page_title: Prostitution in Thailand
section_title: Karaoke bars
hierarchical_section_title: Prostitution in Thailand / Location / Karaoke bars
caption_attribution_description: English: Thai karaoke bar
context_page_description: Prostitution has been common in Thailand for centuries. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, prostitution was legal and taxed, and the state ran brothels. Prostitution is not illegal in Thailand, although many activities associated with it are. Nevertheless, it was estimated to be worth US$6.4 billion a year in revenue, accounting for a significant portion of the national GDP.
context_section_description: One observer says that, "So-called 'karaoke bars' commonly feature karaoke machines as décor, even though few or no customers visit such venues to sing, but rather to buy sex service." In a 2015 study by the Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Health Service, there were 2,410 women working in restaurants and karaoke bars in Ubon Ratchathani Province. Of these, 1,230 were confirmed sex workers. Just over half of them—692 women—were from Laos working illegally in Thailand.
caption: Karaoke bar in Thailand
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