Sin City:
10 March 2009
By Robert SuttonPattaya, one of the world's most renowned seaside resorts, thrives on tourism in general and prostitution in particular, love it or hate it, this Thai beach resort does not tend to illicit many neutral opinions. Some think of it as a paradise and some a trashy tourist trap, Located 147 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, the resort attracts one and a half million tourists annually.
It may also be the most foreign city in Thailand. You are just as likely to hear English and German spoken on the streets as you are to hear Thai. On the newsstands there are more foreign newspapers and magazines available than there are Thai publications. There is no doubt that the city prospers due to the sex trade, many men and women live out their fantasies in Pattaya as they may have several different women in one night or they may have more than one woman or man at the same time, and all at prices that are relatively cheap compared to the West.
In every nook and cranny of the city there are hundreds of first class, second class or no class hotels, high rise condominiums, foreign owned beer bars run by Thai women and glitzy go-go bars where there are ample opportunities for prostitutes to ply their trade day in, day out.
Prostitution is a billion dollar business and it brings in valuable currency year after year. From the amount of money the customer pays the prostitute, to the amount spent on hotels, food, drinks, condoms, gifts, taxis etc. A phenomenal amount of money changes hands and a lot of people profit by it.
Who visits Pattaya? Russians and other East Europeans are the leading new market followed by South Africans. The mainland Chinese who appeared in hordes just a year ago have all but disappeared due to the changed monetary politics of their leaders. German speaking Europeans are the largest single group of tourists.
The Thai English daily, The Nation, recently reported on a survey of male tourists, who visit Pattaya, and found that most sex tourists choose Thailand as a holiday destination for a number of reasons. Thailand is different because it is very easy and convenient to buy sexual services there, and second because Thai women are so natural, so charming, and so innocent that the transaction does not feel purely commercial.
Among Pattaya's many prostitutes there are some from Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Very few, if any, are believed to be running their own businesses independently. The number of Russian prostitutes and those from the former satellite states of the Soviet Union was thought to be only a few hundreds during Pattaya's low season, but their numbers increase dramatically during the high season, which runs from October until March.
The city definitely caters to foreigners in ways that many other locations in Thailand don't care too, and it is difficult to be bored in Pattaya. aside from the many and varied carnal activities you can go windsurfing, parasailing, bungee jumping, horse riding, go karting, shooting, scuba diving, waterskiing, snorkeling, sailing, jet skiing and bowling. Or you can play snooker, golf, badminton, tennis or squash. You can even race Formula 3 cars at the Prince Bira International Circuit which is located on the outskirts of town.
Every type of food is available in Pattaya including Thai, Korean, French, Scandinavian, Swiss, Vietnamese, Polynesian, German, Danish, Mexican, American, Indian, Pakistani, Italian and Chinese. The question isn't what can you buy in Pattaya it's what can't you buy in Pattaya.
On the issue of safety in Pattaya the chief of the Pattaya Tourist Police, is slightly annoyed by all the negative publicity the resort continues to receive. Statistics show that more than one million foreign tourists visit Pattaya every year, but tourist police records show only about 30 accidents including tourists every year. Most accidents take place on the roads and are usually caused by reckless driving. Petty thefts head the list for crime complaints usually drunk tourists are robbed by their girlfriends. For a person with an ounce of common sense, Pattaya is much safer than any beach resort in Italy or Spain.
Pattaya will always be a strange dichotomy. Some will cringe in fear at the thought of going there, while others will wet their lips in anticipation. Love it or leave it, the option is yours.
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