bangkok decades since vietnam war scantily clothe dancers go-go bar bangkok patpong red-light district face thailand tourism industry last year first time country draw women tourists men surge chinese female visitors outweigh longstanding distortion spur men draw world sex capital shift welcome news thai authorities try promote country shop beach temples minimize importance sex tourism thrive thailand become hotspot u.s. troop 1960s 1970s tourism ministry figure review reuters show 52 percent 32 million visitors last year women compare 48 percent 2015 42 percent 2012. early official data available research far back 1980s show ratio 60 percent male 40 percent female visitors many women visit thailand think cheap destination much vice come mean image accommodate tourism minister kobkarn wattanavrangkul tell reuters tourism account around 12 percent southeast asia second-biggest economy easily fast grow sector particularly since coup 2014. hop attract female tourists state tourism authority thailand start women journey campaign last year website mobile application offer discount hotels spas malls restaurants big factor tourism china reshape industry around world number chinese visitors rise nearly 12 percent thailand visitors 2012 27 percent last year number chinese women visit thailand nearly quadruple period 5.3 million chinese men make lot money tend take wife daughter mother travel make ratio heavy female side say virat chatturaputpitak vice president association thai travel agents major chinese travel website tuniu report 62 percent customers last year women chinese media report choose come thailand close many flight cheap travel easy get visa say man na zhang 24 bangkok erawan shrine favorite spot chinese tourists despite deadly bomb 2015. chinese female visitors get tourist visa arrival also cite simple tax rebate procedure duty free goods another drawcard snap items cosmetics bottle bird nest soup vitamins supplement many store bangkok shop malls accept alipay china giant online payment service big supermarket near erawan shrine buzz chinese tourists fill trolleys bulk packets tom yum goong flavor instant noodles crispy seaweed dry squid snack businesses tourist towns start print menus chinese get workers learn language cater chinese tourists last year make europe americas middle east africa combine china recent golden week holiday bring 70 percent chinese visitors last year tourism ministry say nationalities traditionally patronize thailand sex industry tourist number still dominate men 68 percent japanese visitors 58 percent british nearly 56 percent american australian german tourists even countries balance shift towards female tourists although sex industry far dead local businesses complain few tourists visit areas patpong nearby silom neighborhood evidently few tourists especially low season sales go tens thousands baht day nothing say somkid sangwong manager restaurant silom alley next patpong surround neon-lit sign bar blast loud music offer raunchy live show phadet mesild board member tourism association koh samui another popular spot sex tourism tell reuters decline demand force many venues island close since 2014 thailand military government occasionally raid brothels bar massage parlors effort clean country image usually bounce back quickly go-go go chinese women fuel thai tourism boom