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Prostitution in Thailand

Prostitution in Thailand is illegal. Yet the Thai sex industry is world renowned and is visible in several areas in Bangkok and in other larger towns and cities. Indeed, Thailand has built at least some of its tourist reputation on the availability of cheap women, a trend established during the Vietnam War when American Gis were stationed in Thailand.

When the sex services industry became an issue during the 60s, many took the view that as the Thai economy grew, prostitution would become less of a problem, just as it had done in Japan and other developing Asian counties earlier in the century. However, the reverse happened: increased wealth actually raised demand. Estimates vary as to the amount of sex workers in Thailand, but many accept the figure of around 200,000.

Prostitution in Thailand is a large and lucrative business. Establishment owners offer regular protection money to the police. Some police in border areas are involved in trafficking f foreign women for prostitution. Corruption and lax law enforcement mean that sex workers are doubly exploited by their employers and by the police. Provisions for rehabilitation of prostitutes are also unrealistic. The standard programme lasts for a year, for example, during which time they have no other way of earning any cash.

Penalties are similarly lenient. The laws that penalise establishment owners are rarely used – instead the prostitutes themselves get arrested and fined a minimal amount.

Some prostitutes may be sold into the trade, or trapped by agents, or simply locked in a brothel. This group is declining as information about the risks and dangers of the sex trade has improved markedly. The second group are under economic compulsion to work – perhaps because of a debt to their pimp or to send money to family. This group has increased in the years since Thailand's economic crash of 1997. The third group are young and entreprenerial and work from their own free will for financial incentive. Finally there are freelance workers who may be students or have regular jobs as well as working in the sex trade.

It's a grim and unrelenting business. And despite the high-profile involvement of many NGOs in prostitution support, Thailand's lax law enforcement and police and government corruption mean that it's set to continue.