General Reports

I have never been to Thailand but have been following this thread for awhile now. Some very insightful responses here.

I too believe this will have a huge impact on Intl mongering for the short long term if that makes sense. Let's call that a year from now at the very least UNLESS some breakthrough happens. I do also think countries that openly flaunt red-light areas may come under international scrutiny to abide by certain global health codes or face ecomonic sanctions.

Mongering will still exist but more underground and geared towards discreet escort semi pro type situations. A more personal level would be the upside.

Health checks upon landing on foreign soil and maybe more extensive than expected?

These are all opinions obviously. I truly hope that I am wrong with all of these predictions.

I am craving a good mongering trip right about now.

[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2445285]I think you might be overlooking the fact that Thai people really dislike the farang P4 P scene and would like to see it gone. Sadly we don't fish in the same pond as the locals and for the most part are not welcome there.[/QUOTE]I'm certainly not an expert in Thai culture, but I expect something different. When it is again safe to travel, many farang punters won't travel because they have less money than prior years due to not working for quite some time. Fewer P4P tourists will be arriving. Meanwhile, many Thai hospitality businesses will have gone a long time without income and they will be eager for just about any source of money. The industry will not recover immediately when safe to travel, but we will be welcome to spend our money in the same kinds of ways that we did pre-COVID19.

[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2445285]I think you might be overlooking the fact that Thai people really dislike the farang P4 P scene and would like to see it gone. Sadly we don't fish in the same pond as the locals and for the most part are not welcome there. If we did, we'd have no worry about venues being pressured. This is the perfect opportunity for the authorities to make it so difficult for these businesses to operate that most just shut. That is the Thai way. Don't go after things directly, do it in an indirect manner.
.........
So no, I don't believe Thailand will be the same when it comes to P4 P. Far from it.[/QUOTE]I have heard the Thai authorities wants to close these places but I don't think it's practical. Will anyone come to Thailand if they close NPE, WS or cowboy? Yes I am expecting these to stay close by August.

"Thailand will be same" like pre-covid, well that's subjective. Places change and I'm sure somethings will change, maybe those who Monger here regularly notice the difference but those who come 1-2 times a year, for them it won't matter much. Asians, where will they go, South America, Eastern Europe? They will still come to Thailand and spend huge money in gogos like before. So, "it won't be same" ie very subjective to the person in question.

[QUOTE=Gargano19;2445316]I have heard the Thai authorities wants to close these places but I don't think it's practical. Will anyone come to Thailand if they close NPE, WS or cowboy? Yes I am expecting these to stay close by August.[/QUOTE]When I have been in a plane to and from Thailand it has never been full of mongers. When I have been at immigration coming into or leaving out of Thailand it has never been full of mongers. When I have been in the lobby of Suvarnabhumi it has never been full of mongers. When I see all these double decker tour buses they are never full of mongers. Maybe 1% mongers come to Thailand and 99% of everybody else. So what, if the 1% never comes back? And of that 1% how many actually go to Nana, Walking Street, Cowboy, Patpong, Bangla? The game is on the web now.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2445319]...
Maybe 1% mongers come to Thailand and 99% of everybody else.
...[/QUOTE]You know, the question I have asked myself many times over the years is why DO these non mongers spend the money, fly so many hours and go through the language and culture hassles to come to Thailand.

I get that vacationing families come to sight see, check out the Grand Palace, gawk at a temple or two, eyeball some amazing shopping malls and such. Maybe a trip to the crocodile farm, elephant ride and the floating market. But you can check all those boxes in 2 days. Then what?

I understand Bangkok is usually the top #1 or #2 visited city on Earth, usually competing with London for the top spot. But isn't much of that the result of it being a major airport hub pass through city? And many people who are on their way to another Asian destination decide, what the hell, might as well stay a night or two in Bangkok as long as I need to fly in anyway? And for that reason as well there might be business opportunities or meetings here.

Seriously, I can't think of one reason I would recommend a single man or a group of single men to fly 24+ hours on a plane to get to Bangkok or Thailand in general if it weren't for the girls and P4P action here. To shop in fabulous malls? Ride an elephant? Feed a crocodile frozen chicken parts? Visit a temple? You can do that stuff anywhere. IF you would even want to, that is. Why bother to go all the way to Thailand to do it other than to say you did?

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2445294]This would go for regular massage parlors, discos, and normal bars as well then right? Afterall, how would they differentiate?[/QUOTE]For oilies it would be simple, cleaning requirements for wet areas, sheets on the bed, procedures to clean the room, perhaps removing the doors and making them replace them with curtains. Sitting with customers in a GoGo could be restricted by social distancing rules in the short term, just enough to make it tough to get customers.

[QUOTE=Gargano19;2445316]I have heard the Thai authorities wants to close these places but I don't think it's practical. Will anyone come to Thailand if they close NPE, WS or cowboy? Yes I am expecting these to stay close by August.

"Thailand will be same" like pre-covid, well that's subjective. Places change and I'm sure somethings will change, maybe those who Monger here regularly notice the difference but those who come 1-2 times a year, for them it won't matter much. Asians, where will they go, South America, Eastern Europe? They will still come to Thailand and spend huge money in gogos like before. So, "it won't be same" ie very subjective to the person in question.[/QUOTE]The number of sex tourists has been declining for years. It is a drop in the bucket and the loss of those tourists will not effect the overall tourist economy in most places, with Pattaya being the possible exception, but even then there are vast numbers of tourists in Pattaya who are not looking for P4 P. 20 years ago in Pattaya, that was different. It was basically just mongers.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2445331]You know, the question I have asked myself many times over the years is why DO these non mongers spend the money, fly so many hours and go through the language and culture hassles to come to Thailand.[/QUOTE]A question not directly related to this. Do you know what makes the Q1 Sukhumvit condo so expensive? It is the high rise connected to Nana BTS station. I think the condo is in the million USD range.

[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2445332]For oilies it would be simple, cleaning requirements for wet areas, sheets on the bed, procedures to clean the room, perhaps removing the doors and making them replace them with curtains. Sitting with customers in a GoGo could be restricted by social distancing rules in the short term, just enough to make it tough to get customers.[/QUOTE]Wouldn't that kill the regular massage places and spas too?

[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2445333]The number of sex tourists has been declining for years. It is a drop in the bucket and the loss of those tourists will not effect the overall tourist economy in most places, with Pattaya being the possible exception, but even then there are vast numbers of tourists in Pattaya who are not looking for P4 P. 20 years ago in Pattaya, that was different. It was basically just mongers.[/QUOTE]I would agree mongers who come to play as a percentage of overall tourists has fallen but I feel the sex industry is still a significant component of the hospitality segment. Estimates of the numbers of Thais employed or free lancing in the business vary widely but it certainly runs into the hundreds of thousands. Pattaya may not look like the old days as it transformed from a fishing village to an destination for GI'S on leave but I would hazard a guess there are more girls working there now than 20 years ago.

[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2445283] and just not having as much disposable income for a time. [/QUOTE]Yes and no. In France we realize that there are 55 billion euros in savings since the beginning of the confinement because people have not been able to spend their money. The government hopes that this financial windfall can be reinvested in the country to restart the economy.

It is also one of the reasons why countries around the world cannot miss the start of the recovery (or let other countries pass before them) when it takes place, otherwise they will miss spending.

[QUOTE=Nounce;2445336]A question not directly related to this. Do you know what makes the Q1 Sukhumvit condo so expensive? It is the high rise connected to Nana BTS station. I think the condo is in the million USD range.[/QUOTE]Yes, and I don't think it is a coincidence that the first two major intersections of the skytrain and subway just happen to be a few minutes' walk from the oldest and biggest tourist go-go bar and red light districts in the city. Which then gave reason to building all those highrise condos, office buildings and shopping malls in the same areas.

I know that was then and this is now. Maybe all those businesses built up around and as close to the bars and brothels as they could get can continue on auto pilot going forward.

But, personally, I would be kind of pissed if I'd spent a million USD or more to live smack dab at BTS Nana and 3 months later all the go-go bars and beer bars around the corner and right down the street disappeared. I mean, Terminal 21 Mall is nice and Monsoon Soi 8 is a fine restaurant and all that. The Tavern on Soi 4 might have the best pancakes and bacon breakfast around. But a million USD to be so close to them?

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2445345]


But, personally, I would be kind of pissed if I'd spent a million USD or more to livemack dab at BTS Nana and 3 months later all the go-go bars and beer bars around the corner and right down the street disappeared. I mean, Terminal 21 Mall is nice and Monsoon Soi 8 is a fine restaurant and all that. The Tavern on Soi 4 might have the best pancakes and bacon breakfast around. But a million USD to be so close to them?[/QUOTE]Haha, that is what I am thinking. Thanks.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;2445331]Seriously, I can't think of one reason I would recommend a single man or a group of single men to fly 24+ hours on a plane to get to Bangkok or Thailand in general if it weren't for the girls and P4P action here.[/QUOTE]I am one of those 24+ hours away guys. A few reasons I can think of:

1) Weather: Thailand is among the warmest places on earth in January and February. 95 degrees F is mighty appealing when it is zero degrees F with lots of snow back home.

2) Cost: while not the bargain it used to be Thailand is still relatively inexpensive, especially for a retiree planning a lengthy holiday.

3) Variety: Thailand is likely far different culturally than home base. Think Thai massages and Thai food.

4) The journey: I have only taken flights to BKK in J and F (using airline miles) so spending time in premium cabins and airport lounges makes the time in transit an event unto itself.

That said: without an active P4 P scene Thailand loses most of its appeal for me.

SL.

[QUOTE=Sunlover2;2445351]That said: without an active P4 P scene Thailand loses most of its appeal for me.

SL.[/QUOTE]GoGos may disappear but I am the opposite of many here and don't drink, don't like to talk shit in bars and have been in 6 strip clubs / gogos in my life and would consider maybe going back to one of them. I don't think there will be any less P4P it will just be in a different format.