Minister takes aim at Thailand sex industry
Print Edition
THAILAND’S infamous sex industry is under fire, with the tourism minister pushing to rid the country of its ubiquitous brothels and a spate of police raids in recent weeks on some of the largest establishments providing sex services in Bangkok.
Those who work in the industry say curbs on commercial sex services would hurt a flagging economy that has struggled to recover after political turmoil took the country to the brink of recession in 2014.
Thailand is predominantly Buddhist and deeply conservative, but is home to an extensive sex industry, largely catering to Thai men. Hordes of tourists also flock to the bright lights of go-go bars and massage parlors in Bangkok and tourist towns.
Thailand’s beaches and temples have been the poster child for Asian tourism for decades and the country expects a record number of arrivals in 2016.
Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul played down the role of the sex industry in drawing visitors. “Tourists don’t come to Thailand for such a thing. They come here for our beautiful culture,” she said.
“We want Thailand to be about quality tourism. We want the sex industry gone.”
Prostitution is illegal in Thailand but the law is invariably ignored. Experts say it will be hard to rid Thailand of an industry that is so entrenched. Those trying to promote the welfare of sex workers say Kobkarn’s goal is unrealistic.
Her push comes amid an attempt by the country’s tourism authorities to transform Thailand into a luxury destination to attract moneyed tourists.
The military government is in denial about the proliferation of prostitution and its contribution to the economy and tourism, said Panomporn Utaisri, country director of NightLight, a non-profit group that helps women in the sex trade to find alternative work. “There’s no denying this industry generates a lot of income.”
Last month, police raided dozens of brothels in major cities in “a routine operation.”
Police said they were looking to prosecute venues employing underage and illegal migrant workers, but only one of the venues raided was shut down.
There was no link between the tourism minister’s aim to rid Thailand of its sex tourism industry and the raids, a police spokesman said.
The tourism sector accounts for about 10 percent of gross domestic product and sex worker groups said the minister’s vision of a prostitution-free Thailand would dent that.
“The police presence already drives off a number of clients who come to relax or drink at bars,” said Surang Janyam, director of Service Workers in Group, which provides sex workers with free medical care and vocational training.
“Wiping out this industry is guaranteed to make Thailand lose visitors and income.”
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