Bangkok, Thailand — 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.
A guide to Thai laws on prostitution, which rely more on solicitation such as offering at massage shops, can be found here.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
