Sex Tourism Abroad | The Unfortunate Truth Behind Ping Pong Shows in Thailand

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How I ended up at a ping pong show

It was my first two weeks ever in Asia and the very start of my journey abroad, ‘fresh off the boat’ as they say. It was 2017 and I met up with a friend from back home who had already been backpacking throughout Southeast Asia on his own. The plan was to sneak some traveling in before the start of my TEFL training course on Koh Chang. We spent some time in Bangkok and did a little island hopping off the coast of Southern Thailand in the Andaman Sea. I touched down in Bangkok first and boy, what an introduction. It was hot, buzzing with action, a little gritty and completely different from any place I had ever seen before. It felt like a whole new world. 

Upon my arrival, my friend mentioned going to a ping pong show whilst in the city. Little innocent me had not a clue what this meant, ‘What’s a Ping Pong Show?’. A cheeky smile grew across his face and we decided that he wouldn't tell me what it was, I would have to find out once we were there. I was game, I’m a lover of spontaneity and surprises, but my naivety did not prepare me for the unsettling experience I would have. It was unexpected, to say the least.

At the time, I interpreted the show as a part of experiencing a culture different from my own. I was in a new foreign country and I was ready to roll with what it had to show me. I didn’t really know what to think in the moment but I assume many people, including myself, attending the show are caught up in the ‘action’, mostly in disbelief. I found the effects of what I had just watched to sink in a bit more after I left. It was, in a way, disturbingly impressive; and I kind of brushed it off as the closest I would get to stepping foot in a strip club. Looking back and knowing more now, it was so much more than just a weird night and with a much bigger picture behind the scenes. I hope I can educate new travelers on the truth behind these shows and steer them clear from endorsing this sad consequence of Thailand’s culture of sex tourism. 

Soi Cowboy, Red-light district of Bangkok

Walking the infamous streets of Bangkok, Soi Cowboy and Khao San Road, vendors shamelessly promote their products,  bars and entertainment. If you’ve ever been to Asia then you already know just how much of a hustle these street vendors are on. They’re always in your face, laying it on thick and trying to get you to buy something. As we walked the streets, some vendors would make popping noises with their mouths and follow it up with a, ‘You want ping pong show?’. These streets come to life in the evening, vibrant and boisterous with loud music, bright lights and neon signs, so much to look at in every direction. For many, a sensory overload. 

Entry into a ping pong show is sometimes bought for just $10 or through a beverage, buy a beer and bam, you’re in. The venue was a fairly small room, with a stage in the middle that was encompassed by mirrors, tables and guests. By this point, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what kind of ‘show’ this would be, it felt like a strip club and the audience of older men only reaffirmed that hunch. I thought I had an idea of what was about to go down but I was wrong.  

We took our seats and the show began.

What’s a ping pong show?

 A ping pong show is essentially stage entertainment in the form of a sex show. Imagine a strip club tease taken to a whole other level. The women range from naked to wearing minimal lingerie but dancing and prancing upon the stage aren’t all that they do. I'll refer to Wikipedia to describe that best, ‘women use their pelvic muscles to either hold, eject, or blow objects from their vaginal cavity’. I’m sure that’s not what you were expecting and believe me, neither was I. You can research this further at your own risk. Most often, one of the objects used in the show is, you guessed it, a ping pong ball. While a ping pong ball is the most common object, the show is certainly not limited there. The variation of what comes out of these women is astonishing and defies all physics. 

A ping pong show is often on the list of things to do when traveling to Thailand. A ‘must see’ on many visitors’ bucket lists to this country but I’m hoping that by the end of reading this, it will no longer be on yours. And if it still is then I implore you to do your research and attend a show in which the women performing are not the victims of sex trafficking and are there by choice. That being said, I imagine sorting through these clubs to find an ‘ethical’ one would be a bit of a lost battle. Because of the difficulty in finding such a thing, ‘an ethical ping pong show’, maybe it’s just best to scratch it all together. Thailand has so much more to offer and if this is your vibe then hit up a cabernet or burlesque show where the women are paid better and put on less degrading performances.

Red-light districts

Thailand isn’t the only country in the world famous for its red-light districts and you might be surprised at just how widespread these are around the world and especially in Europe. Among the most famous of course, is Amsterdam. A red-light district, also referred to as a pleasure district, is an area with a high concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses like strip clubs, sex shops and adult theaters. 

In Bangkok, there are four main red-light districts, Nana Plaza, Soi Cowboy, Patpong and Soi Twilight. The majority of the venues in these districts are go-go bars that provide shows and entertainment within the sex industry. 

China town, Bangkok

In other places of the world, some red-light districts are actually designated areas for regulated and legal prostitution. This way they can be safe, monitored and still allow freedom for sex industry business and work. While this is the case in some places it is certainly not regulated in Asia or Thailand specifically.

Sex tourism

Thailand is heavily dependent on tourism for its national income, it accounts for at least 7% of its GDP. Unfortunately, a large number of the tourists visiting this country arrive with an ulterior motive. Sex tourism is traveling with the intent to engage in sexual activity or relationships in exchange for money or lifestyle support. In Thailand, sex tourism and all related expenses are estimated to profit over $6.6 billion in revenue and directly contribute to the Thai GDP. These staggering numbers demonstrate just how prevalent the culture is and how complicated regulation and restrictions would be when it provides so much income to the country. This problem is not only specific to Thailand or Asia, globally, sex tourism is a multibillion-dollar industry and provides work for millions around the world.

If you’ve ever been to Asia then you may have seen the all too popular stereotype, old men walking around with their arms wrapped around the waist of young Asian girls. It's a stereotype you hear about and when you’re there, it's unsettling just how common this reality is. I can’t tell you how many uncomfortable age gaps I’ve seen walking around and in Thailand, Bangkok and Pattaya are probably the largest hotspots. 

In my research, numbers are reported but it is quite difficult to gauge accurate estimates regarding sex tourism and its unfortunate counterpart, sex trafficking. This is due to the black markets, corruption and poor reporting. Sex trafficking is a serious issue throughout Southeast Asia and Thailand unfortunately, plays a large role in it. Many men, women and children victimized by this industry come from rural areas and are members of ethnic minority groups. They are taken from their homes, sold, kidnapped, or forced into trafficking. Due to poverty and their disadvantages, these individuals make easy targets for such a business. Unfortunately, this is the ugly truth and can be found throughout all of Asia.

Is it ethical?

Ping Pong Shows have been around since the 1970s and prostitution in Thailand has been documented in history for at least six centuries. While ping pong shows are technically illegal, police turn a blind eye for profit due to pressures of tourists and local corruption. Some ping pong shows solicit prostitution as well but most do not sell sex to customers. Interestingly, prostitution in Thailand is not technically illegal but publicly soliciting and creating a nuisance is. 

In 2003, the country considered legalizing and regulating prostitution to improve the working conditions for sex workers and reduce the corruption that is often involved. In the end, nothing came to be from the conversation and if women want to work in the sex industry then I believe that to be their choice. The issue and difficulty is in identifying the women who choose this line of work, choose it as a last resort or lesser of two evils and those who have had no choice at all - they have been sold and trafficked into it. While attending a ping pong show, you have no way of identifying whether or not ethical practices are in play or if the workers really want to be there. No one wants their money to contribute to the disadvantages and mistreatment of women abroad. My personal opinion is that ping pong shows are highly unethical and a reflection of the darker side of tourism.

Should you go?

As a traveler in a foreign country, there will be mistakes made and no matter how much preparation and research you put in, there will always be more to learn. Brand new to Thailand, I was unaware of the role that sex trafficking played in ping pong shows and Bangkok at large. In hindsight, I should have done my research and with that, I would not have gone. I don’t blame anyone for making the same mistake I did. You’re there to try new things and dip your toes in, it's only once you’re there or afterward that you realize maybe that wasn't the right thing to do. It can be too easy to fall into saying yes to things you otherwise shouldn’t have. 

Experiences and mistakes like these teach you how important and tricky it can be to not just travel blindly but to travel ethically. I have learned a great deal and witnessed even more throughout the last few years. Today I have a better understanding of sex tourism in Asia and with this, I hope to shed a sliver of light on the bigger picture in regards to this uncomfortable and sensitive topic. This being said, I only know a little, and there will always be more to look out for, we, the traveler, must be careful. Scammers continue to get better at defrauding visitors into gaining their trust and convincing them they are ethical or legitimate businesses. This is also a major issue when looking for elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, and all of the above is further proof of the awareness a traveler must possess when abroad. If you’re asking me, my recommendation would be to not attend a ping pong show or spend a dime on anything that profits the very corrupt sex industry that exists abroad.

Again, I always like to end these with a ‘you do you’ send-off. I’m not here to tell you how to travel or live your life, but rather offer up my experiences and opinions- you can take it or leave it. I also don’t want this to turn you off from traveling to Thailand, it’s a beautiful country and one of the easier to visit as a new traveler or tourist. There is not a single place in this world that is squeaky clean, there will always be a little bad mixed in with the good. No matter what you decide, at least now you can go into it better informed on the ugly truth behind this popular late-night entertainment.

• Madeline

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