Everyone has something to say about sex tourism in Thailand – but few know what they're talking about.

I know exactly what I'm talking about, because I lived in Bangkok several times for over two years and experienced the omnipresence of the sex industry there firsthand. I never got used to it – and to be honest, I never really came to terms with it.

This is not to say that this post is meant to be preachy or reflects a puritanical attitude. However, I believe it is important to openly address the reality of Thailand's darker side, which for many of those working there is anything but a holiday.

My stay in Thailand changed my views on sex tourism.

Although I never consciously engaged in sex tourism in Thailand, I experienced it (in the sense of passive smoking) almost daily. For example, when I took the BTS SkyTrain to Sala Daeng station in the mornings, I often passed through the Silom complex because I enjoyed the air conditioning. I was less impressed, however, by the many men in their 70s and 80s who were hanging around on all floors of the shopping mall.

During my first year in Bangkok, I was able to largely ignore these men, even those whose eyes scrutinized me, because there were no young Thai women or men around to stare at. But when I started seeing sex tourists on my own street (often followed by locals decades younger than them, trailing after them like puppies) or even in the elevator of my own building, the proximity became unsettling.

5 uncomfortable truths about Thailand's sex tourism industry

Prostitution and human trafficking often overlap.

A few years ago, two young Indian men on a flight to Phuket excitedly told me what they had been up to on Soi Nana in Bangkok. “We ordered women,” they laughed, “like they were pizzas or hot dogs.” I didn’t reprimand them for comparing people to food, but I did remind them that many women who work as prostitutes in Thailand are forced into it; even those who do so somewhat voluntarily are rarely paid in full for their services.

Overt pedophilia is rare.

Prostitution in Thailand is a sensitive topic for many reasons, which I cannot all address in this article. Fortunately, it is rare these days for minors to sell their bodies for sex in Thailand, although many young women, men, and transgender women do offer their services there. However, should you decide to hire a prostitute and suspect she might be a minor, I strongly advise you to exercise caution. Do you really want to have a guilty conscience about pedophilia?

But it exists.

That's not to say such things don't happen—I've heard horror stories in various Facebook groups for expats. I saw an extremely horrifying surveillance video that still haunts me. It showed an overweight man from the West walking into a field with a group of very young children, as if he wanted to play with them. I don't want to go into detail about what happened next, but it was undoubtedly one of the most horrific things I've ever seen.

Sex tourism in Thailand is not limited to Pattaya

Whether or not you're looking to meet ladyboys in Thailand, Pattaya isn't your only option. I've already mentioned Cowboy and Nana Soi, but other areas in the Thai capital are also popular with sex tourists. For example, heterosexual men might head to the Patpong Night Market and Khao San Road, while gay men tend to congregate in the open-air bars along Silom Soi 4, directly opposite Sala Daeng Station.

Participation is confirmation

Regardless of your opinion on Thailand's sex tourism and whatever concerns you may have, remember that actions speak louder than words. Whether you sleep with a prostitute, visit a go-go club, or take even more extreme steps, all of this implicitly supports Thai sex tourism and contributes to its perpetuation. Of course, everyone has free will, and I won't tell you what to do, but you should be aware of the consequences of your choices.

Has Thailand's sex industry survived the Covid-19 pandemic?

Regardless of one's stance on sex in Thailand, one thing is certain: Thailand's sex life is almost entirely dependent on the influx of foreigners. While Thailand eased its border controls at the end of 2021, the quarantine requirement, which was still in place at the beginning of 2022, made travel to the kingdom unattractive even for seasoned sex tourists. As a result, the go-go bars in Pattaya and Bangkok's Soi Cowboy are largely empty.

The good news is that tourism figures in Thailand recovered at the beginning of 2024 and even surpassed the 2019 levels. While the mask mandate in the Kingdom remains inconvenient and disruptive, there are no longer any entry restrictions. Therefore, it is likely that sex tourism will soon fully recover, if it hasn't already.

Other frequently asked questions about sex tourism in Thailand

What is Pattaya most famous for?

For decades, Pattaya was primarily known for its thriving sex industry, which attracted Westerners seeking women, men, and even transgender women. Although various Thai government agencies have attempted to broaden Pattaya's reputation by offering business events and family vacations, the vast majority of tourists still come to Thailand's "city of sin" for a sex holiday.

How much does it cost to marry a Thai woman?

Thai women are not "for sale" (at least not for marriage), as was the case with Russian marriage agencies in the past. Therefore, there are no fixed costs associated with marrying a Thai woman. The best way to get an overview of future expenses is to carefully track how much you spend on dates and activities together, especially after you've met her family (which I strongly recommend before proposing).

How can you tell if a Thai girl loves you?

If you met a Thai woman in a go-go bar or through prostitution, you may never know if she truly loves you. Since your relationship was purely business-like, it will likely develop similarly. Generally, I advise you to accept that your Thai girlfriend (or future wife) may never truly love you, at least not in the way you wish, need, or expect.

Conclusion

I realize that my assessment of sex tourism in Thailand in this post may sound harsh, and I apologize for that. At the same time, my stay in the Kingdom—which practically forced me to—showed me that while Thailand's most notorious industry isn't synonymous with a crime, it still takes its toll. I urge all readers to be extremely careful about whom they meet and what they do in Thailand. Never meet with minors; if you pay for sex, consider carefully where your money goes. Knowledge is power, so I hope you will thoroughly research this topic from all angles, whether or not you are planning a sex tourism trip to Thailand.