Is Pattaya the Biggest Brothel in the World?
October 8, 2007
I was scanning through Yahoo Answers over the weekend and I ran across this question. I know that Pattaya has quite a reputation, but I didn’t know it was quite that bad. I mean really, Pattaya is a smallish city at best, with an official population of just 72,000 people. Granted there is a large-ish number of westerners who live at least part time in Pattaya and aren’t included in that number, but c’mon.
Take a look at Nevada which has over 30 licensed brothels. And what about prostitution in New York, Los Angeles, Moscow, Seoul and even Bangkok itself. There are much larger numbers of prostitutes and in some places it is just as open as Pattaya.
Since the Thai’s don’t put the same negative connotation on prostitution that westerners do it is much more open. Don’t get me wrong, upper class Thai’s will still frown on prostitutes and will view them as second class citizens, but they also acknowledge the reality of the situation and the fact that prostitution has and will always exist. They know what pigs men are 
There is no doubt that Pattaya was developed due to the sex trade, maintained because of the sex trade, and prospers today because of the sex trade. It is likely that billions are spent annually in Thailand on sex and all of the related tourist dollars spent on hotels, food, drinks, condoms, gifts, taxis etc.
But Pattaya can be more than just sex. You can go windsurfing, parasailing, bungy 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.
Pattaya is also by far the most westernized place in Thailand and you are just as likely to hear English or German on the streets as you are Thai. Most of the signs include both Thai and English, something you won’t find even in Bangkok. English language newspapers, books and magazines are easy to find and many of the bar owners in Pattaya are farang.
No, Pattaya probably isn’t the largest brothel in the world although it is the cheapest and that is the draw for many. That combined with the ease of obtaining any kind of sexual favor has made Pattaya a kind of legend among sex tourists and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Thailand would need to crack down on prostitution there as well as in Bangkok and Phuket and there is just too much money to be lost from the millions of sex tourists that come to Thailand each year.
If you are easily offended by seeing blatant sex for sale, fat old men with young girls or transvestites (katooey) then leave Pattaya off your tour agenda. But don’t expect it to change because Pattaya is what it is. Love it or hate Pattaya is there to stay.
BTW - I haven’t been to Pattaya yet, although Golf has. Seems a very interesting place for people watching. I do want to get there sometime if for no other reason than to see Tiffany’s Show. If you’ve been to Pattaya we’d love to hear about it, leave a comment.
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[...] Is Pattaya the Biggest Brothel in the World? . It is likely that billions are spent annually in Thailand on sex and all of the related tourist dollars… in Thailand and you are just as likely to hear English or German on the streets as you are Thai. Most… a kind of legend among sex tourists and I don t see that changing anytime soon. Thailand would need… money to be lost from the millions of sex tourists that come to Thailand each year. If you [...]
I’m a professional, middle aged, American man and have been to Thailand 5 or 6 times. Although I’ve toured most of the country, I always spend some time in Pattaya on every trip. Pattaya does have a stigma of decadence, but if you were to visit this place, you would see that it also has a very pleasant side that attracts couples, families and beachgoers from around the world. I hate being labeled a “sex tourist” just because I like Pattaya. It sounds so perverse. If having the affections of young, willing and beautiful women during your vacation is a crime, then I guess I’m guilty. I’m sure many other Western men would agree that Pattaya is rejuvinating to the spirit and body. Something we don’t get at home.
Pattaya is what it is and there is no place on Earth like it. Let’s be fair though, being what it is there is no way that a white male will NOT be labeled as a sex tourist if he’s off to Pattaya. Nothing wrong with that though if you can live with the label. I agree that it can be a lot of fun and quite relaxing and rejuvanating. Add to that the fact that it is cheap and relatively safe compared to similar destinations and it’s no wonder Pattaya sees millions of visitors a year.
And while it’s true that Pattaya DOES have it’s more innocent side there is no way I would choose it as a beach destination when I’m in Thailand. I mean really there are hundreds of islands in Thailand and every single one is cleaner than Pattaya.
I say just go and enjoy and don’t worry about what others think. And when you come back we’d love to hear your story here at Thailand Musings.
I think Pattaya probably has the largest red light area in the World. There is lots to
do in Pattaya and for a small city it really does pack everything in there. It is also obvious that that city has been built around the sex scene and that is what really keeps the city going. I think if there was a serious crackdown on prostitution then
the tourist rate would fall 30 - 40%. Saying that in recent years I have seen a lot of package holiday groups from China, Taiwan, India and Russia coming to town.
Like the place or not it is a fun place to be. Have to also say I have never seen a place with so many bars.
Is Pattaya the biggest brothel in the world? Yes and No. I live in Thailand, and when you know the country and its poor people from the North East, then you will understand why Pattaya is what it is. They do not consider it prostitution, it is a job to them, for which they are given a tip, which is up to the person concerned. A large amount of this so called payment goes home to support the family and usually the offspring who are being cared for by sisters and parents. There are off course the hardcore girls, but they are in the minority. Most only stay for a season or so, and are replaced by other from home, who see them return with nice clothes etc. and want to try for themselves. Most foreigners who see and talk to them would find it hard to refuse them, they are feminine, know they are femoine, and show they are feminine, probably some of the most beautiful girls in the world, and many finish up being married to foreigners. It is a life that has been going on for a long time now, and treated as going to work just like you and me. In reality only Pattaya, Phuket and parts of Bangkok have this hotbed of available sex, it is allowed but controlled, and you seldom hear complaints. Try it you may just form an opinion