quote:

Acclaimed director Monica Garnsey travels to Venezuela and Thailand to look at the global sex tourism industry through the eyes of working girls in My Boyfriend, the Sex Tourist (working title). Seen from the women's point of view, these two, hour-long documentaries reveal how sleeping with foreigners for money has become a mainstream career choice for many Third World girls.

In the first programme, set in Venezuela, John, Bob W and Bob F take a holiday - 'The Girlfriend Experience' - like no other. At the Total Satisfaction resort the men do what most holiday-makers do; sunbathe, sail and dine. But the guys also get to choose a girlfriend for the week from a line-up of stunning Venezuelan prostitutes. It's not just about sex, but a real 'girlfriend experience'. But what are the emotional costs for both the men and the women involved?

In Isaan, north-east Thailand , many local women have long since ceased to rely solely on the rice-crop to feed their families. Much more money can be made out of the sex tourists who flock to Bangkok or Pattaya. The second film explores the ways a typical Isaan woman can make a living from a foreigner, with the prospect of a foreign husband and a posh western house as their goal.

Source Channel 4

Could be interesting viewing

[MODERATOR EDIT: Topic title altered to reflect actual broadcast date]

Am looking forward to this one. Will be interesting to see if there is anyone I recognise on the footage.....

Think you'll find the first of the two programes is on Tues 18th 10pm-11.05pm

There is an interesting article on the Channel 4 website about 'Sex Tourism' - one those who partake of such activities may particularly find of interest.

Same old cr*p
Cant they think of anything new for a change?

More finger pointing in the street aimed at us farangs with Thai wives by people who do not understand and follow the journalistic masses I guess.

I don't blame the TV companies, I blame the sex tourists.

If the sex tourists didn't go there wouldn't be the stigma, there wouldn't be a story. We have members here who are married or in a relationship but still regularly go to Pattaya, who are still sex tourists - although they would never call themselves that, but that is exactly what they are. I absolutely hated walking through Pantip Plaza last week, being grabbed by some young Thai lad at every turn asking me if I wanted 'sexy movie'. It is the sex tourists who have created this, they affect us all in one way or another.

It amazes me that some go off to places such as Pattaya 'enjoy the nightlife' whilst the missus visits her family and then complain when the press give Thailand such unflattering coverage (I'm not suggesting any posters in this topic are in this category by the way!).

At the end of the day, those who participate in this activity are part of the problem, the are playing their part in the way the press (and the world) see Thailand.

It is the innocent girls I feel sorry for, the ones who have the nasty or sarcastic comments shouted at them as they go about their normal day to day business, their only "crime" is being Thai/Philippine/Malaysian etc.

Perhaps the press sometimes sensationalise some stories, but the basic premise is right. It is the sex tourists who are responsible for this.

quote:

I don't blame the TV companies, I blame the sex tourists.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Tobias,
You have some good points but I doubt that this film, or any in a similar vein, will do much justice to any (former) 'sex tourists' who actually did make a girls life better.
I dont know about anywhere else apart from Thailand but I'm sure alot of blokes do genuinely develop feelings for girls they meet in these situations and act quite honourably towards them. As you will know from the years you have been here alot of these supposedly d******ly chaps end up severely stung for their troubles.

Rob

quote:

Originally posted by Tobias:
I don't blame the TV companies, I blame the sex tourists.

Sorry Tobias but I have to say that is utter tosh.

We need to go way back down the chain from the sex tourists.

Without the ladies there would not be the sex tourists.

Why do the majority of these ladies do the job they do?

Work out the answer to that one and there is your blame.

As you will rightly admit, your knowledge of these "nightlife" areas is somewhat limited so I'm surprised at your comments.

You're absolutely right Mark, I have no personal experience of the seedy side of Thailand. I have strong views because in my professional life I have seen the affects and consequences that prostitution and sex tourism has on individuals and their families.

Shifting the blame away from the sex tourist to the poor girl is very unfair and rather narrow-minded. If there were no sex tourists there would be no prostitutes, the kids would be safer and our partners wouldn't have abuse directed at them in the streets of England!

Tobias,
I certainly was not pushing the blame onto the girls,I certainly didn't intend my post to come across that way and re-reading it I don't think it did. What I was trying to get at is why the girls HAVE to do the job they do?

In this country if you have no job you can still feed yourself. If you are a single parent with no job your child is still educated. If your parents or grandparents are over 65 they still can survive on their pension. If you have a disability then you get money to enable you to live.

I hope you can see what I'm driving at.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark W:
... I hope you can see what I'm driving at.

... yes, but what is the sex tourist's excuse? Surely not a philanthropic gesture!

quote:

Originally posted by Tobias:
... yes, but what is the sex tourist's excuse? Surely not a philanthropic gesture!

I wouldn't know, I suppose each one reasons are different. I still stand by what I say though. No ladies = No sex tourists but I'm afraid we are never going to find Utopia.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark W:
... I still stand by what I say though. No ladies = No sex tourists ...

And the blame shifts again!

Sorry to disagree Tobias, how many sex tourists come to Huddersfield I dont know but it is unlikely to be sustaining even a small percentage of the girls plying their trade here.
You are right in what you say about the stigmas it creates but I also dont want my wife being accused of advertising for a husband on the internet/introduction agency and of being a gold digger.
The bad side of prostitution is horrible, but there are plenty of girls who see it as a means to an end, and believe it or not, no big deal.
Ending this activity will never be possible because both sides of transaction have a vested interest in it occuring.
Giving the girls more and better education that will lead to decently paid jobs will reduce the number of girls involved far more efficiently than putting all the responsibility on their customers - be they tourists or local.

Rob

quote:

Originally posted by Tobias:
And the blame shifts again!

It doesn't. I've said the exactly the same since my first post.

Quote me where I've said anything different or shifted the blame.

I Blame it all on the Americans who developed Pattaya after Veitnam.

This topic Roberrrt is about sex tourism in Thailand and the negative affect it has both in Thailand;s reputation (in the press and generally) and on our lives here in the UK. Just look at the reaction in the opening posts to see how it affects people here. The affects and consequences of prostitution vary from place to place, they are not the same problem but there are recurring themes.

The problems Huddersfield faces with prostitution are very different to those faced in Thailand - at the end of the day, if there were no sex tourists (or punters) then there would be no prostitutes in Thailand, South America or Huddersfield, and I'm afraid the philanthropic argument doesn't wash me me.

Either way, these women are being exploited - it is no surprise therefore why the punters themselves become the exploited from time to time.

P.S. Rob, no need to apologise when disagreeing, your views are just as welcome (and valid) as mine - the dabate would be very boring if we all agreed

quote:

Originally posted by Mark W:
It doesn't. I've said the exactly the same since my first post.

Quote me where I've said anything different or shifted the blame.

Res ipsa loquitur

Actually, I do blame the TV companies and others of a similar ilk.....to a degree.

Because, nothing is ever balanced, just sensationalised, which is lazy and shoddy journalism.

But sells.

But lets see what emerges with this one, although the stereotypes are already there, with Isaan being featured! And as it's so huge, I wonder which bit they'll cover?

I did Economics to 'O' Level .... I understand the basic principles of supply and demand.



//edit/Huddersfield will never become a sex-pat destination/the women are .... (fill in the blank)

quote:

if there were no sex tourists (or punters) then there would be no prostitutes in Thailand

Not strictly accurate to lump sex tourists and punters together here. The thai-farang prostitution accounts for less than 5% of the total sex worker-client contact,it is merely more concentrated in a few easily identifiable areas.

Mia yai,mia noi is a long standing thai tradition and extended up to royal ranks commonly until Rama IV.

All that said however,Thailand's image despite all the protestations,includes that of sex tourism. Thailand actually ranks well behind India,Taiwan and the Phillipines in terms of per capita prostitution,but tell someone in the UK you're visiting India and they will not automatically assume you're sari-chasing.

Certainly incorrect to blame TV/media coverage and,given this director's past productions,the programme is likely to be challenging. Let's hope it goes beyond the "who's exploiting whom" slant and addresses some real issues of education,redistribution of wealth and power...