Pattaya Entertainment Zones

[Gaybutton]

In Pattaya, the prices are often reasonable.

Not often enough or reasonable enough for me.

[Dodger]

Below is a link to Thailand's Entertainment Venue Act (Law) B.E. 2509 (1966).

If Jomtien Complex was officially included in Pattaya's Entertainment Zone expansion, the businesses in JC would be permitted to sell alcohol, entertain their customers - including dancing and sitting with customers as hosts, etc., which, if I'm interpreting this right, would include gogo dancing. This is the same Act that has been in place for 23 years encompassing Boyztown and many of the other entertainment venues.

If in fact the Council of Ministries accepts the proposal to implement this act in areas including JC I would find it hard to see how the BIB could play much of a role as long as the businesses maintained their licenses, adhered to defined closing hours, and didn't employ or serve alcohol to minors. Nude dancing and/or sex acts on stage which were common in some venues in the past would of course be vacuums for the BIBs tea Money Express.

We'll just have to wait and see where this is going.

https://report.dopa.go.th/laws/document/2/235.pdf

[Dodger]

Three people have participated in this thread so far.

On this forum that is correct, although there are many gay expats who have been discussing this topic for quite some time now, and I can assure you that any conclusions I've drawn regarding the current bar scene, business trends, spending habits of patrons, etc., are drawn from the collective opinions of those who live here and frequent Boyztown and Jomtien Complex on a regular basis.

Being inside a designated Entertainment Zone, in-and-by-itself, is only good news for the venues who follow the laws pertaining to EV Act 2509. Sunee Plaza was inside the current Entertainment Zone but constantly violated the provisions of the Act by employing underaged workers, failing to maintain business licenses, displaying live sex acts on stage, drug dealing, etc., resulting in an equal amount of raids, fines, arrests, bar closures, and even incarcerations. We were in heaven - but so were the BIB. Where Boyztown was, and still is, paying more attention to the laws defined in the Act and have very minimal problems with the police.

The first gogo bar to open in JC with a dozen HOT boys (preferably Thai) who look like "just-turned 18 models" dancing in nothing but sheer undies on a dimly lit stage - in a hands-on atmosphere (like Eros) - will have a successful business as long as the drink prices and off fees are competitive. That's my prediction. Hope we see it happen.

[Gaybutton]

preferably Thai

I agree with your post except for that part. If I see a boy I like, maybe want to buy a drink for him, maybe want to take him off, I don't know what difference it would make whether he is Thai, Lao, Cambodian, Burmese, or whatever. Why would it be preferable if he is Thai?

[Jun]

The first gogo bar to open in JC with a dozen HOT boys (preferably Thai) who look like "just-turned 18 models" dancing in nothing but sheer undies on a dimly lit stage - in a hands-on atmosphere (like Eros) - will have a successful business as long as the drink prices and off fees are competitive. That's my prediction. Hope we see it happen.

You may well be right. Actually, if Gus bar dropped the shorts, it would be almost as you describe. Although they do need to stop driving customers away with excessive music volume.
Of course, there are over 30 bars in JC. There's no way that anything other than a small percentage could convert to gogos & be viable.

the collective opinions of those who live here and frequent Boyztown and Jomtien Complex on a regular basis.

I'd be interested to hear how the discussion goes when you actually discuss where they spend their money.
I bet they spend far more time in host bars than the remaining gogos, or even the disguised "near gogo" just mentioned.
Counting customers tells me that's exactly what goes on with most of the farang in town these days.

Even I admit I'd like to see a couple of gogo bars in Jomtien. However, if I'm honest with myself, I'd still be spending more time in host bars. Gogos are a good format for selecting the lad with the best body (assuming they have attractive boys). However, host bars work very well for selecting lads with a bit more personality as well.

[Dodger]

Why would it be preferable if he is Thai?

I probably shouldn't have thrown that in because it's strictly a personal preference.

For me, Thais top the chart in physical appearance, personality (karma), and sexual performance. I'm generalizing of course, and have been with some real knockouts from other Asian countries, but, all said, Thais always rank #1.

Japanese twinks come in a close second. Too bad they don't come here.

Cambodians, Laotians, and Burmese have some real gems - but rank third.

[Jun]

Why would it be preferable if he is Thai?

Going off topic, but since you asked....

I see very little difference in the attitude of Thai or Lao boys. However, the average Lao boy weighs less and there are more of them available.
The Cambodians have more erratic behaviour, but they can be very good company & good fun. I tend to off fewer Cambodians, but see some of them again and again.

If I were asked to let a bar boy sleep in my room whilst away for a week, I'd refuse.
If you pointed a gun to my head & repeated the question, I'd start working down my list of reliable Lao boys.

[Dodger]

As much as I'm in favor of expanding (or redefining) Pattaya's Entertainment Zones I can't see the gay venues gaining any real advantages financially unless the laws against Prostitution (the bedrock of Pattaya's nightly entertainment) were to become legalized within designated entertainment zones.

There's been a significant decline in the number of gay tourists visiting Thailand and I honestly can't see this changing anytime soon. With the crippling economic conditions that most tourists are grappling with there's much less $$money$$ flowing, coupled with the fact that a growing number of punters are gravitating to using the apps for their "boy fun" versus spending money out at the bars. A Triple Whammy! That's just the reality of the situation today.

If Prostitution were to become legal, at least within designated entertainment zones, business owners would not have the expense of paying tea money to the BIB for operating in the "Gray Area" anymore. I say this with the understanding that the bulk of tea money going to the BIB from the nightly entertainment venues is for this reason. I'm not naïve enough to believe you can eliminate tea money - but it certainly can be minimized if what you're doing as a business owner is deemed legal.

In comparing Thailand's EV ACT (Law) to current practice, if prostitution was legalized the only gray area left that I can see is that the dancing and/or acts performed on stages could not be deemed obscene or indecent. Of course this will always be a gray area, but not having totally nude dancers, fu*k shows, or girls shooting ping pong balls out of their pussies in the str8 bars might be a good start.

[Jun]

Legalising activities in order to reduce tea money does not seem to be the government objective. In fact, they seem to be doing the exact opposite. For example: Legalise cannabis to create the market, then change the rules to allow the collection of tea money. Even there, if I understand your past comments properly, they legalised only a very weak dose, so presumably allowing tea money to be collected.

I don't see why private "indecent" shows should be restricted. Particularly in entertainment zones.

They could start by zoning freelance prostitutes. They currently have female prostitutes all the way along the beach from walking street up to mafia HQ. Plus some in Jomtien. The ones in Jomtien are a damn nuisance, as they mistakenly assume any male out for a pleasant night time walk is interested in their services, even when he is pointedly walking down the opposite end of the path.
Just move them to a more appropriate location & clamp down on any who are harassing pedestrians.

[Dodger]

1) Legalising activities in order to reduce tea money does not seem to be the government objective.

2) I don't see why private "indecent" shows should be restricted. Particularly in entertainment zones.

1) Thus the reason why they've taken this long to even consider legalizing Prostitution.

2) Because indecent shows are illegal. (read the EV ACT-2509)

They have to draw the line somewhere.

To be honest, some of the sexiest shows I've ever seen involved boys who were scantily dressed...drifting slowly across a dimly lit stage...with those gleans in their eyes...with the cheeks from their perfectly sculped butts slightly protruding from their snug shorts to be quite a turn-on. Erotic lives in the imagination.