the decriminalization model is more likely to help sex workers better integrate into mainstream society.

“If [we have] legalization, that means that we have the specific law to say this kind of job [is] legal. But we don’t want to have a specific law,” said Surang Janyam, the founder and director of SWING. “If we have specific laws for sex workers, we should have specific laws with every occupation. Decriminalize will [make us] equal as other people.”

Whether through legalization or decriminalization, Weitzer said the odds are stacked against changing the legal status of sex work.

“The majority of legislators are opposed to it, and every time it’s been proposed in the past, I don’t think it’s even gotten out of committee,” Weitzer said.

The last major push was in 2003, when proposed legislation was debated but failed to pass.

Tunyawaj’s June 2022 bill was not reviewed by the board of the parliamentary committee for youth, women, and other vulnerable groups until November 2022. At that point, the committee recommended transferring it to Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. The fate of the bill now rests in the hands the new government, which was elected in May.

Surachate said the main thing missing is political will.

“The government can solve this matter, if they take it seriously,” he said.

Navaon Siradapuvadol contributed reporting to this article.

This story was supported by the United Nations Foundation.

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Opinion article, why legalizing prostitution in thailand can help bangkok regulate commercial sex and curb sex-trafficking systematically and institutionally.

• Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Per the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's Global Report on Trafficking in Persons , sexual exploitation (79%) is known as the most common form of human trafficking at the global level. Predominantly, women and girls are victimized under the presence of human trafficking. Sex trafficking victims refer to those being forced, coerced or placed under the undue influence to participate in prostitution ( Roujanavong, 2012 ). U.S. Department of State (2022) 's 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report classified Thailand in Tier 2, meaning Bangkok failed to fully meet the minimum standards for the eradication of any trafficking-related activities, despite making significant endeavors correspondingly. Bangkok, per the Report, raised the anti-trafficking capacity, grew the number of trafficking investigations and sentenced officials who were involved in trafficking activities to terms of imprisonment in 2022. In spite of these efforts, Bangkok's number of trafficking prosecutions and convictions in 2022 failed to fall, relative to those in 2021. Thai law enforcement authorities, in addition, purportedly applied inconsistent and ineffective interviewing approaches amid (sex) labor inspection, rendering a raft of trafficking victims to be unidentified ( U.S. Department of State, 2022 ).

Bangkok tightened its legal action against human trafficking by passing the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act (B.E. 2551) in 2008 ( Pink, 2013 ). However, since then, Thailand has remained placed on the Tier 2 watch list per the Trafficking in Persons Report . Such a circumstance hints that solely raising the punitive terms against human trafficking has little to no positive impact on combating any form of trafficking activities domestically. Thailand, as the regionally largest sex tourism destination in Southeast Asia, has a value of USD 6.4 billion in annual revenue generated from underground prostitution activities ( Wadekar, 2023 ). The lucrative sex tourism economy and Bangkok's over-reliance on sex work-related revenues to support its formal and informal economic development have barred Bangkok from effectively curbing sex trafficking activities. While prostitution is deemed illegal, Bangkok has long been known for tolerating commercial sex, especially in tourist-popular locations such as Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket ( McGeough and the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell of Mercyhurst University, 2022 ; Peter, 2023 ; Wadekar, 2023 ). Therefore, law enforcement authorities, when exercising anti-prostitution raids, often turn a blind eye to commercial sex activities, especially when they receive bribes from conventional sex establishment owners or prostitutes themselves ( Paramanand, 2019 ).

In March 2023, Bangkok drafted a bill to legalize sex work, proposing to allow individuals aged 20 or older to voluntarily enter the sex industry ( Charoensuthipan, 2023 ). While Thai lawmakers have yet to know when the drafted bill will possibly be passed, such a legal endeavor is deemed a remarkable law-making output that helps protect women and girls from facing sexual marginalization and exploitation and is conducive to Bangkok's implementation of more effective and consistent anti-human trafficking operations in the long term. This opinion rationalizes how, if the drafted bill is passed, the legalization of prostitution in Thailand can help domestically curb sex trafficking activities. The opinion will also include some forms of comparative analysis in order to use neighboring countries as examples to justify how the criminalization of sex work has severely marginalized the safety, rights, health and wellbeing of prostitutes, leading commercial sex workers and sex trafficking victims to become systematically and institutionally more traumatized.

The legalization of sex work and anti-sex trafficking

As a status quo , sex workers have been subject to constant physical, verbal, sexual and financial abuse and exploitation by their clients and/or managers ( Peter, 2023 ). However, with their occupation being criminalized, they enjoy no legal rights to seek help from law enforcement and justice departments. They cannot publicly admit that they encounter any form of abuse and exploitation during their engagement in commercial sex, otherwise not only are not unlikely to be legally protected by existing laws but they may plausibly be criminalized.

Also, so long as prostitution becomes legalized, sex workers and victims of sex trafficking at large do not have to pay bribes to corrupt law enforcement authorities during any anti-prostitution raids ( Peter, 2023 ). In recent decades, while Bangkok has been legislatively endeavoring to curb prostitution and trafficking activities, however, such efforts have failed to translate into desirable societal outcomes as law enforcement and justice authorities have been popularly corrupt. Despite the presence of anti-prostitution and -trafficking laws, police and other justice authorities have been keen on accepting bribes from sex trafficking victims and sex workers to turn a blind eye to their engagement in commercial sex. Similar situations have occurred continually in the Philippines. Ample Philippine police officers have the disposition to use anti-trafficking as a cover to extort bribes from prostitutes, commercial sex clients and owners and/or managers of conventional sex establishments. A raft of fake anti-prostitution and anti-trafficking raids were held so as to allow law enforcement authorities to financially exploit the interests of those engaging in commercial sex further and continually ( Paramanand, 2019 ). The societal outcomes presented in Southeast Asia at large in recent decades have demonstrated that prostitution and sex trafficking have largely been tolerated, in part, owing to the loose law enforcement loopholes, despite the criminalization per se .

As prostitution is, in theory, criminalized, many conventional sex establishments have been operated in the underground economy. On the one hand, such a circumstance means commercial sex is under- or de-regulated, barring law enforcement authorities from identifying any existing crimes or violence against the interest and safety of sex workers. On the other hand, while, as mentioned, the Thai sex industry earns billions of USD in revenue per year, Bangkok fails to collect tax directly from the activities of commercial sex. So long as commercial sex is legalized, not only can Bangkok gain lucratively from taxing legal industries that benefit from the prevalence of sex tourism, but Bangkok can also earn substantial tax revenues directly from the sex industry. With a continual rise in financial capacity, Bangkok can capitalize on the tax revenue gains on addressing the socioeconomic root causes of prostitution and sex trafficking, including extreme rural poverty, under- or unemployment and educational exclusion against some marginalized and disadvantaged Thai nationals.

Legalizing prostitution does not implicate that Bangkok tolerates sex work more, as same as criminalizing paid sex has failed to minimize such a form of commercial activity. Legalizing prostitution may, nevertheless, help sustainably protect the rights and safety of prostitutes as now they are able to engage in commercial sex above the ground level. Whenever they experience any form of exploitation or abuse, they have the legal right to seek help from local law enforcement authorities. Police officers lose the bargaining power to solely protect the interests of prostitutes under the condition that bribes could be paid. As a result, prostitutes can avoid being financially exploited by both corrupt law enforcement officers and the institutionally unequal power relations that place them in such a limbo. Moreover, like in Indonesia, despite some provincial and local governments imposing commercial sex criminalization, at the national level, prostitution is decriminalized. All Indonesian sex laborers working in regulated brothels have to undertake mandatory, regular HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing in order to protect the sexual health of those engaging in commercial sex. Decriminalizing prostitution in Thailand allows the country to follow the footsteps of Indonesia to better and clearly regulate the sexual health policies within the sex industry (Global Network of Sex Work Projects, n.d.).

Vietnamese officials denounced that underground activities of commercial sex were overly rampant when prostitution was outlawed in their country. Allowing prostitution to operate above the ground level in certain pre-determined areas has been proven to be effective in containing the expansion of commercial sex services in Vietnam over the most recent decade (City Pass Guide, n.d.). In 2012, Hanoi passed the Law on Handling Administrative Violations that decriminalized the selling and purchasing of commercial sex ( International Centre for Cultural Studies, 2022 ). Other activities such as pimping, procuring and being involved in underage commercial sex have remained criminalized ( International Centre for Cultural Studies, 2022 ). Such legal endeavors have resulted in proven successes in Vietnam and should be learnt by Bangkok shall Thailand officially legalize prostitution. In order to maintain the protection of human rights, it is of utmost importance to combat any form of sex trafficking, including child trafficking, in Thailand. Bangkok's proposed law to allow those aged 20 or above to sell sex voluntarily hints that the Government intends to allow better regulation and tolerance of sex work while combating any form of sex trafficking, including child trafficking, activities. So long as Thai nationals or foreign nationals in Thailand are maturely aged, the Thai general public should learn that these individuals have full control of their self-agency even if their behaviors (i.e. selling sex) are challenging the moral values and social norms. It is not because the provision of commercial sex should now be deemed socially and morally acceptable, but, in practice, criminalization of prostitution and building a zero-tolerance of sex work are proven to be ineffective and fruitless. Allowing those meeting a pre-set age requirement to sell their bodies voluntarily while criminalizing any form of sex trafficking activities should, in theory, help legally empower sex workers and keep any challenges against moral values and social norms of society to a minimum level.

When prostitution is outlawed, conventional sex establishments' owners can easily circumnavigate laws. For example, in the Philippines, having sex with a girl under the age of 18 is regarded as rape. The involvement in influencing any girls under the age of 18 to undertake sexual intercourse is deemed sex trafficking. Therefore, Philippine bar managers exploit the legal loopholes and commonly present girls under the age of 18 as entertainers rather than sex workers. A patron paying money to bar managers by taking the girl away from the entertainment establishment is marketised as giving “fines” ( Redfem and The Fuller Project, 2019 ). By exploiting these legal loopholes, while Manila passed the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 , ample underage girls have remained engaged in commercial sex, without any party assuming the legal consequences of sex trafficking ( Paramanand, 2019 ). Bangkok should learn the lesson from the Philippine example and concentrate primarily on curbing sex trafficking activities while protecting the labor rights and safety of above-age prostitutes. More teenagers deciding to enter the sex industry in order to earn “quick and easy” money to support their own families' subsistence needs may plausibly be encouraged to postpone their entry into prostitution until the legal age requirement is satisfied. Moreover, without assuming the responsibilities of arresting and sanctioning above-age prostitutes, relevant Thai law enforcement departments, who are, as a status quo , often subject to understaffed and underfunded challenges, can now have sufficient capacity to focus on combating anti-trafficking, including anti-child sex trafficking, activities ( Thai PBS World, 2023 ). Law enforcement endeavors on containing illegal sex work shall become more feasible and effective.

Under the 1996 Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act enacted by Bangkok, prostitution is prohibited. Any person soliciting sex could be fined. Pimps could be fined and imprisoned for up to 10 years. Commercial sex clients having intercourse with children under the age of 15 could be fined and spend up to 6 years in prison. Those having sex with children aged between 15 and 18 could be fined and sentenced to imprisonment for no more than 3 years ( Reyes, 2015 ). These punitive terms should all remain, or even tighten, except for the legalization of engagement in commercial sex once the prostitutes reach the age of 20. In the long term, such a legislative intervention should allow paid sex to take place above the ground level while heavily sanctioning any party who is involved in sex trafficking.

Conclusions

Ideally passing the proposed law of legalizing prostitution should help Thailand achieve better societal outcomes. However, even if such a bill is not passed, Thai lawmakers should be urged to decriminalize prostitution. Only by destigmatising prostitutes from being labeled as criminals, can sex workers safeguard their labor rights, health and wellbeing when needed. Also, decriminalization or legalization of prostitution, as said, will enable the underresourced and understaffed law enforcement authorities to enjoy an adequate capacity to combat sex trafficking activities, minimizing the risks and odds of anyone being involved in paid sex without their own legal consent.

Decriminalization or legalization of prostitution, by no means, hints at Bangkok's decision to loosen its commercial sex regulations. Such a legal intervention, however, should facilitate the justice system to better systematically and institutionally contain any unlawful act of paid sex and ensure that whoever participating in sex trafficking is severely sanctioned.

Ostensibly the proposed law does not cover the benefits and safety of those under the age of 20. Yet, from an ethical, moral and religious perspective, there is no supporting reason to allow socially disadvantaged Thai women and girls at a premature age to legally engage in commercial sex. Those who are underage, especially, are defined as sex trafficking victims if they take part in prostitution, regardless of whether they enter the sex industry coercively or voluntarily. Sex trafficking remains severely legally sanctioned within and beyond Thailand in order to protect the safety and health of premature girls, especially those of socially disadvantaged origins. Proposing the legal age for prostitution at 20 years old enables those who are lacking life opportunities and financial resources to consider if they would like to enter the sex industry non-coercively. The proposed law, simultaneously, prohibits underage girls to engage in commercial sex so as to avoid them from being subject to child sexual abuse and exploitation. Ultimately, if this proposed law is enacted, those who meet the age requirement and are already in, or considering to enter, the prostitution can enjoy more legal protection within the industry.

Author contributions

The author confirms being the sole contributor of this work and has approved it for publication.

Conflict of interest

The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Underage prostitution in Thailand: the consequence of a mass sex tourism

Written by Lola Favre 

Translated by Kaouther Bouhi

Thailand is a dream destination for many travel enthusiasts. If for years this country has been attracting tourists from all over the world, it is not only for its beautiful scenery, but also for its offer of prostitutes that people that we will name sex tourists are seeking. What are the realities behind this phenomenon? We will seek to discover how mass tourism has led to an industry of sexual exploitation in which thousands of children are involved, with a specific look at the situation in Thailand, one of the major hubs of this traffic.

Sex tourism and sexual exploitation of children: a global phenomenon

Let us start with a few definitions. Child sex tourism refers to a trip made by a person, or a group of people, to have sexual relations with minors. As for the business of sexual exploitation of children, this term encompasses all the phenomenon of lucrative exploitation of children for sexual purposes such as underage prostitution, child sexual abuse, child trafficking for sexual exploitation and sexual exploitation in the context of tourism, etc.

Sex tourism and the business of sexual exploitation of children are global phenomena. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that 20% of the 600 million annual international travels are linked to sex tourism. 3% of them are motivated by the quest of minors, which is equivalent to 3 million of people travelling for this sole purpose [1] SIGAUD Dominique, La mal édiction d’être fille , Paris, Albin Michel, p. 201. According to UNICEF, one million children enter, each year, the sex industry [2] POULIN Richard, “La mondialisation du marché du sexe”, 2002, Actuel Marx , no. 31, pp. 109-122. . Furthermore, between two and three million minors are victims of sexual exploitation for tourism purposes each year in the world [3] MICHEL Franck, “Faits, effets et méfaits du tourisme sexuel dans le monde”, 2013, Revue internationale et stratégique , n°90, pages 145 à 152. . Lastly, according to figures from 2014, one third of human trafficking victims in the world are involved in sexual exploitation, the majority being girls from Thailand and Laos [4] UNICEF, Situational analysis of the commercial sexual exploitation of children Thailand , novembre 2015, available at: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/SITAN_THAILAND_ENG_FINAL.pdf .

A phenomenon resulting from globalization and the democratization of mass tourism

Globalization has been a contributing factor to the development of sex trade, since it allowed its industrialization, its normalization, and its mass diffusion worldwide. Additionally, under the impact of a liberal economy encouraged by the Thai Government, women and children became “new raw materials” [5] Ibid. , merchandises having the advantage of being simultaneously goods (bodies) and services (sexual services). This is because of this commercialization of bodies that we can talk about a modern form of slavery in which women and children face a systemic exploitation. The business of sexual exploitation spreads on three levels: local, regional, and global.

Forced to repays debts, some States, particularly in Asia or in Latin America, were encouraged by international organizations, such as the IMF or the World Bank, to develop their tourism and entertainment supply. If the goal was not to push States to develop their prostitution supply, it led to the informal launch of the sex industry. The States did not hinder it much, as long as it brought economic benefits. In this regard, we can talk about a real development strategy [6] POULIN Richard, “La mondialisation du marché du sexe” Actuel Marx , 2002, no 31, pp. 109-122 .

The democratization of tourism and its opening up to the masses have largely boosted this industry that generates billion of dollars, and today the tourism industry is taking advantage of it. Hotel chains, airlines, or the States are making profits on the sex tourists’ expenditures. In 1998, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that prostitution represented between 2 and 14% of Thailand’s GDP [7] POULIN Richard, “La marchandisation prostitutionnelle mondiale, violence, marché et crime organisé”, 2004, Les temps modernes , no. 626, pp 191-214 . The development of sex tourism is so high that today tour operators are offering it [8] MICHEL Franck, “Le tourisme sexuel en Thaïlande : une prostitution entre misère et mondialisation”, 2003, Teoros , no. 22, pp. 22-28. .

Thailand, a top destination for sex tourism

Thailand has long been a very popular tourist destination for travelers from all over the world. Indeed, Bangkok was the most visited city in 2013 [9] UNICEF, Situational analysis of the commercial sexual exploitation of children Thailand , November 2015, available at: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/SITAN_THAILAND_ENG_FINAL.pdf . Yet, as tourism increases, the risk of sexual exploitation of children does too. As proof, Thailand is said to be the country with the most child sexual abuse committed by tourists [10] MICHEL Franck, “Faits, effets et méfaits du tourisme sexuel dans le monde”, 2013, Revue internationale et stratégique , no. 90, pp. 145-152. .

Although prostitution is illegal in Thailand, in practice, sexual services are openly offered, including services with children. Consequently, the country is also a prime destination for sex tourists, especially the cities of Pattaya, Phuket, and Bangkok.

Most sex tourists are men, only one in ten sexual tourists is a woman [11] UNICEF, Situational analysis of the commercial sexual exploitation of children Thailand , November 2015, available at: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/SITAN_THAILAND_ENG_FINAL.pdf .

There are two types of profiles of sex tourists for children. The firsts would be the tourists that we can categorize as opportunists. They are travelers that did not came with the firm intention to have paid sexual relations with children, and who have, for that matter, no particular interest in them but seize the opportunity to take advantage of a vulnerable child. In contrast, for the second ones, they are people who have a demonstrated preference for children and travel with the intention to commit pedophile acts.

According to the special rapporteur of the Protocol on the selling of children, child prostitution and child pornography (Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography), Australians would form the most important group of sex tourists, representing 31% of their entirety in 2012 [12] Ibid. . The NGO FACE (Fight Against Child Exploitation) has also found, in 2009, that most sex tourists come from Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom [13] Ibid. .

If Thailand is so attractive for sex tourists, it is because it is easy and inexpensive to access sexual services, whether it is with children or adults.

Consequently, child prostitution is widespread in Thailand

They are various figures on the numbers of children concerned by child prostitution and sexual exploitation; however, they all reveal that it is a massive phenomenon. According to figures from 2001, 25 000 to 30 000 girls below 15 years old and 30 to 50 000 boys or young men meet the needs of pedophile and/or homosexual customers in Thailand [14] MICHEL Franck, “Le tourisme sexuel en Thaïlande : une prostitution entre misère et mondialisation”, 2003, Teoros , no. 22, pp. 22-28. In 2007, it was reported that 60 000 of young peo ple below the age of 18 are involved in the prostitution system, which is equivalent to 40% of all the individuals that prostitute themselves in the country [15] ECPAT International, Status of action against commercial sexual exploitation of children, Thaïland , 2011, available at: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/a4a_v2_eap_thailand_1.pdf . In some regions, such as Pattaya, Phuket, or even the North of Thailand, children, and particularly those who come from ethnic minorities, are vulnerable. Street children are the main targets managers and producers of child pornography. In Pattaya in 2015, 90% of 200 street children were victims of sexual exploitation [16] UNICEF, Situational analysis of the commercial sexual exploitation of children Thailand , November 2015, available at: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/SITAN_THAILAND_ENG_FINAL.pdf . It involved for the most part boys from the age of 12 to 17 years old [17] UNICEF, Situational analysis of the commercial sexual exploitation of children Thailand , November 2015, available at: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/SITAN_THAILAND_ENG_FINAL.pdf .

Prostitution in Thailand encompasses both girls and boys, even if the figures regarding boys are less abundant. Poverty seems to remain the main factor that causes prostitution. Child prostitution brings more than that of the adults, this is why some families prostitute their children to meet their needs. Yet, it would also seem that some children or teenagers are prostituting themselves of their own free will to buy themselves consumption goods that they would not be able to afford otherwise, or to pay their tuition fees for University.  

A major hub of traffic and sexual exploitation of children

With a market that spreads on local, regional and international levels, sexual exploitation allows Thailand to be both a traffic source, since Thai children are sent to Japan, Malaysia or Hong Kong, a transit country with nearly a quarter of a million of women and children from South-East Asia that are being bought [18] POULIN Richard, “La mondialisation du marché du sexe”, 2002, Actuel Marx , no 31, pp. 109-122.

and a destination for sexual abuse towards children.

According to UNICEF, the traffic of Thai children for purposes of prostitution within the country has decreased, on behalf of the traffic of foreign children, coming from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. The opening of borders has made it possible to young people, particularly girls, of foreign background to come to the land of the eternal smile in hopes of making money. Traffickers promise them a job in catering for example, but, in reality, they are propelled directly in the sex industry. Immigrants and undocumented migrants, they then become sexual slaves.

Conclusion: the fight against child prostitution in sex tourism

Signatory States of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child , of which Thailand is a part, agreed to take measures to prevent “children from being encouraged or forced to engage in an illegal sexual activity; children from being exploited within the frame of prostitution or other illegal sexual practices ; children from being exploited in order to produce shows or any other materiel with pornographical nature [19] United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child , UNICEF, 1989, available at: https://www.unicef.fr/sites/default/files/convention-des-droits-de-lenfant.pdf ”. Regarding Thailand, the government seems to be taking measures to respect its commitments. Indeed, many of the domestic legal acts that are supposed to protect children from prostitution, just like the law on the prevention and repression of prostitution (1996), of the Penal Code, the Child Protection Act (2003), the Child and Youth Development Act (2007), and the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (2015).

If it has been recognized that Thailand has created tools to act in favor of child protection, a report from UNICEF has also revealed that the latter lack sufficient detail, regarding the procedures, which will need to be subjected to decrees or directives. The report also shows a lack of practical and theoretical knowledge from policymakers on the issues encountered by the children and a lack of interministerial cooperation, which undermines the soundness of the policies. Finally, the financial means granted are insufficient. In 2012, the Ministry responsible for these issues obtained only 0.4% of the total national budget [20] UNICEF, Situational analysis of the commercial sexual exploitation of children Thailand, November 2015, available at: … Continue reading . The measures remain not very effective because they are being ignored both by the traffickers of the sex industry, and the tourists and the government itself that looks the other way [21] LAU Carmen, “Child prostitution in Thailand”, 2008, Journal of Child Health Care , vol. 12, pp 144-155.

It is a phenomenon with easy and strong economic profitability that is difficult to stop. International organizations such as ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and trafficking of children for sexual purposes), the International Labour Organization or UNICEF share the common mission to fight child sex tourism by fighting for the application of international laws but still face many obstacles.

These past years, it appears that the prime destinations of sex tourism are now in countries where the legislative system is less restrictive and little controlled, such as Cambodia or Laos. A phenomenon that reminds us that vigilance and the fight against this practice must not stop.

Bibliography:

• SIGAUD Dominique, La malédiction d’être fille, Paris, Albin Michel, 2019

Articles :

• LAU Carmen, “Child prostitution in Thailand”, 2008, Journal of Child Health Care . Vol. 12, pp. 144-155.
• MICHEL Franck, “Faits, effets et méfaits du tourisme sexuel dans le monde”, 2013, Revue internationale et stratégique , no. 90, pp. 145- 152
• MICHEL Franck, “Le tourisme sexuel en Thaïlande : une prostitution entre misère et mondialisation”, 2003, Teoros , no. 22, pp. 22-28.
• POULIN Richard, “La mondialisation du marché du sexe”, 2002, Actuel Marx , no. 31, pp. 109-122.
• ECPAT International, Status of action against commercial sexual exploitation of children, Thaïland, 2011, URL : https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/a4a_v2_eap_thailand_1.pdf

Instrument of international law:

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF, 1989, URL: https://www.unicef.fr/sites/default/files/convention-des-droits-de-lenfant.pdf

To cite this article : Lola FAVRE, “Underage prostitution in Thailand: the consequence of a mass sex tourism”, 03.10.2020, Gender in Geopolitics Institute.

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How The Pandemic Has Upended The Lives Of Thailand's Sex Workers

Many of them left rural areas to earn their living in the sex trade and send money home to help their families. COVID-19 restrictions have changed all that.

Mos, 26, was a "moneyboy" — a sex worker — at a gay bar in the Thai tourist hub of Pattaya. For him, it was a dream come true. Now the pandemic has put his dream on hold.

Mos grew up in a poor province on Thailand's northeastern border, eating fish from the river and leaves foraged from the forest. He wanted to eat pork and pizza.

When he graduated from high school, he moved to Pattaya and became a sex worker. He says the job was fun, and the pay was great. He saved up enough money to build a cement house for his family in the countryside. He promised his younger siblings he would send them to college.

"I'm very proud of that," he says.

Indeed, for people in rural, landlocked provinces, Thailand's tourist hubs offered good-paying jobs for those otherwise facing a life of tending rice paddies and digging up cassava roots — the lives they grew up with and their parents still toiled in.

Mos is one of an estimated 200,000 to more than 1 million sex workers in Thailand, including full-time sex workers affiliated with bars, freelancers supplementing their regular income with occasional prostitution and migrants from bordering countries.

Sex work is practiced openly in the country, but it is illegal and subject to fines or, in rare cases, imprisonment. About 24,000 people were arrested, fined or prosecuted in 2019, according to the Royal Thai Police. Mos and many of the people we interviewed for this article asked that their full names not be used. In many parts of Thailand, the family name has been shamed by association with a stigmatized, illegal business, and individuals have been disowned by their families or ostracized by their community.

Working in the bars of the red-light district pays more than many office jobs or other service work that the women and men in Thailand's sex industry would otherwise qualify for. Sex work has allowed them to save money, buy themselves luxuries and support their parents and grandparents in retirements of ease.

While revenue for underground activities is difficult to measure, a 2015 analysis by Havocscope, a research company that studies the black market, estimated the Thai sex trade to be worth $6.4 billion a year, or about 3% of the country's gross domestic product.

But now the international sex industry has come to a halt.

It's not because Thailand is seeing high numbers of coronavirus cases. Since the start of the pandemic, Thailand has had about 20,000 confirmed cases and 77 deaths.

Rather, it's the strict measures Thailand has taken to keep the coronavirus at bay.

In March and April, Thailand closed its borders and canceled commercial flights because of the global pandemic. The country's tourism industry — which is entwined with the sex worker industry — collapsed. (While prostitution exists for the domestic Thai market, it is separate from the red-light districts of Thailand's tourist hubs, which cater almost exclusively to foreign visitors.)

More than 10 months later, the country remains largely closed to international tourism. A new wave of infections within Thailand in December has led to renewed lockdowns in several provinces. Pattaya was declared a maximum control zone on Dec. 31 after 144 cases were recorded in the district, closing most public venues, including bars. The country began lifting restrictions in late January.

In April, with rent in Pattaya adding up while he earned no money, Mos piled into a car with a few friends and went back to his hometown, where he now helps his parents sell papaya salad at a street side stall. By October, he had run down his savings.

He longs to go back to his job in Pattaya. "I would love to," Mos said. But he watches the news in Europe and the U.S. with dismay; deadly second waves and new lockdowns mean Thailand would not be opening its borders to tourists any time soon.

According to government data analyzed by Dr. Yongyuth Chalamwong, research director for the Thailand Development Research Institute, an estimated 1.6 million people have returned from Thailand's tourist areas to the countryside. Those who found a way to stay — by piling into shared rented rooms, sleeping in hallways and cutting their meals to one or two a day — are barely hanging on.

At 11 a.m. at a bar on Soi 6, Pattaya's main red-light strip, the dancers who had moved into the spare rooms upstairs were just waking up, bleary eyed and untangling themselves from rumpled blankets printed with Disney princesses or SpongeBob SquarePants. The women were still in big T-shirts and basketball shorts or loose cotton dresses, their platform heels stacked on the steps of the hot pink-painted stairwell. A washing machine filled with last night's uniform of short shorts and crop tops rumbled in the hall.

Downstairs at the bar, the metal gate was rolled halfway up as the dancers got ready for another shift. One woman flat-ironed another's hair as she ate a breakfast of hot noodle soup. Others perched on barstools in front of the mirrors, applying makeup while Thai pop songs played from their phones.

N., 28, who asked that only her first initial be used, says that before the pandemic, "the men would just walk in." They'd buy the women drinks, for which they would earn a 50-baht ($1.60) commission. Perhaps a patron might hire one of them for the evening. On a good night, these sex workers could make as much as 3,000 to 6,000 baht, $100 to $200.

The night before, a Friday, most of them had made no money at all.

They were all working harder and earning less, N. says. There were about a dozen women at each of the Soi 6 bars that managed to stay open, fewer than before, but far outnumbering the foreign customers, most of whom were expats living in Pattaya or visitors from Bangkok.

"Boys, boys, boys, where are you going," the women said as a couple of men strolled by. "I love you!" they yelled at strangers. They pretended to swoon and called every passing man handsome. One woman, tilting on her stilettos, tugged with her full might at a man's arm to pull him in and perhaps oblige him to buy her a shot. He wrestled his arm free and walked on.

Rob, a 59-year-old Australian retiree and regular patron of the bars of Soi 6, who asked not to use his last name because of the sex industry's illegality, says only about a quarter of the bars are open and a quarter of the women have come back to work in them. Retirees on fixed pensions like himself can't make up for the droves of lost international clientele.

"I'm trying my hardest," Rob says, but there's only so much a man can drink — nor does he have the money to hire the women from the bars.

Rob says he can't compete with the clients that those in the industry call "Two-Week Millionaires" — foreign sex tourists.

Timmy, the bar's British manager, who asked that his last name not be used, says they're now left with "Cheap Charlies," low-income expats who sit at the bar nursing a Coke Zero, leering, while declining to buy the dancers drinks.

"It's getting deader and deader," Timmy says.

As much as tourist cities like Pattaya are suffering, the strict measures at the border have been effective in helping to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Thailand. Jessica Vechbanyongratana, a labor economist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, emphasized that keeping the borders closed at the expense of the tourism industry allowed the rest of the economy to reopen. Tourism is a large part of the economy, she says, "but it is not the entire economy."

Before the round of new restrictions that began in late December, which are now in the process of being lifted, Thailand's strict measures had allowed a level of normalcy to return to everyday life. Outside tourist areas, offices and government buildings were open and the malls and markets were crowded. In Bangkok, the capital, the streets were clogged with traffic, and the subway system was packed with riders. At bars and restaurants, people gathered freely.

The sense of safety is something a majority of Thais are keen to protect. An October 2020 poll by the National Institute for Development Administration, an educational institution, found that 57% of Thais did not want to open the country to tourism, another 20% slightly agreed that it would bring money in, but stressed the need for restrictions. And 22% agreed with opening the country to help in the economy during the pandemic.

"People who have nothing to do with tourism would not understand the need to open the country," says Pornthip Hirankate, vice president of marketing at the Tourism Council of Thailand, an industry group. She is referring to Thai citizens who do not work in the tourism industry and benefit from keeping the borders closed.

All this has left those in the international sex industry to find ways to make do. Some have moved their services online, or turned to the domestic market with new small businesses, like selling food.

At another bar a few doors down, one of the dancers propped a cellphone up against an overstuffed makeup case surrounded with half-drunk cups of bubble tea. It was mid-afternoon in Europe — prime time for the women to start performing Facebook Lives. They twisted into the camera, their skin tinged hot pink by the bar's neon lights, hoping to entice a man idly watching on the other side of the world to buy them a shot, paid through PayPal. It's money, but not nearly as much as before.

In Pattaya, the word "Covid" is drifting into a shorthand for economic hardship. Why did they move out of their apartments and into the rooms upstairs from the bar? "Covid." When one of the dancers shook a ceramic piggy bank I had just bought from a street vendor and heard no coins rattling inside, she laughed. "No money! Covid."

M., 37, used to work in an office, but she earned more as a topless dancer in one of Pattaya's go-go bars, and by taking on sex work. Before the pandemic she was saving money to buy more farmland for her family and dreaming of her own rubber tree plantation.

Now, she says, "It's all upside down. Covid." She wired 3,000 baht ($100) she earned in the previous two weeks back to her mother and son, leaving her with 100 baht ($3.30), relying on the hope of making some money that night. If it went on like this, she would have to move back to the province and help her mother tend their small plot of rubber trees.

Vechbanyongratana, the labor economist, says that for people in agricultural areas, migrating to jobs in tourism or manufacturing has long been a strategy for families to earn money. In an economic crisis, like what's unfolding now, "the agricultural household can act as a buffer" against economic shocks. As in previous crises, people who migrated to the cities for work in higher-paying industries can return home to simple lives on their family farms to weather times of hardship.

Three hundred and fifty miles north of Bangkok, in Isaan, a landlocked district of rice paddies and sugarcane fields in northeastern Thailand, a 26-year-old woman whose first name is the letter "A," sat on the floor of her family's porch peeling betel nut and grinding limestone to make into traditional Thai betel chew for her grandmother. Since A moved back in February, she's been spending her time taking care of her grandmother and helping her parents and cousins in the fields.

A moved to Phuket when she was 17. With the help of her aunt, who worked at a massage parlor, A got a job as a dancer in one of the island's bars, where she worked until she met her boyfriend, a German man who sent her a monthly stipend that allowed her to work at a souvenir shop instead, where she made less money.

A's boyfriend was visiting Thailand in February and March as the scale of the pandemic started to unfold. As a foreigner, the Thai people they met eyed him suspiciously. They asked her how long he'd been in the country, trying to determine if he was a disease vector. When she brought him back to her family home in Isaan, A's mother decamped to the local temple, afraid she would catch COVID-19 from him.

A knows the hardship the pandemic inflicts on people like her. Her friends, mostly dancers in Phuket who'd lost their jobs, flooded her with Facebook messages, desperate and asking for money. The souvenir shop where she worked shut down.

Some of her friends signed up for emergency relief from the government, though that ran out after three months — and many sex workers with informal jobs did not qualify. Others took donations of food from charities, but within a few months that ran out, too. Most are just making do with less in their home provinces, setting up small shops selling milk tea or grilled fish balls, making 100 baht ($3.30) in a day when they used to make $100.

A's boyfriend, who went back to Germany in March, had to cut her stipend from about $1,000 a month to $150 every week or two, as his business struggled. Her backup plan of opening a food stand in front of her family home stalled; she only had enough money to buy three of the four cement posts she needs to build it, and they were stacked in the yard, muddy, vines beginning to climb up their sides.

Still, A supports Thailand's strict measures against the coronavirus. "It's better to close the border," she says. While she understands that it's tough and she pities the people who have lost their jobs, she prefers safety to the money tourists would bring in.

And at least there is an option for many of the sex workers from rural parts of the country, she says: "They can go back home."

Additional reporting by Suchada Phoisaat in Bangkok and Pattaya; and Hathairat Phaholtap in Isan.

Aurora Almendral is an American journalist based in Southeast Asia with an interest in politics, climate change, migration and economics. Her work has been recognized with multiple awards, including from the Overseas Press Club of America and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.

Allison Joyce is an American photojournalist with over a decade of experience working in the United States and internationally. She covers news and human rights stories throughout the region with a special focus on gender issues. In 2019 she was nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass, and her work has been honored with multiple awards, including from POYI (Pictures of the Year International), South Asian Journalists Association and the NYPPA (New York Press Photographers Association).

Prostitution In Thailand: History, Legal Status and Social Impact

For decades, Thailand has been a popular destination for sex tourism, attracting men (mostly) from around the world who seek the services of Thai sex workers.

But what are the origins of the industry in Thailand, and what is the legal status of prostitution in Thailand today?

In this article, I explore the history of prostitution, its legal status, and its impact on society.

Note: The woman in the image above is a model used to represent the subject of this article.

The Origins of Prostitution in Thailand

The ayutthaya period.

The Ayutthaya period (1351 to 1767) was a time of significant social and cultural changes in Thailand (formerly known as Siam). Prostitution played a prominent role in the society of the time and was considered a legitimate profession.

During the Ayutthaya period, prostitution was legal and regulated by the government. Prostitutes were required to register with the local authorities, and were subject to periodic health checks to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

The government collected taxes from the brothels and prostitutes, and the industry was viewed as an important source of revenue for the state.

Prostitution during the Ayutthaya period was also intertwined with religion and culture. The temple of Wat Phra Kaew , which housed the famous Emerald Buddha, was located in an area that was known for its brothels. It was common for men to visit the brothels after making offerings at the temple, as a way of balancing their spiritual and physical needs.

Prostitutes during the Ayutthaya period were known as “phrai luang,” which translates to “royal servants.” They were often trained in music, dance, and other arts, and were expected to entertain their clients as well as provide sexual services. Some prostitutes rose to prominence and became wealthy, and there are stories of powerful men who fell in love with them and elevated them to positions of influence.

The word for prostitute in Thai is “โสเภณี” (pronounced “soh-pa-nii”). However, it's worth noting that this word can be considered derogatory and offensive, and it's generally more polite to use euphemisms such as “women in the entertainment industry”, “lady of the night”, or “sex worker” instead.

Under King Chulalongkorn

After the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767, the country went through a period of political turmoil and instability. It was not until the establishment of the Chakri Dynasty in 1782 that Thailand (formerly Siam) began to rebuild and modernize.

During this period of modernization, attitudes towards prostitution began to shift.

In 1905, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) introduced a series of social and legal reforms that aimed to modernize the country and improve the lives of its citizens. One of these reforms was the abolition of state-controlled prostitution.

Under this new system, prostitution was no longer regulated by the government and became illegal. However, the reality was that prostitution continued to exist, but it was driven underground and became more dangerous for the women involved. Women were no longer able to access health checks or legal protection, and were more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

Under King Mongkut  (Rama IV)

King Mongkut, also known as Rama IV, ruled Thailand (formerly known as Siam) from 1851 to 1868. He is known for his efforts to modernize the country and bring it into the international community.

During his reign, King Mongkut recognized the negative impact that prostitution was having on society. He believed that prostitution was a moral and social issue that needed to be addressed, rather than simply a matter of law enforcement. He implemented several measures to try to reduce the prevalence of prostitution and improve the lives of sex workers.

One of the measures King Mongkut introduced was the establishment of “protection houses” for women who wanted to leave the sex trade. These houses provided shelter, education and vocational training for women, and helped them to find other sources of income. The king also encouraged the development of other industries, such as textiles and agriculture, as a way of providing alternative employment opportunities for women.

In addition to these efforts, King Mongkut also made it clear that he did not support the exploitation or mistreatment of sex workers. He issued a royal decree that prohibited the use of force or deception to recruit women into the sex trade, and he encouraged the use of condoms to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Despite these efforts, prostitution continued to exist during King Mongkut's reign. However, his policies helped to improve the lives of some sex workers, and set the stage for further reforms in the years to come.

Today, King Mongkut is remembered as a progressive and forward-thinking ruler who worked to improve the lives of his subjects, including those who were most vulnerable.

The Influence of the Vietnam War

The Vietnam War , which took place from 1955 to 1975, had a significant impact on the modernization of prostitution in Thailand.

During the war, the US military stationed tens of thousands of troops in Thailand, many of whom sought the services of Thai sex workers. This led to a significant increase in demand for prostitution, particularly in areas near US military bases.

To meet this demand, the sex industry in Thailand grew rapidly, with many women from rural areas moving to cities like Bangkok and Pattaya to work as prostitutes, in the hope of earning more money to support their families.

The Vietnam War also had a significant impact on the political and social landscape of Thailand. The influx of US troops and the growth of the sex industry led to an increase in organized crime, particularly in areas like Pattaya where prostitution was particularly rampant. This, in turn, led to an increase in corruption and violence, which had a negative impact on Thai society.

Prostitution in Modern-Day Thailand

Today, Thailand is one of the world's largest centers of prostitution, attracting thousands of men from around the globe who come to enjoy the services of Thai sex workers. The industry has grown significantly over the years and is now estimated to be worth billions of dollars.

However, the industry remains controversial, and there are ongoing debates about how best to regulate and manage it in a way that ensures the safety and well-being of sex workers while also addressing concerns about human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

Throughout Thailand's history of prostitution, one thing that hasn't changed is that many of the women come from poor backgrounds and may have dependents to support. Most women enter the sex trade as a way to support themselves and their families, and usually have limited education and employment opportunities.

Additionally, young women are often seen as desirable by clients, which can make it difficult for older women to find work in the industry.

However, it is important to note that not all women who work as prostitutes fit this stereotype. Some women choose to work in the sex industry as a way of earning a higher income than they would be able to in other jobs. Additionally, some women are able to earn a significant amount of money through sex work, and may use their earnings to elevate their societal status through the acquisition of assets such as a home, land, car and legitimate business interests.

The Legal Status of Prostitution in Thailand

The legal status of prostitution in Thailand is complex and can be difficult to understand for those who are not familiar with the country's legal system. In general, prostitution is not illegal in Thailand, but many activities associated with it are.

For example, pimping and sex trafficking are both criminal offenses that carry severe penalties, including long prison sentences and heavy fines. Similarly, owning or operating a brothel is also illegal and can result in fines or imprisonment.

Despite the legal restrictions, however, the sex industry in Thailand continues to thrive, largely due to the country's lax enforcement of its prostitution laws. In many parts of Thailand, prostitution is openly practiced, and sex workers can be found on street corners, in bars and in massage parlors.

The Impact of Prostitution on Thai Society

The prevalence of prostitution in Thailand has had a significant impact on the country's social and economic landscape.

On the one hand, prostitution has become a major source of income for many women, particularly those from impoverished rural areas. For these women, prostitution offers a way to support themselves and their families, and often represents their only opportunity to escape poverty.

On the other hand, however, prostitution has also had a negative impact on Thai society. Critics argue that the industry perpetuates gender inequality and objectifies women, and that it encourages the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

In addition, there are concerns that the sex industry in Thailand is a major contributor to human trafficking, particularly of young girls and women who are forced into prostitution against their will.

It should be noted, however, that human trafficking, including that of underage girls, is thought to be more prevalent among migrants from neighboring countries such as Laos and Burma than it is among Thai nationals. While there are certainly cases of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of Thai nationals, the problem is often more severe for migrants who may lack legal status, language skills and social support networks.

Additionally, poverty and economic instability in neighboring countries can push individuals into seeking work opportunities in Thailand, where they may become vulnerable to exploitation by criminal networks.

Trans Women & Gay Men

The word “prostitution” is generally associated with women, and women make up the majority of prostitutes in Thailand. I have therefore focussed this article on women. However, one must recognize that trans women (often referred to as “ladyboys” in Thailand) are a significant presence in the sex industry in Thailand.

Although transgenderism is widely accepted in Thailand, more so than the West, many trans women in Thailand still face discrimination and limited job opportunities due to their gender identity. As a result, they may turn to sex work as a means of making a living.

Trans women in Thailand may work in a variety of settings, including bars, massage parlors and on the streets. They may also work independently as freelancers. Some trans women specialize in providing services to foreign clients, while others work primarily with Thai clients.

However, it is important to note that not all trans women in Thailand work in the sex industry, and that many face significant challenges in their daily lives. Transgender individuals in Thailand often face discrimination and harassment and may struggle to access employment opportunities.

There is also prostitution among gay men in Thailand, although it is less visible than the sex industry involving women. Gay bars and clubs in cities like Bangkok and Pattaya offer services of male sex workers, either on-site or by referral to private apartments or hotels.

Many of the clients come from countries where homosexuality is stigmatized or even criminalized. They seek out the services of male sex workers as a way of exploring their sexuality in a relatively safe and anonymous way.

Notable Research

There is a significant amount of research on prostitution in Thailand, including statistics on the prevalence of sex work, the demographics of sex workers and the impact of the sex industry on the broader economy.

It is difficult to determine the exact number of sex workers in Thailand due to the nature of the industry, which is largely underground and unregulated. Estimates of the number of sex workers in Thailand vary widely, with some sources putting the number at around 200,000, while others suggest that there may be as many as one million sex workers in the country.

According to a 2014 study conducted by the United Nations, there are an estimated 123,530 sex workers in Thailand. However, this figure is widely considered to be an underestimate, as it only includes registered sex workers and does not account for the many women who work in the industry informally or illegally ( 1 ).

Demographics

Another study published in the journal Global Public Health in 2018 found that the majority of sex workers in Thailand are young and poorly educated. The study, which surveyed 487 female sex workers in Bangkok, found that the average age of sex workers was 29 years old, and that the vast majority had less than a high school education ( 2 ).

Economic Impact

In addition to these demographic trends, there is also a significant amount of research on the economic impact of prostitution in Thailand. According to a 2015 report by the Thai government, the sex industry generates an estimated 500 billion baht ($15.6 billion) per year, accounting for roughly 10% of the country's GDP. This revenue is generated through a range of businesses and services, including brothels, massage parlors, and street-based sex work ( 3 ).

Exploitation

It is also important to note that the sex industry in Thailand is often characterized by exploitation and trafficking, and that many women who work in the industry are vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation. According to a report by the International Labor Organization, an estimated 21% of sex workers in Thailand are victims of trafficking, and many others are subject to other forms of exploitation, including debt bondage and physical violence ( 4 ).

The sex industry in Thailand is known to be particularly large and diverse, with sex workers coming from a variety of backgrounds and working in a range of settings, from bars and massage parlors to street corners and brothels. Many sex workers in Thailand are migrants from other countries, such as Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, who may be undocumented and therefore more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

The research on prostitution in Thailand highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of the sex industry, and underscores the need for more research and policy interventions aimed at protecting the rights and well-being of sex workers, and preventing exploitation and trafficking in the industry.

How Sex Workers Are Treated In Thai Society

Prostitution has a complex and somewhat contradictory place in Thai culture.

On the one hand, Thailand is known for its long history of sex work, with some scholars arguing that prostitution has been a part of Thai society for centuries. In fact, some traditional Thai art and literature depict scenes of sexual activity, and some Buddhist texts even mention the existence of prostitutes.

At the same time, however, prostitution is still widely stigmatized in Thai society, particularly outside of the sex industry itself. Many Thais view prostitution as a source of shame and embarrassment, and sex workers are often treated with disdain and disrespect by members of the broader society. This stigma can make it difficult for sex workers to leave the industry or find alternative employment, and can also make it harder for them to access basic services like healthcare and education.

The contradictory attitudes towards prostitution in Thai culture can be seen in the way that the industry is both regulated and criminalized.

While prostitution is technically illegal in Thailand, the government has long struggled to enforce anti-prostitution laws, particularly in areas where sex work is particularly prevalent. As a result, many Thai authorities have adopted a “tolerance” approach, allowing sex work to continue but attempting to regulate it in a way that ensures the safety and well-being of sex workers.

Another reason for the negative attitudes towards sex workers in Thailand is the prevalence of exploitation and trafficking in the industry.

While many sex workers in Thailand are engaged in voluntary work and have chosen this profession as a means of supporting themselves and their families, there are also many women who are forced into sex work through coercion or deception. These women are often the victims of violence and exploitation, and are seen as “less than” by many members of society.

Despite these challenges, there are also many organizations and individuals in Thailand who are working to support and empower sex workers and to combat the stigma and discrimination they face. These efforts are aimed at promoting the rights and well-being of sex workers, and at creating a more just and equitable society for all Thais.

The history of prostitution in Thailand is a long and complex one, with roots dating back centuries. Although prostitution is not technically illegal in Thailand, the industry remains highly controversial, with many aspects of it being illegal under Thai law. The impact of prostitution on Thai society is complex, too, with both positive and negative effects.

Despite the legal and social challenges, the sex industry in Thailand continues to attract millions of visitors each year, and remains a significant part of the country's economy.

As the world continues to grapple with issues related to gender equality, human trafficking and the rights of sex workers, the future of prostitution in Thailand remains uncertain. However, it is clear that the debate surrounding this controversial industry will continue for many years to come.

More Tips for a Better Life in Thailand

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Send Money to Thailand:

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Sex Tourism in Thailand

Inside Asia’s Premier Erotic Playground

by Ronald Weitzer

Published by: NYU Press

Imprint: NYU Press

352 Pages , 6.00 x 9.00 in , 41 b/w illustrations

• 9781479813407
• Published: November 2023
• 9781479813438
• 9781479813414

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• Description

An in-depth portrait of Thailand’s billion-dollar sex industry Thailand is known internationally as a popular sex tourism destination. Yet, despite its size and reputation, remarkably little research has focused on the country’s sex industry over the past two decades. Based on original ethnographic data and other sources, Sex Tourism in Thailand is an expansive yet nuanced study of diverse sex markets and their moral economies. Ronald Weitzer shows that although some of the central pillars of Thailand’s sex industry remain unaltered over the past four decades, in other respects there has been a profound transformation. In the sector oriented toward foreign visitors, the number of sex businesses and independent operators has grown numerically and geographically; customers are increasingly diverse in race and nationality; paid sexual encounters are no longer confined to young Thai women and older white men; transgender women comprise a significant share of the workforce; and technological advances give participants more autonomy than ever before. Sex Tourism in Thailand explores these developments in conjunction with related structural and experiential dimensions in an illuminating account of sexual commerce in Southeast Asia.

Ronald Weitzer is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at George Washington University. He is the author of Legalizing Prostitution: From Illicit Vice to Lawful Business, co-author of Race and Policing in America: Conflict and Reform, and editor of Sex for Sale: Prostitution, Pornography, and the Erotic Dancing.

"Ronald Weitzer has done it again! Sex Tourism in Thailand is a fascinating, innovative study of the socioeconomic organization of the Thai sex industry that is sure to be of interest to scholars. This is by far the most detailed account on the market of the everyday realities that structure the Thai sex industry." ~Susan Dewey, co-author of Women of the Street: How the Criminal Justice-Social Services Alliance Fails Women in Prostitution

"Weitzer presents an authentic account of Thailand’s contemporary sex industry, one that challenges prevailing stereotypes regarding the relationship between sex tourists and local sex workers. A fine example of field work that should inspire all who seek to advance social knowledge and to influence public policy." ~Sheldon X. Zhang, author of Chinese Human Smuggling Organizations: Families, Social Networks, and Cultural Imperatives

" Sex Tourism in Thailand gives us a comprehensive, informative, lucid presentation of Thai sexual commerce that is unique in its style and solid in its interpretation." ~William Jankowiak, editor of Illicit Monogamy: Inside a Fundamentalist Mormon Community

"Weitzer skillfully highlights the ‘polymorphous’ paradigm to identify the structural differences, general patterns, and significant departures in each of the main sectors of the tourist-oriented market in Thailand. Exposing the deleterious effect of criminalization, Sex Work in Thailand also calls for a decriminalization and legalization of prostitution in Thailand" ~Tiantian Zheng, author of Violent Intimacy: Family Harmony, State Stability, and Intimate Partner Violence in Post-Socialist China

"Weitzer turns his empirical gaze to Thailand's sex industry, diving deep into each sector to provide a comprehensive look at recent patterns, changes, and dynamics. His ethnographic research provides welcome attention to the wide diversity within the industry." ~Barbara Brents, co-author of Paying for Sex in a Digital Age: US and UK Perspectives

What you want to see is what you get: realities, representations, and reputations of sex tourism in Bangkok

by Angana Narula

Each year students on the LSE Gender MSc course Sexuality, Gender and Globalisation present independent research papers at an all-day student conference. This year’s conference “Globalising Desire / Locating Power” took place on 29 March 2019 and in this series of posts a selection of students present their interventions from the conference.

If I ask you to picture Thailand, what do you see?

I guarantee at least half of you are picturing a bustling nightlife: cheap drinks, neon lights, flamboyant performances, and women in minimal clothing – sometimes with number stickers plastered across their chests.

I don’t blame you. Thailand possesses the reputation of a country with a thriving, unconfined landscape of sexual exploration, especially in the West. Scholars even report that the sex industry contributes an estimated 10-12% to Thailand’s overall GDP.

As the only Southeast Asian country not colonized, Thailand has historically always been a place people just passed through. The history of the industry can be traced back to the Vietnam War, where entertainment businesses in Bangkok profited off the continuous arrivals of American military personnel, resulting in the creation of Rest and Recreation centers . When the war ended, Thailand reworked its economy to be based on tourism, following advice from the World Bank . Thus, this system of sexual pleasure, powered by the erotic in a militarized context, was reworked to fit the needs of the average white hetero-male who would experience the erotic in a blissful space of tropical exploration instead. The Thai economy became reliant upon the constant arrivals and departures of the temporary white male tourist, and has been ever since.

A sex tourist walks into a bar. He drinks, he dances, he receives the sexual attention he has come to expect and been conditioned to desire. Sound like the beginning of a bad joke? I wish it were.

Photo credit:  BeenToBangkok , Nana Plaza November 2015

In Western popular culture, Bangkok is continuously equated with prostitution and sexual adventures. In the film Hangover 2 , female sex workers are portrayed as one-dimensional; seemingly static and voiceless, they are mere bodies to accompany a hetero-masculine narrative despite the film completely surrounding its plot with Bangkok’s nightlife. In BBC’s sitcom Miranda , a recurring middle-aged white male character is nicknamed Ping Pong Charlie after an adventurous night out in Bangkok. The viewer immediately knows that he has attended one of the city’s infamous ping pong shows. Sex workers in this television series are not even seen (at least they are seen in Hangover 2), but are rather talked about and alluded to, despite having become a crucial component of Charlie’s social identity.

Such representations within Western media only reinforce internalizations that Thailand is a place where one, especially the hetero-male, can embark on a quest of erotic discovery with no consequences. This male seeks youthful, submissive, enthusiastic, “exotic” girls in order to experience sexual adventures he is unable to pursue at home.

The lived experiences of sex workers are unfortunately very different, ruled by impoverishment, exploitation, and a lack of protection from state authorities. What brings a majority of Thai girls to the industry is a mixture of interlinked factors: poverty, familial cultural expectations, and a need for a stable income. Traditionally, the figure of the Thai daughter is that of a self-sacrificing female, whose income is used to care for, and uphold, domestic and family stability ( Muecke, 1992 ). Families will often persuade their daughters to migrate to urbanized areas such as Bangkok to work as sex workers, where income is higher than average minimum-wage occupations such as waitressing. Thai sex workers working in areas such as Patpong, Nana, and Asok are usually from a lower socio-economic background, with families residing in the Northeast provinces – a region adversely affected by poverty and poor government policies toward agriculture. Sex workers fundamentally carry two economic systems on their shoulders : the rural Thai family and the very nation these families inhabit.

In an academic study, Bishop and Ryan’s interview with sex worker Nong revealed that she was once almost strangled by a customer, ending the conversation with declarations that she had dreams to own a bookstore. While there are organizations such as the  EMPOWER foundation that are successfully changing the dialogue surrounding shame, violence, and gender equality – many sex workers are still caught in webs of vulnerability such as HIV/AIDS, sexual violence, and manipulation.

Just as the tourist rests in a liminal space between host country and home, the sex industry also resides in a space between legal and illegal. Sex workers do not receive protection from state infrastructures, nor the authorities that are meant to uphold the law. Prostitution is illegal under national law, but authorities are often complicit in the operations of local sex establishments . The passage of the Entertainment Act of 1966 effectively legitimized the sex trade. Businesses such as karaoke bars, bath and tea houses, massage parlours, and other such venues were deemed legal by the Royal Thai Government, despite common knowledge that these establishments are infamous for employing, and providing, commercial sex services. The passing of this law also means that owners of sex establishments disguised as entertainment ones are not vulnerable to arrests, though sex workers working within such establishments are. The sex industry is not immune to the plague of Thai corruption, which infects all areas of socio-economic life.

What is more, a common tactic used in domestic tourism adverts is language that actively emphasizes these exotic sexual escapades can happen nowhere else except for Thailand. As articulated by scholar Andrew Alan Johnson, The Tourism Authority’s 2004 campaign “Unseen Paradise / Unseen Thailand” featuring a topless woman was particularly unique because the caption for Western tourists read: “heaven is now possible and right here within your grasp,” different to the one available for Thai tourists. Here, the tourism board is guilty of purposefully manipulating an orientalized and sexualized depiction of what Thailand and its women can “offer” in order to attract foreign consumers. Typing the word “Bangkok” into the Youtube search bar also reveals an array of videos focusing on sex and nighlife, made by owners of establishments in the red light district or Youtubers attracting viewers to their channel.

It seems it is not just Western financial institutions who are complicit in a process of exploitation, but also the Thai state and the people who promote it, drawing tourists into an exotic land based on imaginary fantasies that have not just been historically constructed, but also widely distributed throughout popular culture and consumed on a global scale. What you want to see, it seems, becomes exactly what you get.

Sex workers have come to be conceptualized by the West as exotic and erotic beings, further enabling an industry that thrives on the systematic reinforcement of unequal power relations between the foreign white male and the Thai woman. How sex in Thailand has come to be represented, and the international and domestic systems of inequity that have formed because of those representations, highlights the racialized and orientalist interactions that are still influencing the sex industry today.

For a lot of these women however, the current quick fix is not empowerment, but escape. It is difficult to imagine a scenario where sex workers can be, or feel, empowered when faced with a sexual system beyond their control, one that is still reducing them to exoticised bodies where profits can be derived. As cogs in an economic machine fueled in part by Western white hetero-male sexual fantasy, conditions can only improve if sex is not intertwined with orientalism, and especially if sex is no longer imbued in a state-sponsored narrative which claims that illegal sex work is vital to the survival of Thailand’s economy.

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The secret lives of sex tourists

Not everyone on holiday is looking for a tan. Marius Stankiewicz heads to Thailand’s most notorious red-light districts to speak with tourists who are seeking sex.

More harmful than any gut-emptying tropical disease is the sickness of loneliness, but in Thailand, there could be a quick and easy remedy for that.

The oldest profession in the world is taken to another level in this tropical Southeast Asian country where the cost of living is cheap – and having fun even cheaper.

Millions of tourists from all over the world come to the ‘Land of Smiles’ not only to let loose on the country’s pristine beaches, or to get wasted at full-moon parties, but to experience the seedy underbelly of Thailand’s sex havens.

The most popular places for soliciting sex in Thailand are Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket, where you’ll find massage parlours, ‘go-go’ bars, brothels, freelancing sex workers sauntering along ‘walking streets’ and ping pong shows, a carnal spectacle where women pull off extraordinary stunts with their vaginas.

There are laws in place that can be used to stop such sex-themed businesses from mushrooming and – as many Thai people see it – tarnishing the country’s image. However, these laws are often not enforced meaning that the selling of sex is partially regulated and somewhat tolerated.

It’s in these red-light districts that we meet the men who have come to Thailand in search of something special.

John*, 56, is retired and from Manchester “I’ve been through too much in life, so I came to Bangkok,” says John while sipping a beer at Flann O’Brien’s, an Irish pub located in Patpong. At 56, John is an early retiree who had previously worked as an engineer. He has been through two divorces, has two independent children, and has come in search of his second wind later in life. 

“[I wanted to] find myself a pretty Thai bride, perhaps even have another child. It’s paradise here. I don’t want to think that life is over for somebody my age. I still feel young inside and my [new] wife makes me feel good about myself. Back home, I’m old and worthless – here, at least, I’m appreciated and valued.

“It was once an exchange of money for sex but now it’s money for attention, appreciation and love,” adds John. “That is why Thai ladies like Western men – they have money, and with the money we provide they can support close family and even the extended members in rural areas. I personally find Thai ladies more affectionate and more caring than the ladies I dated [back home].”

Thailand's red-light districts are popular with sex tourists TkKurikawa / Thinkstock

James*, 35, is an industrial electrician from Calgary, Alberta For six months of the year, James does backbreaking labour. The other half he enjoys himself.

“Thai women are beautiful, sexy, compact and well put together,” he says. “[They have] long black hair [and] smooth skin. They age nicely and they do what I want them to do. Dating a girl from back home is excruciatingly difficult and they think too much. Here, it’s simple: I pay them for the limited sexual services, no strings attached, they go home happy and me too,” he adds.

“A woman back home marries for money – nothing else!” exclaims James while giving me a small tour of the area. “In Thailand, it is a lower liability relationship. In Canada you’ll be taken for everything – your money, assets, if you screw up. The women will milk you when all is said and done.

“Here, the women openly establish the fact that money is their primary motive and that they’ll do anything for it; back home, it is obstructed and ambiguous and confusing… because of it being pushed down our throats that we’ll find the one, fall head over heels in love, have a few kids, a lovely marriage, get a mortgage, buy a house – it’s all bullshit!

“Economic propaganda, do anything to keep people in the country, to make the government money from taxes. People need to wake up and smell the coffee. Life could be better away from home. You can create a home away from home, is what I’m saying, and that could be with a Thai woman.

“For me, that temporariness is appealing. Maybe some day I’ll come back and settle down for more than half a year, who knows. My pension in the future won’t grant me any freedoms, any happiness, but here, I could live like a king and pretty much do what I want without ever thinking about my finances.”

Richard*, 55, is a business executive from New York City Richard is a regular guest to Thailand, particularly when he needs to forget that he has an important six-figure job in finance.

“I’m in a very stressful line of work, so I often take short vacations to Phuket," he says. "I usually never come to Patpong or Nana [another entertainment district close to Patpong] as I usually get my ladies from special escort services. They guarantee me the finest and most elegant ladies, ones that speak better English, really know how to charm a guy.

"I could see why some guys are easily put under their spell – they’re really beautiful, and very smart. For me, it’s only a week or two where I could wine and dine, enjoy her company. We have amazing nights at 5-star hotels and after fully decompressing, I return home. Sometimes we keep in touch, but I’ll change them up when I return.”

Michael*, 39, an Australian who has lived in Thailand for 12 years “Of course it may appear like some kind of sexual neo-colonisation,” says Michael. “But at the end of the day, both parties are happy – me with a fantastic night, and she with a nightly wage that some people in Issan [the poorest region in Thailand] would make in a month! If anyone is to blame, it’s the men in power, who, in my opinion, have a ‘look the other way’ policy. They have recognised the problem many times, but do nothing to ensure other work opportunities, perhaps even invite more foreign investment. I don’t know, I’m sounding hypocritical and a part of the problem, but at least I’m happy and she is too.”

*Names have been changed.

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How The Pandemic Has Upended The Lives Of Thailand's Sex Workers

Aurora Amendral

Photos by Allison Joyce

Above: N., a sex worker at a bar in Pattaya, Thailand. The sex trade has offered good-paying jobs for many people from rural areas who were facing a life of tending rice paddies and digging up cassava roots. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

Above: N., a sex worker at a bar in Pattaya, Thailand. The sex trade has offered good-paying jobs for many people from rural areas who were facing a life of tending rice paddies and digging up cassava roots.

Mos, 26, was a "moneyboy" — a sex worker — at a gay bar in the Thai tourist hub of Pattaya. For him, it was a dream come true. Now the pandemic has put his dream on hold.

Mos grew up in a poor province on Thailand's northeastern border, eating fish from the river and leaves foraged from the forest. He wanted to eat pork and pizza.

When he graduated from high school, he moved to Pattaya and became a sex worker. He says the job was fun, and the pay was great. He saved up enough money to build a cement house for his family in the countryside. He promised his younger siblings he would send them to college.

"I'm very proud of that," he says.

The relatively empty Patpong red-light district in Bangkok. In March and April, Thailand closed its borders and canceled commercial flights because of the global pandemic. The country's tourism industry — which is entwined with the sex worker industry — collapsed. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

The relatively empty Patpong red-light district in Bangkok. In March and April, Thailand closed its borders and canceled commercial flights because of the global pandemic. The country's tourism industry — which is entwined with the sex worker industry — collapsed.

Indeed, for people in rural, landlocked provinces, Thailand's tourist hubs offered good-paying jobs for those otherwise facing a life of tending rice paddies and digging up cassava roots — the lives they grew up with and their parents still toiled in.

Mos is one of an estimated 200,000 to more than 1 million sex workers in Thailand, including full-time sex workers affiliated with bars, freelancers supplementing their regular income with occasional prostitution and migrants from bordering countries.

Sex work is practiced openly in the country, but it is illegal and subject to fines or, in rare cases, imprisonment. About 24,000 people were arrested, fined or prosecuted in 2019, according to the Royal Thai Police. Mos and many of the people we interviewed for this article asked that their full names not be used. In many parts of Thailand, the family name has been shamed by association with a stigmatized, illegal business, and individuals have been disowned by their families or ostracized by their community.

Working in the bars of the red-light district pays more than many office jobs or other service work that the women and men in Thailand's sex industry would otherwise qualify for. Sex work has allowed them to save money, buy themselves luxuries and support their parents and grandparents in retirements of ease.

Working in the bars of the red-light district pays more than many office jobs or other service work that the women and men in Thailand's sex industry would otherwise qualify for. Above: Women dance at a bar in the Patpong red-light district in Bangkok. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

Working in the bars of the red-light district pays more than many office jobs or other service work that the women and men in Thailand's sex industry would otherwise qualify for. Above: Women dance at a bar in the Patpong red-light district in Bangkok.

While revenue for underground activities is difficult to measure, a 2015 analysis by Havocscope, a research company that studies the black market, estimated the Thai sex trade to be worth $6.4 billion a year, or about 3% of the country's gross domestic product.

But now the international sex industry has come to a halt.

It's not because Thailand is seeing high numbers of coronavirus cases. Since the start of the pandemic, Thailand has had about 20,000 confirmed cases and 77 deaths.

Rather, it's the strict measures Thailand has taken to keep the coronavirus at bay.

In March and April, Thailand closed its borders and canceled commercial flights because of the global pandemic. The country's tourism industry — which is entwined with the sex worker industry — collapsed. (While prostitution exists for the domestic Thai market, it is separate from the red-light districts of Thailand's tourist hubs, which cater almost exclusively to foreign visitors.)

Before the pandemic, international tourists were frequent visitors to the red-light district. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

Before the pandemic, international tourists were frequent visitors to the red-light district.

More than 10 months later, the country remains largely closed to international tourism. A new wave of infections within Thailand in December has led to renewed lockdowns in several provinces. Pattaya was declared a maximum control zone on Dec. 31 after 144 cases were recorded in the district, closing most public venues, including bars. The country began lifting restrictions in late January.

In April, with rent in Pattaya adding up while he earned no money, Mos piled into a car with a few friends and went back to his hometown, where he now helps his parents sell papaya salad at a street side stall. By October, he had run down his savings.

He longs to go back to his job in Pattaya. "I would love to," Mos said. But he watches the news in Europe and the U.S. with dismay; deadly second waves and new lockdowns mean Thailand would not be opening its borders to tourists any time soon.

An owner of a bar at the Patpong red-light district in Bangkok. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

An owner of a bar at the Patpong red-light district in Bangkok.

According to government data analyzed by Dr. Yongyuth Chalamwong, research director for the Thailand Development Research Institute, an estimated 1.6 million people have returned from Thailand's tourist areas to the countryside. Those who found a way to stay — by piling into shared rented rooms, sleeping in hallways and cutting their meals to one or two a day — are barely hanging on.

At 11 a.m. at a bar on Soi 6, Pattaya's main red-light strip, the dancers who had moved into the spare rooms upstairs were just waking up, bleary eyed and untangling themselves from rumpled blankets printed with Disney princesses or SpongeBob SquarePants. The women were still in big T-shirts and basketball shorts or loose cotton dresses, their platform heels stacked on the steps of the hot pink-painted stairwell. A washing machine filled with last night's uniform of short shorts and crop tops rumbled in the hall.

Shoes line the stairway by the living quarters for sex workers at a bar in Pattaya. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

Shoes line the stairway by the living quarters for sex workers at a bar in Pattaya.

Downstairs at the bar, the metal gate was rolled halfway up as the dancers got ready for another shift. One woman flat-ironed another's hair as she ate a breakfast of hot noodle soup. Others perched on barstools in front of the mirrors, applying makeup while Thai pop songs played from their phones.

N., 28, who asked that only her first initial be used, says that before the pandemic, "the men would just walk in." They'd buy the women drinks, for which they would earn a 50-baht ($1.60) commission. Perhaps a patron might hire one of them for the evening. On a good night, these sex workers could make as much as 3,000 to 6,000 baht, $100 to $200.

The night before, a Friday, most of them had made no money at all.

They were all working harder and earning less, N. says. There were about a dozen women at each of the Soi 6 bars that managed to stay open, fewer than before, but far outnumbering the foreign customers, most of whom were expats living in Pattaya or visitors from Bangkok.

"Boys, boys, boys, where are you going," the women said as a couple of men strolled by. "I love you!" they yelled at strangers. They pretended to swoon and called every passing man handsome. One woman, tilting on her stilettos, tugged with her full might at a man's arm to pull him in and perhaps oblige him to buy her a shot. He wrestled his arm free and walked on.

At a bar in Pattaya, a woman receives a traditional Thai blessing for good luck. The symbolic gesture of having her hands patted with cash at the start of her shift is meant to help bring money into her hands that night. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

At a bar in Pattaya, a woman receives a traditional Thai blessing for good luck. The symbolic gesture of having her hands patted with cash at the start of her shift is meant to help bring money into her hands that night.

Rob, a 59-year-old Australian retiree and regular patron of the bars of Soi 6, who asked not to use his last name because of the sex industry's illegality, says only about a quarter of the bars are open and a quarter of the women have come back to work in them. Retirees on fixed pensions like himself can't make up for the droves of lost international clientele.

"I'm trying my hardest," Rob says, but there's only so much a man can drink — nor does he have the money to hire the women from the bars.

Rob says he can't compete with the clients that those in the industry call "Two-Week Millionaires" — foreign sex tourists.

Timmy, the bar's British manager, who asked that his last name not be used, says they're now left with "Cheap Charlies," low-income expats who sit at the bar nursing a Coke Zero, leering, while declining to buy the dancers drinks.

"It's getting deader and deader," Timmy says.

As much as tourist cities like Pattaya are suffering, the strict measures at the border have been effective in helping to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Thailand. Jessica Vechbanyongratana, a labor economist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, emphasized that keeping the borders closed at the expense of the tourism industry allowed the rest of the economy to reopen. Tourism is a large part of the economy, she says, "but it is not the entire economy."

Before the round of new restrictions that began in late December, which are now in the process of being lifted, Thailand's strict measures had allowed a level of normalcy to return to everyday life. Outside tourist areas, offices and government buildings were open and the malls and markets were crowded. In Bangkok, the capital, the streets were clogged with traffic, and the subway system was packed with riders. At bars and restaurants, people gathered freely.

The sense of safety is something a majority of Thais are keen to protect. An October 2020 poll by the National Institute for Development Administration, an educational institution, found that 57% of Thais did not want to open the country to tourism, another 20% slightly agreed that it would bring money in, but stressed the need for restrictions. And 22% agreed with opening the country to help in the economy during the pandemic.

"People who have nothing to do with tourism would not understand the need to open the country," says Pornthip Hirankate, vice president of marketing at the Tourism Council of Thailand, an industry group. She is referring to Thai citizens who do not work in the tourism industry and benefit from keeping the borders closed.

All this has left those in the international sex industry to find ways to make do. Some have moved their services online, or turned to the domestic market with new small businesses, like selling food.

At another bar a few doors down, one of the dancers propped a cellphone up against an overstuffed makeup case surrounded with half-drunk cups of bubble tea. It was mid-afternoon in Europe — prime time for the women to start performing Facebook Lives. They twisted into the camera, their skin tinged hot pink by the bar's neon lights, hoping to entice a man idly watching on the other side of the world to buy them a shot, paid through PayPal. It's money, but not nearly as much as before.

In Pattaya, the word "Covid" is drifting into a shorthand for economic hardship. Why did they move out of their apartments and into the rooms upstairs from the bar? "Covid." When one of the dancers shook a ceramic piggy bank I had just bought from a street vendor and heard no coins rattling inside, she laughed. "No money! Covid."

Left: M., who asked that her full name not be used, is a dancer and sex worker in Pattaya. It earns her more money than from her previous office job. She chooses clothes from her wardrobe at her home. Right: her room. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

M., 37, used to work in an office, but she earned more as a topless dancer in one of Pattaya's go-go bars, and by taking on sex work. Before the pandemic she was saving money to buy more farmland for her family and dreaming of her own rubber tree plantation.

M. dances at a bar. With her income severely cut during the pandemic, she may have to move back to Isaan, the northeastern region where she grew up, and help her mother tend their small plot of rubber trees. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

M. dances at a bar. With her income severely cut during the pandemic, she may have to move back to Isaan, the northeastern region where she grew up, and help her mother tend their small plot of rubber trees.

Now, she says, "It's all upside down. Covid." She wired 3,000 baht ($100) she earned in the previous two weeks back to her mother and son, leaving her with 100 baht ($3.30), relying on the hope of making some money that night. If it went on like this, she would have to move back to the province and help her mother tend their small plot of rubber trees.

M. gets ready at the bar where she works in a red-light district in Pattaya. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

M. gets ready at the bar where she works in a red-light district in Pattaya.

Vechbanyongratana, the labor economist, says that for people in agricultural areas, migrating to jobs in tourism or manufacturing has long been a strategy for families to earn money. In an economic crisis, like what's unfolding now, "the agricultural household can act as a buffer" against economic shocks. As in previous crises, people who migrated to the cities for work in higher-paying industries can return home to simple lives on their family farms to weather times of hardship.

A poses for a photo at her family farm in a northeastern province. Her first name consists of the single initial. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

A poses for a photo at her family farm in a northeastern province. Her first name consists of the single initial.

Three hundred and fifty miles north of Bangkok, in Isaan, a landlocked district of rice paddies and sugarcane fields in northeastern Thailand, a 26-year-old woman whose first name is the letter "A," sat on the floor of her family's porch peeling betel nut and grinding limestone to make into traditional Thai betel chew for her grandmother. Since A moved back in February, she's been spending her time taking care of her grandmother and helping her parents and cousins in the fields.

A passes paan — a stimulant chew made of betel leaves and other ingredients — to her grandmother. Since moving back to her home village, A spends most of her time taking care of her. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

A passes paan — a stimulant chew made of betel leaves and other ingredients — to her grandmother. Since moving back to her home village, A spends most of her time taking care of her.

A moved to Phuket when she was 17. With the help of her aunt, who worked at a massage parlor, A got a job as a dancer in one of the island's bars, where she worked until she met her boyfriend, a German man who sent her a monthly stipend that allowed her to work at a souvenir shop instead, where she made less money.

A's boyfriend was visiting Thailand in February and March as the scale of the pandemic started to unfold. As a foreigner, the Thai people they met eyed him suspiciously. They asked her how long he'd been in the country, trying to determine if he was a disease vector. When she brought him back to her family home in Isaan, A's mother decamped to the local temple, afraid she would catch COVID-19 from him.

A knows the hardship the pandemic inflicts on people like her. Her friends, mostly dancers in Phuket who'd lost their jobs, flooded her with Facebook messages, desperate and asking for money. The souvenir shop where she worked shut down.

A helps a friend run her stand during a festival in her family's village. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

A helps a friend run her stand during a festival in her family's village.

Some of her friends signed up for emergency relief from the government, though that ran out after three months — and many sex workers with informal jobs did not qualify. Others took donations of food from charities, but within a few months that ran out, too. Most are just making do with less in their home provinces, setting up small shops selling milk tea or grilled fish balls, making 100 baht ($3.30) in a day when they used to make $100.

A's boyfriend, who went back to Germany in March, had to cut her stipend from about $1,000 a month to $150 every week or two, as his business struggled. Her backup plan of opening a food stand in front of her family home stalled; she only had enough money to buy three of the four cement posts she needs to build it, and they were stacked in the yard, muddy, vines beginning to climb up their sides.

Still, A supports Thailand's strict measures against the coronavirus. "It's better to close the border," she says. While she understands that it's tough and she pities the people who have lost their jobs, she prefers safety to the money tourists would bring in.

And at least there is an option for many of the sex workers from rural parts of the country, she says: "They can go back home."

Dogs roam at sunset outside A's grandmother's house in a rural village in the Isaan district. A says life in the countryside is not as much fun as in Phuket, the tourist island known for its nightlife where she lived and worked for most of the last eight years, but that living in her small village close to her family is its own kind of happiness. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

Dogs roam at sunset outside A's grandmother's house in a rural village in the Isaan district. A says life in the countryside is not as much fun as in Phuket, the tourist island known for its nightlife where she lived and worked for most of the last eight years, but that living in her small village close to her family is its own kind of happiness.

Additional reporting by Suchada Phoisaat in Bangkok and Pattaya; and Hathairat Phaholtap in Isan. Aurora Almendral is an American journalist based in Southeast Asia with an interest in politics, climate change, migration and economics. Her work has been recognized with multiple awards, including from the Overseas Press Club of America and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award. Allison Joyce is an American photojournalist with over a decade of experience working in the United States and internationally. She covers news and human rights stories throughout the region with a special focus on gender issues. In 2019 she was nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass, and her work has been honored with multiple awards, including from POYI (Pictures of the Year International), South Asian Journalists Association and the NYPPA (New York Press Photographers Association).

• sex workers
• coronavirus
• red-light district

• A Guide To Bangkoks Red...

A Guide to Bangkok's Red Light Districts

Recent comments from Gambia’s Tourism Minister unintentionally shone the international spotlight on a hushed and illicit industry that has bubbled beneath the surface in Thailand for centuries. “We are not a sex destination,” Minister Hamat Bah told Gambia’s Freedom Newspaper in a January interview urging visitors to not come to the Western African nation under such pretenses. “If you want a sex destination, you go to Thailand.”

It was the latter remark that launched a flurry of diplomatic memos that resulted in the government’s formal apology to the Kingdom, and prompted Thailand’s official tourism body to go on the record that it “strongly opposes any form of sex tourism.”

Opposed or not, Thailand’s sex tourism industry is valued at $6.4 billion a year in revenue as of 2015, in spite of its fringing illegality. Experts warn that the industry has been so tolerated that it is today deeply entrenched, and efforts at regulation should be attempted in lieu of total shutdown. Sudden restrictions, they claim, will likely move the industry underground, increasing risks like disease, fraud, and exploitation among both workers and patrons alike and could encourage human trafficking.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue, the sex tourism industry in Thailand is a significant, if tangential, component of Thailand’s vibrant history, and all roads lead to Bangkok – home to the most active Red Light Districts in the Land of Smiles.

Sex tourism in Thailand

The Ayutthaya Kingdom thrived across Siam from 1351 – 1767 and at the time was the largest and wealthiest trading centre in the East. Its eminence as an international hub helped popularize a sex tourism trade very early on, as widespread prostitution was legal and taxed primarily through state-run brothels.

The development of this industry persisted through the Vietnam War when Thailand became the go-to destination for many American soldiers on R&R, encouraging the growth of go-go bars and sex bungalows in Bangkok. Thailand’s long-pervading Buddhism also played a role in this trend. Strict interpretation of Buddhist doctrine places women as lesser contributors to society, and culturally children are tasked with taking care of aging parents. While this stigma has eased today, the pressure for women to achieve financial stability for themselves or their families helped normalize the industry over time.

Then under pressure from the United Nations, the Thai government formally ruled prostitution illegal in 1960 through a policy later replaced by the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act of 1996. The Act acknowledged the illegality of prostitution de jure, but was written with specific emphasis to criminalize child prostitution and trafficking, and would only occasionally police the operation of other venues and activity catering to “sexpats” and tourists.

Into the 21st century

Bangkok’s most prominent Red Light Districts include Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza, Patpong, and Soi Twilight, as well as other bungalows in Bangkok – all adjacent to one another in the centre of the city. The workers are typically women hailing from rural areas of the country that moved to the city to find work, but with limited education and the absence of other credentials required in the increasingly globalized city, take what work they can get.

These districts boast well-known and often high-end establishments that are not the product of illegal trafficking or forced workers – their high public visibility greatly reduces such a presence, along with the watchful eye of the State, itself eager to avoid international backlash for such ethical violations.

This area of Silom is where go-go bars first gained popularity during the Vietnam War era, and today its two main streets – Patpong Soi 1 and Patpong Soi 2 – remain a huge attraction for visitors curious about the city’s illicit nightlife. The most famous establishments include King’s Castle I and II, known for its mostly post-op transsexual performers, and BarBar Fetish Club, the area’s more, let’s say, niche , go-go bar. The Safari Bar brings in wandering tourists with its blaring oldies classics from the likes of Elvis or The Beatles, while Thigh Bar is a tourist-friendly staple with some of the lower drink prices available. There are notable bungalows in Bangkok that have gain attention in Patpong.

In the early 1990s, Patpong introduced a popular night market . The neighborhood’s newfound family-friendliness changed its late-night atmosphere, and thus “ The World’s Largest Adult Playground ” emerged in nearby Nana Plaza. This three-story complex has a carnival-like atmosphere and houses dozens of go-go clubs and kathoey , or “ladyboy” bars, along with several short-term hotels that rent rooms by the hour. Angel Witch is known for its grandiose themed rock shows, and Billboard Agogo Bar features a high-energy atmosphere on its rotating dance floor and a Jacuzzi to boot, while Casanova is known to be a more relaxed hangout. The ground floor level has tons of open-air bars and an almost pub-like atmosphere, complete with sports broadcasts, live music, and plenty of people watching.

Emerging in popularity around the same time as Nana Plaza, this area was named after a cowboy hat-wearing African-American who opened the first bar back in the 1970s. Today, the neon-soaked energy can be intimidating, but the bars – some 30+ of them – have an overall good reputation and low incidence of scams. Live music shows embrace curious visitors as they enter the main street, and popular establishments include Susie Wongs, famous for its body painting, Tilac Bar, Baccara, and the eponymous Crazy House.

Soi Twilight

This narrow, fluorescent street just northeast of Patpong Night Market and exclusively operates as Bangkok’s locale for gay go-go bars – and they live up to the high bar set by Bangkok’s vibrant gay nightlife scene . Classic features underwater mermen and a swimming show, while Tawan puts on an impressive stage show rotating acts like dance performances, drag comedy, and more.

What to know if you go

Like any unregulated industry, Bangkok’s Red Light Districts are flush with scams aplenty. Many of the lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path type places – like those “recommended” by your Tuk-Tuk or taxi drivers – advertise free shows, but visitors can encounter enormous bills full of hidden costs when the show ends, with security guards on the ready to make sure you pay in full. This is particularly prevalent among the “ ping-pong ” and other live sex shows trademark to Patpong.

The workers in these establishments are often compensated through a variety of payment structures that vary from bar to bar. Often there’s a set salary, supplemented by commissions earned by metrics like the number of drinks bought by customers for the employee. As a result, the atmosphere of these bars is often deliberately set up to pressure its patrons into buying more and more drinks for the working guys and gals, and even if you’re paying for a top-shelf cocktail, they’re only actually having a soda water. Most reputable places make sure your tab is kept right in front of you, however, so you can keep an eye on it and ensure transparency of pricing.

Individual workers are also free to manage their own time through a common practice known as a “bar fine.” If a dancer or bar worker wants to leave for the night with a guest, they pay their “Mamasan,” the equivalent of their manager, a fee for their absence. This can range anywhere from a few hundred to a couple of thousand baht, and is separate from whatever price negotiated with their “guest.”

What’s next for Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT,) called the Gambian minister’s comments on Thailand’s sex tourism industry “baseless,” but nevertheless the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has pledged to change the country’s image of being a sex tourism destination. Raids on establishments promoting sex tourism are already relatively routine in Bangkok, but are almost exclusively focused on the discovery of underage or illegal workers, especially in illegal bungalows. It’s anyone’s guess what the prime minister’s pledge will mean for this industry and the Red Light Districts, but the junta’s hardline approach to cracking down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking in recent years indicates changes may be in store.

In the meantime, patronizing establishments like go-go bars operating in Bangkok’s Red Light Districts is not strictly illegal – almost all of them are designated under law as “entertainment zones” – and some boast shows ranked among the highest quality in the city. Prostitution is less black and white. While widely tolerated to date, increasing pressure on the Thai government could mean more enforcement in the near future. As a visitor, understand that you’re expected to adhere to the local laws – de jure or otherwise – and must accept responsibility if you’re caught red-handed in the Red Light District.

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Tourism industry in Thailand - statistics & facts

Domestic tourism, the outlook of tourism industry in thailand post covid-19 pandemic, key insights.

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Number of local tourists Thailand 2023

Number of domestic visitors in Thailand from January to December 2023 (in millions)

Size of employment in tourism sector Thailand 2017-2021

Number of employees in the tourism sector in Thailand from 2017 to 2021 (in millions)

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• Premium Statistic Direct contribution of tourism to gross domestic product Thailand 2017-2021
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Direct contribution of tourism to gross domestic product Thailand 2017-2021

Direct contribution of the tourism industry to the gross domestic product (GDP) in Thailand from 2017 to 2021 (in billion Thai baht)

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Indirect contribution of the tourism industry to the gross domestic product (GDP) in Thailand from 2017 to 2021 (in billion Thai baht)

Value of tourism tax Thailand 2017-2021

Value of tourism tax in Thailand from 2017 to 2021 (in billion Thai baht)

International tourist arrivals revenue Thailand 2023

Tourism revenue incurred from international tourist arrivals in Thailand from January to December 2023 (in billion Thai baht)

Local tourists revenue Thailand 2023

Tourism revenue incurred from domestic visitors in Thailand from January to December 2023 (in billion Thai baht)

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Number of foreign tourists in Thailand in 2023, by region of origin (in 1,000s)

Number of foreign visitors Thailand 2023, by region

Total number of foreign visitors in Thailand in 2023, by region (in millions)

Revenue generated from foreign visitors Thailand 2023, by region

Total revenue generated from foreign visitors in Thailand in 2023, by region (in billion Thai baht)

Number of traveling locals Thailand 2023, by region

Total number of Thai travelers within the regions of Thailand in 2023, by region (in millions)

Revenue generated from traveling locals Thailand 2023, by region

Total revenue generated from Thai travelers within the regions of Thailand in 2023, by region (in billion Thai baht)

Accommodation

• Premium Statistic Share of foreign visitors to total guests of accommodations Thailand 2015-2023
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Share of foreign visitors to total guests of accommodations Thailand 2015-2023

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Proportion of international tourists to total guests of the accommodations in Thailand in 2023, by region

Advance reservation rate of accommodations Thailand 2015-2023

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ADR of accommodations Thailand 2015-2023

Average daily rate (ADR) of accommodations in Thailand from 2015 to 2023 (in thousand Thai baht)

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Tourist perspectives

• Premium Statistic Ideal travel destinations in Asia among Thais 2023
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Ideal travel destinations in Asia among Thais 2023

Leading travel destinations in Asia among tourists in Thailand as of January 2023

Online travel agency usage Thailand 2023

Online travel agency usage in Thailand as of June 2023

Most used online travel agencies Thailand 2023

Leading online travel agencies in Thailand as of June 2023

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Most common duration before a trip to purchase travel tickets on online travel agencies (OTAs) in Thailand as of June 2023

Reasons for using online travel agencies for purchasing tickets Thailand 2023

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