In assuming most men going on holiday alone to Thailand, are going to have sex with prostituted women or men?

[Grennie]

It is estimated that about 1% of Thailand's GDP is earned through sexual exploitation tourism.

In 2003 (the last year for which full figures are available) some 545,000 British residents arrived on visits. If you remove the children, and the British citizens visiting for business or reasons other than a holiday, you arrive at about 489,000—314,000 men and 175,000 women. That is 139,000 more British men than women coming to Thailand for a holiday—a gap of 28 per cent.

In no other international holiday destination, is there such a big difference in the number of women and men travelling there. There is no obvious reason for this apart from prostitution.

[HollyMiamiFLA]

But just because a lot of single men go there for sex tourism does not automatically mean a single man in Thailand is there for the sex industry.

He might be. Or he might not.

[mathanxiety]

What punters get in Thailand is the ultimate male domination fantasy.

[Grennie]

Holly - no one has said that is the case.

[mathanxiety]

Chances are that he is, HollyMiami.

[HollyMiamiFLA]

Your OP title somewhat implies that.

And math, what are the chances? 50/50? 80 / 20?

[AgaPanthers]

Since when was the Caribbean a popular economy (I assume they mean cheap?) tourism destination?

The Caribbean is a very expensive tourist destination, you have to fly everywhere, hotels are expensive, restaurants are expensive. It's not remotely comparable to the Caribbean.

Thailand is set up for low-budget backpackers (and they aren't the sex tourists). Many single travellers go to that region. They don't go to the Caribbean.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I hear hooves, it might be a zebra but it's probably a horse.

I've spent a lot of time in SE Asia and what really makes my skin crawl is that these 'men' know they are in a position of power racially, in gender terms, economically, financially, sexually, physically. They also know, unless try are stupid and never read a thing, that pretty much all the women in Thailand who are prostituted either are children or started as children. There is not even the semblance of control as there might be in Europe.

On the matter of the football tour in that well known football hotspot Thailand does MrBroonCoo talk about other people on the tour using women? Because I would bet a million pounds that on a no WAGs, Thai football tour someone did.

[caruthers]

What are the Women going to Thailand for?

And what are the Women going to Amsterdam for for that matter?

[Grennie]

Holly - I said most men, not all. And yes most single men going to Thailand are I think going for sex tourism.

[Grennie]

Carruthers - If you are implying women go to these places for sex tourism, you are wrong. Many many more men go to Thailand on holiday from the UK than women do. There is a reason for that.

[mathanxiety]

Have a look at the article I linked to Holly.

[caruthers]

So what are the women going for Grennie?

I'm not implying I am asking what your opinion is?

Would it be to visit the temples and see the sights by any chance?

[Grennie]

what is your point caruthers? You really think many many more men than women want to visit temples? Why do you find it so hard to accept that many men go to Thailand to have sex with teenagers and children?

[caruthers]

You categorically state that the majority of men go there for sex and categorically refute that women are also capable of that.

Your hyperbole is deafening as is your hypocrisy.

I'm going to disconnect now and hope someone sees this and reminds you of your cock eyed view of the world.

[mathanxiety]

If you have any links to articles or figures about women going to Thailand for sex it might be interesting to see them.

[mathanxiety]

Obv going of their own free will and not trafficked women.

[AgaPanthers]

"I've spent a lot of time in SE Asia and what really makes my skin crawl is that these 'men' know they are in a position of power racially, in gender terms, economically, financially, sexually, physically."

Eh, they are in a foreign country where people wouldn't think twice about beating them up if they did something wrong, and maintain very clear distinctions between Thai and foreign. The police wouldn't be much help.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Are you including using underage children for sex in 'something wrong'? Because it happens, a massive amount, and no one gets beaten up for it.

[HollyMiamiFLA]

It's undeniable that a large part of the disparity is due to men going for the sex industry.

But if it's 28% more, then:

128 men
100 women.

How many of those men are there for the sex industry?
How many aren't and will avoid it?
How many are there for actual sex?

Is there an age difference in the 2 groups - are there predominantly more older men than older woman?

I'm guessing that's true.

[mathanxiety]

They are in a country where tourism generates a huge proportion of GDP. I can't imagine anything a tourist could possibly do to an ordinary citizen that would result in getting beaten up there.

[AgaPanthers]

"They are in a country where tourism generates a huge proportion of GDP. I can't imagine anything a tourist could possibly do to an ordinary citizen that would result in getting beaten up there."

Dear lord, why are you commenting on this thread, when you know nothing about the country?

A quick guide: www.phuket-fever.com/dangers-in-thailand.htm

[AgaPanthers]

MrsTerryPratchett, no, I think that attitudes to underage sex are much looser in Thailand than in the West.

Our attitudes in this country are quite modern and certainly not shared globally.

www.bbc.co.uk/history/0/20097046 - age of consent raised from 12 to 13 in Britain in 1875

Even in the 1970s, the likes of Harriet Harman campaigned to allow child pornography and the reduction of the age of consent. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/4949555/Harriet-Harman-under-attack-over-bid-to-water-down-child-pornography-law.html

The vast majority of commercial sex transactions with Western men in Thailand would be with women of age (18+), and I was thinking of sexual violence, non-payment, etc., as things that might get a visitor in trouble.

[DebrisSlide]

Heh, why on earth would your last sentence hold true if the first does too? That's one of main drivers of sex tourism, you dumbass.

You sound like a pervy creep on this thread, just so as you know.

[CaramelisedOnion]

I know quote a few single men who've been to Thailand. They went to train muay thai.

[brooncoo]

mrsterry - I answered your question civilly and I'm quite insulted at the inference you are making. We lived in Asia. Thailand was an hour flight away, a place we went to often for breaks with our children. It's not unusual that folk go there for sporting events when they live locally. My friends kids go to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia on sporting events with their schools and sports teams (much like my husband). So you can fuck right off with your rude insinuations. Yes, he might have and so might some of his friends but I choose to trust him and you can shove your insinuations up your arse.