Pattaya police raid love hotels to prevent underage sexual activities

Mueang Pattaya Police Station officers raided several love hotels in the city to stamp out underage guests indulging in illegal underage sexual activities and prevent sexual assaults on Loy Krathong Day.

Prior to the Loy Krathong Festival, Siam Techno Poll of Siam Technology College conducted a survey on what Thai people planned to do on Loy Krathong Day and found that 40.31% of respondents planned to have sex on the day. The previous polls in the past also showed that people had sex on this day, even more than on Valentine’s Day.

As a result, Pattaya, one of the most popular destinations during the Loy Krathong Festival, launched a measure to prevent inappropriate sexual activities, especially among people under 20 years old.

Officers said it was possible that people would continue to hang out with their partners after the events, but emphasised that isolated places and love hotels posed a risk for underage sexual activities and assaults. Consequently, Pattaya police extended their vigilance beyond Loy Krathong events to ensure the safety of residents in love hotels.

In a recent operation, the police conducted raids on several love hotels in the area, urging cooperation from hotel operators. They emphasized the importance of checking the identity cards of every guest before booking to verify that they are above 20 years old, as these establishments only permit guests of that age.

Police officers further encouraged hotel staff to promptly report any inappropriate or violent behaviour exhibited by guests, as such signs could indicate a potential sexual assault. These measures, they stressed, should not be limited to the Loy Krathong Festival, citing previous reports that highlighted sexual assaults occurring in hotels even outside the festive season.

In a recent sexual assault at a hotel in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani on July 25, a hotel employee not only turned a blind eye to a sexual assault but also repeated the assault on the 14 year old victim.

The hotel employee reportedly chased the first rapist out of the hotel before repeatedly raping the victim and detaining her for two days.