Sex Industry in Thailand
Let us be blunt and to the point. Sex for sale in Thailand is big business. Although often embarrassing for Thai Nationals, Thailand has become synonymous in the minds of many foreigners, with prostitution and the sex Industry. It can not be denied that Sex Tourism contributes greatly to the influx of foreigners to Thailand year in year out.
Prostitution and polygamy have long been intrinsic to the Thai way of life, but despite its ubiquity, Prostitution has been ILLEGAL since 1960, but while the government and police generally turn a blind eye to sex tourism, customers can be liable for prosecution if the Girl or Boy is under 18 years old, Many hotels will have warnings located in thier reception area, warning of the risks of returning to the hotel with a lady or lad under 18 yrs old. Everyone in Thailand should carry I.D. so its good advise to ask for, and view their I.D. cards. Hotel security will ask them for it..
The Farang ( Foreign) Sex Industry is a relatively new concept, it started to develop during the Vietnam War, where the American G.I’s search for “entertainment” attracted women from the small villages surrounding the several U.S military bases around Thailand, the most well known being Pattaya , with Bangkok and Phuket soon following the example.
The majority of the girls working in the bars and clubs, seem to be from the rural and often poorest area’s of the North and Northeast, attracted by the financial rewards and chance of a better life, for themselves, and equally important for their families, many find the option of earning more money in one night, than they could earn in a month, irresistible. This ethic is not only confined to the lower under or poorly educated girls, but also to well educated professionally trained girls, who are willing to opt for a couple of years working in the sex bars, as an effective method to pay off family debts, or even thier education costs..
The Sex Tourism Industry is not seen as prostitution, and is not openly spoken of, a famous quotation “ The difference between Western Sexuality and Thai Sexuality is that. In the West you can only talk about it, but can not DO it, but in Thailand, you should not talk about it, you should only DO it”.
There is a defined difference between, the sex industry in the west and that in Thailand, although there does exists in places, a seedy side, in general it is out in the open, and available, the majority of girls will offer themselves for the whole night, they will play the part of a loving girlfriend for as long as the customer wants them, hence the famous expression “ Love you long time” which should not be ridiculed, but taken for what it means, an invitation for a night of passion and company, not just a short sexual encounter.
Now, for the less attractive, often frightening section AIDS, which has in recent years put the problems of Sex Tourism into focus, following an aggressive Thai government AIDS awareness campaign since 1988. the reported numbers of HIV Infections has declined sharply from 143,000 1991 to 29,000 in 2001 (UN aid statistics, 2001)
One of the most successful projects, was to send Health Officials into brothels, Sex bars and Clubs, to educate working girls on the dangers of unprotected sex, they offered free condoms and administered blood test.
These days, girls are advised to have regular tests, Venue owners and bar managers will insist that all new staff have a blood test, and will not allow the girl to work without a HIV clear cerfificate, most girls will not entertain the idea of unprotected sex.
Blood test are easily arranaged at any medical centre, they are administered very quickly, with results returned within minutes.
Be Aware...Be Safe....Protect Yourself... and The Girls...
