Massage shop "crackdown"

[Gaybutton]

With all the talk coming from government officials about legalizing prostitution, seems kind of pointless to me to be "cracking down" on it at massage shops now, although I definitely see the point on making sure masseurs are licensed and properly trained.
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Thai Ministry of Public Health to Crack Down on Unlicensed Massage Shops and Prostitution Activities

By Kittisak Phalaharn

2 August, 2024

Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin announced today, August 2nd, 2024, that the Thai Ministry of Public Health is taking decisive action against unlicensed massage shops and those involved in illegal prostitution activities. The crackdown aims to regulate the industry and ensure public safety.

The licenses for massage shops are overseen by the ministry’s Department of Health Service Support. Authorities will collaborate to identify and shut down unlicensed establishments, protecting both customers and legitimate businesses. They plan on doing this within a two month window, according to the meeting.

The Ministry also plans to target massage shops whose primary goal is offering illegal prostitution services and in partnership with local law enforcement hold them accountable in terms of the law. He says this ruins the world class image of Thai massages and that, according to him, customers are not interested in these types of services.

In addition to enforcement, the ministry plans to upskill and reskill masseuses through a new project. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of services provided by licensed masseuses. Furthermore, regulations will be put in place to control the cost of Thai massages, making them more accessible to the public.

Health Minister Somsak emphasized that this effort aligns with the government’s broader strategy. By promoting Thai massage as part of their “soft power” initiative, Thailand aims to position itself as a global medical and wellness hub.

This comes as several proposals have been made to the Thai government to fully legalize prostitution in Thailand and regulate, versus criminalize, the industry.

https://tpnnational.com/2024/08/02/thai ... ctivities/

[Jun]

He says this ruins the world class image of Thai massages and that, according to him, customers are not interested in these types of services.

If customers were not interested in such services, how would the businesses survive ?

Ideally, all you would need is some labeling so customers know exactly what's on offer.
For example, if it's a professional massage & 100% of the staff are trained, the signs outside should say so.

They could also crackdown on massage shops that cut the duration of the massage short.
Even that's probably not a problem for long term visitors.
I manage this by not going back to the offending shops for several years & taking my business to the massage shops or boys who do deliver.
So it simply doesn't matter how many foxy smiles are seen outside a massage shop. If I've had one rogue masseur, I'll take my business to the other shops for a few years.