Thailand wants to get rid of reputation as sex destination hinh anh 1Thailand is dubbed as a sex paradise (Source: AFP)

Bangkok (VNA) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said in a recent statement that it will ensure that its future marketing strategy and policy will move Thailand forward as a “Quality Destination” and strongly oppose any form of sex tourism.

TAT hopes that the country will lure a record 37.55 million tourists in 2018.

In 2017, the country’s tourism sector served 37.3 million visitors and earned a record revenue of 53.76 billion USD, up 12 percent from 2016.

Thailand is known for its beaches, Buddhist temples and world-famous cuisine. However, the country is also dubbed as a sex paradise, though prostitution is illegal in Thailand.

There were around 123,530 sex workers in Thailand, according to a 2014 UNAIDS report.

In 2016, Thailand’s then-tourism minister said she was pushing to rid the country of its ubiquitous brothels and promote “quality tourism”.

Thai police conducted raids on some of the biggest establishments providing sex services in the capital Bangkok.

But Thai authorities later admitted that ridding the country of an industry that is so entrenched will be extremely difficult.-VNA

VNA