Thailand

LOOK: Thai transgender cabaret returns after pandemic closure

Reuters

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

LOOK: Thai transgender cabaret returns after pandemic closure

Peerapong Butakul, a transgender person also known as 'Bee', takes pictures with fans after the reopening of Tiffany's show after closing for almost three years due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Pattaya, Thailand, September 1, 2022.

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

The cabarets are normally a popular draw among foreign visitors, but Thailand's tourism sector is still recovering

PATTAYA, Thailand – Transgender performers at one of Thailand’s most famous cabaret shows have returned to the spotlight for the first time in about three years after being forced to find other ways to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic.

One performer, Peerapong “Bee” Butakul, said she had turned to selling chicken rice during this time and was thrilled to return to the stage this week.

Alisa Phanthusak, chief executive of Tiffany’s Show Pattaya, said most bookings at the moment were from locals, which meant fewer shows had been lined up than in the past.

Peerapong Butakul, a transgender person also known as ‘Bee’, waits backstage during a rehearsal ahead of the reopening of Tiffany’s show after closing for almost three years due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Pattaya, Thailand, August 31, 2022. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Spectators react during the reopening of Tiffany’s show after closing for almost three years due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Pattaya, Thailand, September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Transgender people rush to change their costumes during a rehearsal ahead of the reopening of Tiffany’s show after closing for almost three years due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Pattaya, Thailand, September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Peerapong Butakul, a transgender person also known as ‘Bee’, dances during a rehearsal ahead of the reopening of Tiffany’s show after closing for almost three years due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Pattaya, Thailand, September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha REFILE
Peerapong Butakul, a transgender person also known as ‘Bee’, prepares backstage during a rehearsal ahead of the reopening of Tiffany’s show after closing for almost three years due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Pattaya, Thailand, September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

The cabarets are normally a popular draw among foreign visitors, but Thailand’s tourism sector is still recovering.

Foreign arrivals plummeted to 428,000 last year due to the pandemic compared with nearly 40 million in 2019. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!