Sex Tourism in Thailand Essay Example

Sex Tourism in Thailand Paper In any kind of trade, demand will always be a major factor on supply. In the case of Thai prostitutes, the demand factor is largely expected to come from Westerners and Japanese expats and businessmen who have the capacity to provide cash. Aiko Yoshinaris Travel and sexual industries in Thailand and Philippines is cited in this respect to describe how bars are fashioned to particularly attract Japanese and Western clientele. When talking about reasons why foreigners from affluent countries seek sex in countries like Thailand, Dr. Julia OConnell Davidson and Jacqueline Sanchez Taylors Child Prostitution Sex Tourism 5 and Sex Tourism in Thailand can help explain the economics behind Westerners preference for Thai prostitutes. Although the study is focused on British sex tourists, the reasons for their patronage of Thai prostitutes could generally apply to other Western visitors. Prostitution is traditionally thought to be a womans business. With the changing times, the trade has evolved to include other men and even minors. Sadly, Thailands sex workers are not limited to grown men and women but they also involve children. We will write a custom essay sample on Sex Tourism in Thailand specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sex Tourism in Thailand specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sex Tourism in Thailand specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Despite the enactment of an anti-children prostitute law, minors are still engaged in this trade. Sownia Nairs essay written for the U. S. Department of Justice in 2007 and the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington will be cited to provide perspective on the issue. Like other studies, this paper found a correlation between poverty and prostitution. But in addition, this paper will also probe if sex workers are willing participants or theyre doing the trade for other reasons. In this regard, Justin Halls Prostitution in Thailand and South East Asia will be cited to relate women experiences in the trade. A study conducted by Cholthira Satyawadhna will also be referenced in explaining gender-based labor division in Thailand and its relation to prostitution. Health concerns will always be involved when commercial sex is the issue. Thai sex workers are among the worlds high-risk groups to contact the deadly HIV/AIDS virus. In the late 1980s, an AIDS epidemic spread throughout Thailand as sex workers and drug dependents who were infected spread the disease to their customers, wives, husbands, partners and children. As a result, the government launched a massive campaign to control the situation. A report from the international organisation AVERT and other groups are used to trace how AIDS spread in Thailand and what control measures where implemented by the government to stop the disease. Sex Tourism 6 Prostitution: History Current Situation Chinese voyager Ma Huan alluded in 1433 about a certain practice by some Thai people that could be likened to prostitution. In 1604, Dutch visitors to the country have certainly mentioned in their records that there are whores in Siam (Thailands old name). There are no records, however, that points to how this trade exactly started. The point is, prostitution has long been practiced in the country. Anthony Reid, a distinguished Australian scholar of Southeast Asian history, has cited that what appears to be the beginning of brothels in the country was in the 1680s when a Thai official was given a monopoly to run a prostitution den using hundreds of slave women as sex workers. During those times, majority of the customers were locals and some were Chinese. In the twentieth century, Western involvement in Thailands sex trade began when American soldiers came to the country during their rest and relaxation period from the Vietnam War to find solace and entertainment, which they generally found on cabarets with English names. These clubs have thousands of hostesses that the soldiers can have in exchange for a sum of money. As for the Japanese people, it was the soldiers in the Second World War that first came in contact with the Thai sex workers. In fact, it was the Japanese conquerors who forced women from captive lands to engage in sex. Sex Tourism in Thailand Essay Example Sex Tourism in Thailand Paper The Southeast Asian region is one of the most dynamic tourist destinations in the world. Hordes of Western visitors visit the region for its scenic spots, warm climate, and unique culture. This influx of visitors creates employment opportunities for the locals and augments the income of the poor. More importantly, tourists bring with them currencies that are needed by countries to engage in international trade. In Thailand, tourism revenue amounts to six percent of the countrys gross domestic product of US$196. 6 billion. While tourism is greatly encouraged for the benefits it brings to the countries of destination, it also has its dark side. Not all of the tourists who visit Asia are in the region to do what ordinary tourists do. Some of them are in Asia to seek a different kind of entertainment that traditional tours dont provide. Men, being enterprising by nature, have created another purpose for tourism by linking it with prostitution in what is commonly known as the sex tourism industry. As the term implies, it uses commercial sex as a come-on to visitors. Thus, tours are not solely organised to visit historical venues and picturesque spots, theyre also conducted to provide foreigners access to the red light districts. Sex tourism is loosely defined as engaging the services of prostitutes for carnal pleasures typically by tourists from affluent countries. The United Nations World Tourism Organization unit describes sex tourism as organised trips under the guise of common tours with the primary purpose of providing tourists commercial sexual activities with residents in a particular destination. We will write a custom essay sample on Sex Tourism in Thailand specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Sex Tourism in Thailand specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Sex Tourism in Thailand specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Sex Tourism 3 To ask if sex tourism is illegal is almost irrelevant. Prostitution exists almost anywhere in the world. In Asia, prostitution is prevalent and open in many developing countries. Thailand is one of these countries where sex tourism is open and booming, gaining for itself the reputation of being the whorehouse capital of the world. In particular, Thailands sex industry is largely concentrated in Bangkok and the Pattaya district where there are many expat residents. Hundreds of nightclubs, beer bars, and go-go bars can be found in these areas, which allegedly are venues for meeting commercial sex workers. To this end, various published papers and other resources will be studied to obtain a better understanding of an industry that gained for Thailand notoriety all over the world. All throughout the paper, I have attempted to limit opinions to establish the work as a purely research material. Sex Tourism 4 Introduction Prostitution in Thailand has gained international attention due to its prevalence and extent. Although commercial sex industry is not unique to the country, its importance is significant for it reflects on the entire society as a whole. This study will incorporate historical as well as contemporary issues surrounding the trade using existing literature. However, papers on this topic do not reflect great variation in scope and nature. Most studies attempt to find the correlation of poverty, state laws and gender issues with Thai prostitution. To pinpoint the exact period of the proliferation of prostitution in Thailand would be difficult. While some say that it dated as far back as the fifteenth century, some researchers will argue that it started with the presence of the American military who were in the country during leaves from their tour of duty in the Vietnam War. This paper will not make assumptions on that case, instead, it will trace how sex tourism took root, developed, sustained and became almost a way of life in Thailand. Part of this section touches existing anti-prostitution laws in Thailand their implementation and effectiveness. Also part of this topic is the governments plan to legalise prostitution in order to increase national revenue. In any kind of trade, demand will always be a major factor on supply. In the case of Thai prostitutes, the demand factor is largely expected to come from Westerners and Japanese expats and businessmen who have the capacity to provide cash. Aiko Yoshinaris Travel and sexual industries in Thailand and Philippines is cited in this respect to describe how bars are fashioned to particularly attract Japanese and Western clientele. When talking about reasons why foreigners from affluent countries seek sex in countries like Thailand, Dr. Julia OConnell Davidson and Jacqueline Sanchez Taylors Child Prostitution Sex Tourism 5 and Sex Tourism in Thailand can help explain the economics behind Westerners preference for Thai prostitutes. Although the study is focused on British sex tourists, the reasons for their patronage of Thai prostitutes could generally apply to other Western visitors.