Politicians and bar girls: a tale of moral hypocrisy

I agree totally with the sentiments expressed in Songdej Praditsmanont’s truthful and excellent letter, but I believe he is incorrect on one statistic. The income reported from tourism is based on monies that are traceable. That means mainly credit-card transactions by upscale tourists. But the majority of tourists arrive with cash to avoid the 3 per cent surcharge for using a card. Taking the cash-spenders into account, tourism income has to be astronomical. 

Most significant is a huge source of tourist dollars that most respectable Thais prefer not to mention: bar girls. At a conservative estimate there are at least 100,000 bar girls in Thailand earning on average at least Bt10,000 a month – which makes Bt1 billion per month in tourist income. 

Most Thais are ashamed of this aspect of tourism, but they shouldn’t be. National income of Bt1 billion per month, as opposed to the billions of baht stolen from Thailand by corrupt officials – most of whom the majority of Thais are quick to praise – is something worthy of mention. Most of these girls work outrageous hours in a very difficult trade and send the bulk of their earnings to their families in Isaan, which is ploughed back into the national economy. 

While bar girls are considered unmentionable in polite society, in my opinion they should be honoured with a statue somewhere in Bangkok or Pattaya. They are citizens who persevere under the most difficult of circumstances, unlike the many corrupt government officials who continue to lie to themselves and their fellow citizens, while living a life of luxury. 

John Arnone