The Briefing
The Briefing
LiSTNR
US-Iran strikes shut Aus embassy + Inside Thailand’s sex tourism trade
25 minutes Posted Jul 12, 2026 at 8:17 pm.
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Monday Headlines: 

  • One Nation loses support to the Coalition
  • Trump says strait of Hormuz open despite Iran closure
  • Australian Universities forced to adopt new definitions on antisemitism and Islamophobia
  • Aussie students flock to free TAFE courses, but apprentice figures dip
  • Australia to wave goodbye to paper arrival cards for incoming travellers

Deep Dive: Pattaya has long traded on two reputations: a tourist playground by day, and one of the world's busiest red-light hubs by night.  
 
That darker side made global headlines last month when the body of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase beside a railway line on the edge of the city. 
 
A 45-year-old Australian man has been accused of her murder, which he denies.  

The case has reignited scrutiny of an industry that's technically against the law in Thailand, yet thrives in full view - raising questions about corruption, worker safety, and the surprising truth about who's actually driving demand. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with emeritus professor at George Washington University and author of Sex Tourism in Thailand: Inside Asia's Premier Erotic Playground, Ronald Weitzer to unpack it. 

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