The Thai government has blocked a documentary, about a seedy seaside town where 'sex is easy' and Brits get battered, from being viewed there.
On the face of it Pattaya, a city on Thailand’s eastern Gulf, is paradise. Perfect sandy beaches, sun almost all year round and more bars than a thirsty Brit could shake their stick at.
However, Pattaya has a murky underworld and its reputation is one of a sex tourism hotspot. Writing about the destination in 2010, none other than the New York Times declared: "If Las Vegas is Sin City, Pattaya is a bear hug from Lucifer himself."
READ MORE: Inside seedy seaside town where 'sex is easy' and Brits get battered in bars
And the Thai government, keen to shed this image, has blocked a new documentary by German organisation Deutsche Welle (DW) from being viewed in the country. Officials are concerned "about the consequences as it could impact the overall tourism market," the Bangkok Post reported.
Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said a similar report 20 years ago affected tourism in the area.
She said police need to work harder to tackle the problems of illegal sex workers. Ms Nunbhakdi, who is also the owner of three hotels in Pattaya, added that although the city has worked hard to invest in other sectors, it might not "be possible to totally erase the perception of the city's sex tourism."
"Not everybody visits Pattaya for entertainment or for sex tourism," she insisted.
-
Glam female prison officer, 26, 'had secret phone sex with inmate' and 'met his mum'
But that certainly is what the city, formerly a sleepy coastal village, is known for. Pattaya has morphed into a depraved sex tourism destination where local women can earn more by selling themselves, mainly to British men.
One Brit called Darren runs a perverted blog called 'Pattaya Unlimited' where he says "sex is easy" and generally objectifies Thai women, despite having a Thai wife and children.
"What happens with girls in Pattaya, in girlie bars, adult nightlife venues, and naughty massage parlours, is what Pattaya is most famous for, why it’s been dubbed 'Sin City,' and why most men visit Pattaya for the first time," he wrote.
The city administration has made an effort to clean up its act, or at least airbrush its reputation. Pattaya has a growing number of fancy restaurants, an annual music festival and even regular polo tournaments.
-
Mum horrified to find 'dirty' holes in wall of sports centre family changing rooms
But 4am alcohol licensing hours means trouble is not usually too far away, as British tourist, Jack Fitzmaurice, 28, found this out the hard way when he was caught up in a 'Wild West type bar room brawl'.
He was drinking with a girl when others became jealous at a strip club in Pattaya in the early hours of Sunday morning (November 19). A massive scrap then ensued, allegedly over who got which punter.
"There was hair being pulled and legs flying everywhere. Then the bar staff joined in and it became quite nasty. It was like a Wild West-type bar fight you see in the old movies. Just mad," a witness said.
For more shocking stories from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here
Source: Read Full Article