Multicoloured neon signs illuminate Pattaya Walking Street. Some nightlife operators are calling for sex work to be decriminalised to help the workers obtain rights. 123RF
From Soi Cowboy in the bustling Sukhumvit corridor of Bangkok to Pattaya's Walking Street, the sex trade remains an open secret that authorities are often reluctant to acknowledge, despite its visible presence.While Thailand promotes itself as a premium destination to lure high-spending travellers, it still struggles to reposition its image while keeping one foot in the sex tourism industry.
The recent case involving an Australian man who murdered a 17-year-old Thai teenager put Thailand's night-time economy in the spotlight.
The nation's reputation has long been associated with sex tourism, particularly Pattaya, a city known for its vibrant nightlife and entertainment scene, although tourism authorities have consistently distanced themselves from this segment.
Prostitution and sex work are illegal in Thailand under the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act of 1996.
