History
Cultural tourism
The thriving sex industry is not the only factor that attracts visitors to the Kingdom of Thailand.
Many tourists are drawn to the country’s impressive collection of over 40,000 Buddhist temples.
Additionally, a significant number of party-goers travel to Thailand for its legendary parties,
whether they find themselves experiencing the explosive nightlife in Bangkok or heading south to the vibrant beaches,
such as Patong in Phuket. Notably, one party that draws over 30,000 tourists each month is the famous full moon party,
which is held on the island of Koh Phangan.
One Thai island that has been negatively impacted by the influx of foreign tourists is Koh Tachai, located in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Phang Nga province.
Due to the abundance of visitors, the island has been closed for an indefinite period of time, as it was found to be covered with litter.
Furthermore, boats transporting tourists to and from the island have been leaking gasoline, which has resulted in the contamination of its beautiful waters.
Consequently, these issues have been damaging both the immaculate coral reef and the stunning shores of Koh Tachai.
Although this island is supposed to have a maximum capacity of 70 people,
it is reported that upwards of 1,000 visitors have been present at one time.
Thailand's Majestic Animals
Ancient history and settlement.
One industry that is certainly thriving from this influx of tourists is the animal tourism industry.
This industry in Thailand has recently been in the spotlight due to the closing of the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, Thailand.
The temple had allegedly been trafficking animals, and 137 tigers were relocated to government-run sanctuaries, according to a June 1, 2016.
Guardian article entitled, “Forty dead tiger cubs found in freezer at Thai temple.”
These majestic animals are often the subjects of visitors’ social media accounts.
Most visitors to Thailand have been privy to one tourist or another changing their profile picture to them laying next to an incredibly calm beast.
These animals, however, are apparently often drugged or abused in order for these photographs to even be possible.
Tigers are not the only animals being exploited.
Elephants must endure systematic torture in order to be ridden later by tourists at these so-called elephant sanctuaries.
Orangutans are made to dress as humans and perform for cheering crowds.
Tourists are oftentimes blissfully unaware of what goes on behind the scenes of these animals sanctuaries,
which leads to more and more of them visiting these places.
While international tourists are not the only people to blame for the popularity of these places, they are certainly big contributors to this industry.