Even though beaches and nightlife are part of what brings so many to visit Thailand. Thailand has built a reputation as one of Asia's leading sex tourism spots. What many don't consider is the complexity that this country's sex industry contains. This includes poverty, immigration, family migration, social and economic disparity, social inequality, and inadequate labour laws. For Thailand, there are many things, such as gender-based social norms, the country's tourism, the economic conditions of rural communities, and the historical context, that also contribute to sex work.
Many people who want to work in Thailand’s sex industry come from northern and northeastern provinces like Chiang Rai and Isaan. Farming communities struggle with an income that is hard to sustain, and have to deal with issues like debt, and there is little to no employment. Young people often leave the villages for the big cities like Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, and even Chiang Mai. When considering the employment available, there are factories, low-paying restaurants, hotels, and domestic work; sex work is the most lucrative. Selling your body can bring in thousands, while working at a factory only pays a few hundred baht.
Family responsibilities are another factor. In a Thai context, children are expected to assist their parents and siblings. More often than not, this responsibility lies with the daughters, especially the unmarried ones. A large number of women employed in bars, massage parlours, and other entertainment-related businesses send remittances home on a monthly basis to pay for their family members' education, medical care, food, and shelter. Some of the women admitted that they did not choose this profession out of a desire to do so, but out of a need to provide the only available form of employment that can support their families.
Thailand's sex industry is well-established. Commercial sex, especially, existed before having a tourism industry, but around the 1960s and 1970s, the rapid expansion of commercial sex occurred. Because of the Vietnam War, numerous American soldiers were stationed in Thailand, often for a short "rest and recreation" trip from the war. Because of this, many entertainment businesses were located in the vicinity of the military bases, and many commercial sex-related businesses began rapid expansion. After the Vietnam War, Thailand began to promote tourism, which continued to develop the commercial sex industry. As a result, Pattaya and Bangkok became remarkably well known for their nightlife and sex-related businesses.
The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act of Thailand made prostitution illegal, but the industry is still very much present and operates in the open. Sex workers, to operate in this grey area of the law, face dangerous work conditions and exploitation, and experience corruption and harassment from law enforcement. It is common for sex workers to be fined, arrested, and/or extorted for bribes, whereas the owners and business operators remain free.
Although trafficking is commonly mentioned in the context of Thailand's sex industry, many experts discourage generalisations that equate all sex workers with trafficking victims. Some workers are forced, deceived, or sold to brokers and the illicit economy. Many migrants from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos are especially in this situation, as some have not registered with the law and have no legal protection or papers. Many migrants are stuck in debt bondage and/or sustained threats and cannot leave their workplace, which abuses them economically. This is still prevalent among minors despite the stricter laws passed in the past two decades.
Many adult workers also resist the notion of themselves as victims. Journalist and researcher interview groups have recorded the stories of workers who began this line of work due to the independence and earnings in comparison to other jobs. Staff who have worked in the offices of teachers and factory workers, cleaning and hotel work, have all moved on to working in nightclubs. Many of these workers provide evidence of the remarkable range within sex work from exploitation to survival.
Gender inequality also compounds the issue. Employees in the gender pay gap in Thailand tend to earn less money, and there are fewer jobs in the legal workforce. Many single mothers have to take on the responsibility to provide for their families, often ending in sex work if done legally as a last resort. Members of the transgender community also face discrimination in the legal workforce and thus, take on work in the entertainment sector.
The tourism sector is another influential element in this situation. Thailand receives millions of visitors each year, many of whom are in the country for the purpose of engaging in the adult entertainment industry. There are numerous bars, clubs, and massage parlours (as well as other businesses that operate at night) that are specifically oriented to the needs of foreign tourists. While sexual tourism constitutes a small portion of Thailand's total tourism, the powerful image of sex in Thailand is a huge draw for customers.
Some of the debates about what to do in Thailand continue to this day. Some advocates want strict anti-prostitution/trafficking enforcement. However, many others want reproductive labour to be legalised and protected to prevent further abuse and exploitative circumstances. Many others want to increase social protection to lower the economic pressures that lead to people entering the sex industry.
The sex industry in Thailand is not isolated; rather, it is connected to other social and economic issues. There are factors such as inadequate social protection for workers, poverty, migration, and gender inequality that influence the livelihoods of many. Behind the tourist bars, people are trying to make a living, support their families, get out of the debt cycle, or make the current situation more secure for their families and themselves in the process.
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