The Thai rubber industry could supply the demand for a growing sex market
A Thai minister has suggested a unique way to expanding Thailand’s rubber industry: promoting Thai rubber by tapping into the sex toy market.
In a Facebook post on Thursday (23 February), Thailand’s Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Chalermchai Sri-on believes that this approach, under the concept he dubbed “Sex Toy – Made in Thailand”, will raise the value of Thai rubber and generate revenue for the country.
Chalermchai asserts that sex toys should be about sexual well being, and not pornography.
“Today we must dare to decide. To make a profit, should we turn rubber into sex toys? It’s not just about pornography but also a matter of sexual health,” the minister said.
Chalermchai said that the world’s sex market was expected to reach 1.3 trillion baht (S$50billion) in 2021. It has increased by 300% in five years and is projected to reach 2 trillion Baht (S$77 Billion) by 2030.
“Rubber Valley”
Chalermchai proposes to boost the income of rubber farmers as well as develop a rubber industry estate to streamline production processes. This plan would include introducing economic tourism to increase rubber exports and covering all types of rubber processing.
“We are ready to build an industrial estate called ‘Rubber Valley’ to [systematise] Rubber processing can increase rubber exports which could double as a tourist attraction. We should use all methods to process rubber. Dare to make the change and unlock income for Thai people,” he said.
Chalermchai suggested that sextoy industry growth could bring about social benefits like less rape and fewer cases of sexually-transmitted disease.
However, the minister’s suggestion would require a radical paradigm shift as Thailand still has existing laws on criminalising promiscuity, which violators of the law could get fined or jailed.
Online users support the minister in this matter. One user on Reddit said: “The Minister is correct in bringing up that although rules are there on sex product and sale, it is an open market sale, hence why not venture into such market too.”
“[N]obody buys a new tire as a gift for themselves or their partner because they’re in the mood for something new or because they noticed some feature that triggered curiosity. Just imagine somebody gifting an extra ribbed moped tire on Valentine’s day. That simply doesn’t happen in the tire industry, but latex gifts/self treats are common in the sex tool industry,” another user said.
Marvin Joseph Ang, a journalist and lifestyle writer, focuses on politics and the economy. Follow him @marvs30ang on Twitter for the most recent news and updates.
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