Govt to regulate Thai massage

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EDITORIAL: Govt to regulate Thai massage

 

Published on May 8, 2004

 

 

Moves to standardise traditional massage establishments will preserve the image of this home-grown physical therapy

 

Traditional Thai massage, a branch of indigenous local medicine, is a shining example of folk knowledge that has been successfully revived and promoted to become hugely popular in recent years. The ancient art and science of traditional massage, which has over the centuries been passed down from generation to generation, clearly now ranks among those very "in" things whose time has come. The therapeutic value of massage is recognised by a growing number of people from all walks of life in many countries, and its popularity has led to a proliferation of Thai-massage establishments, both in Thailand and abroad.

 

Practitioners of the art are required to undergo standardised training courses that refer to ancient instruction manuals and murals in Bangkok's Wat Poh, which is the most highly regarded school.

 

The great majority of these establishments have clearly distinguished themselves from the multitude of seedier venues that call themselves "Turkish baths" or simply "massage parlours" but which are widely acknowledged to be no more than thinly disguised brothels.

 

Unfortunately some unscrupulous operators of these houses of prostitution have been taking advantage of the popularity of traditional massage by falsely labelling their establishments as offering it, even though their masseuses, who are commercial sex workers, have no traditional massage skills to speak of.

 

The dramatic growth in traditional massage businesses has also resulted in a shortage of well-trained workers. Some massage establishments thus feel compelled to hire under-qualified workers.

 

Many foreigners have come to know and appreciate authentic massage while visiting this country. Many others have undergone training courses to acquire the necessary skills to practise the art themselves, thereby helping to popularise it in their own countries.

 

Thus, it is important for the government to regulate traditional-massage establishments with a view to upholding the quality and highly valued image of this indigenous physical therapy.

 

The Public Health Ministry is to be commended for its initiative to establish quality and management systems to standardise massage services. Certification of authenticity will be issued to establishments that are staffed by properly trained practitioners of traditional massage and meet strict hygienic requirements. It is a good and necessary strategy to preserve Thailand's priceless national heritage, as well as maintain its niche in the highly competitive global market.

 

Thai massage is rising in popularity, riding on a worldwide surge of interest in alternative lifestyles, healthy eating, traditional medicines and a taste for things exotic, which partly explains why Thai food also has a strong international following.

 

With careful nurturing of its image, perhaps traditional Thai massage will become the next big thing Thailand can offer the world.

 

 

The Nation