Exploited Innocence: Minors at risk in Pattaya'sSex Tourism Landscape : Examining Strategies, Challenges, and Key trends through NGOs perspectives

In this thesis we investigated the current and potential emerging trends and challenges in the sexual exploitation of children in Pattaya, Thailand, a hotspot destination for sex tourism. By interviewing a local NGO and utilizing secondary sources, we also examined preventive measures and future outlooks from NGOs and civil society to combat these issues.Using an intersectional framework, we explored how intersecting systems of power contribute to complexsocial inequalities that can affect minors' risk of sexual exploitation within the travel and tourism industry (SECTT). Our findings revealed how an increased use of technology and change of lifestyle norms among minors shape new trends in the sexual exploitation of children, which also created new challenges. Among challenges identified included insufficient collaboration with authorities, ignorance from tourists, the shift to online platforms, and resource constraints, indicating a potential increased risk of children becoming sexually exploited in Pattaya over the next 3-5 years. NGOs and civil society organizations are in need of a stronger collaboration and admission from Thai authorities in order to protect minors effectively. Preventive measures identified included holistic approaches such as child centers and education, as well as considering the suggestion from an NGO to legalize prostitution in order to address some of the main challenges identified. Our research underscored the importance of these organizations in acountry grappling with poverty, resource inequality, and corruption, while heavily reliant on tourism. While our research goals were achieved, limitations such as the lack of multiple NGO interviews and reliance on secondary sources may have affected the comprehensiveness of the findings.