蜜芽传媒

Zara McDermott travels to Thailand to discover an exotic paradise with two conflicting sides.

Beyond the golden beaches and bustling cities lie wild parties, drugs and cheap sex.

• Watch Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise on 蜜芽传媒 iPlayer from Monday 8 September

JS

Zara McDermott

How did this latest documentary come about?

I made a documentary series about Ibiza. I really enjoyed making it and seeing how destinations operate and evolve, when tourism - particularly British tourism - has become a core function. In some places, the influx of young British tourists can created ecosystems of corruption, confusion and punishment that are eye-opening to witness.

Thailand is a hugely popular destination, and a growing one. It鈥檚 somewhere I鈥檝e always wanted to visit, and I鈥檇 seen a lot online and in the press about different laws, rules and overall systemic issues that exist over there. I wanted to look at this side of tourism, as well as the sex tourism industry that Thailand is so famous for. I pitched the idea to the 蜜芽传媒 for Thailand to be the next in our series of destinations after doing a lot of research myself and seeing the growing popularity.

How did your previous documentary experiences prepare you for exploring Thailand?

When you鈥檙e filming abroad you have to be prepared for different rules and different governance. However, Thailand is a very different place all together. I have spent a lot of time interviewing new people, having made documentaries for the last six years; I鈥檓 used to asking lots of questions and getting to know people.

My work in the violence against women space allowed me to have some difficult and emotional conversations with sex workers. My aim is for these women to feel completely seen and heard, because I truly believe that sharing our stories helps give us women power. I have a huge amount of empathy for the women who are pressured to work in such an unpredictable and at times unsafe industry.

The series provides an insight into the experience of young British travellers in Thailand 鈥� can you tell us about some of the people you met?

Yes, Loukas was a very interesting character in the series for me as I felt like he went on a real journey of growth through the series. I feel he represents a lot of young British men travelling to Thailand. I met Loukas initially as a solo traveller in Pattaya and it was an opportunity to open up discussions around the ethics of sex work.

I also met Mac in Pattaya. He makes content online about visiting Thailand and his content is mostly aimed at visitors of Pattaya. He has a young girlfriend who goes by the name of Beverly Hills. They make YouTube content together which funds their life. Mac and I are quite opposing in our views, especially regarding the sex industry which made for some tricky conversations.

I also spent time looking into the Regan Kelly case, who was found dead off Patong Beach in January of this year. I spoke with his sister and felt really emotional during, and for a long time after filming. It broke my heart to see a family with no real answers. That raw emotion has really stuck with me, and I hope the family get the answers they so desperately need one day.

Was there anything you found particularly surprising or unexpected about why young people 鈥� particularly Brits - are drawn to Thailand?

I had done a lot of research beforehand, but nothing could prepare me for what I was about to see, especially when it came to the sex industry. I was shocked at some of the cheap, fake alcohol that was on sale, especially at the full moon party. Cannabis was incredibly easily accessible when I was there earlier this year.

Why do you think Thailand holds such a strong appeal for young travellers today?

I can see why people go to Thailand and never want to go back to the UK: the prices, the freedom, the people, the lifestyle and the beauty of the place. It really does have it all. But that can come with other costs.

How did stepping into the world of backpacking shape your understanding of why so many young people choose this style of travel?

I really loved the sense of community that comes with backpacking, people make friends for life. They get to socialise with people they鈥檇 never cross paths with otherwise, and everyone is in the same boat. I wish I鈥檇 done it when I was younger; it would have built my confidence so much and helped me make lots of new friends. I think there鈥檚 also a sense of freedom from people who travel on their gap year; they鈥檙e away from home for the first time and there are no parents around to tell you what to do!

Has filming this documentary unearthed a desire to do any backpacking yourself?

I think I鈥檓 slightly past that now, although I wish I鈥檇 have done it when I was younger. I鈥檓 getting a bit too old and I鈥檓 in a different place in my life now. But if I could go back in time I鈥檇 definitely go!

What鈥檚 your idea of a perfect holiday?

A perfect holiday to me is not actually about the destination, it鈥檚 about the people I鈥檓 with. I love going away with my family and spending quality time with the people I love.

Has making this documentary made you approach travelling/going on holiday in a new way?

I鈥檓 a proper rule follower by nature, so I have always been super cautious anywhere I鈥檝e been. Meeting Shakira was a huge wake-up call though: that someone could mistakenly and inadvertently get caught up in huge trouble. I still find it utterly confusing that some pharmacies in Thailand sell prescription medication over the counter, which Shakira was subsequently arrested for possessing.

How did you balance showing the fun/party side of Thailand with some of the challenges/dark side visitors may face?

There鈥檚 fun everywhere you turn in Thailand! So it wasn鈥檛 difficult to capture that, finding the fun wasn鈥檛 a challenge at all. However, it often comes at a huge cost. I鈥檓 always intrigued by the trade-offs, and I want to tell the stories of people who might be losing out from the 鈥榝un鈥� side.

How important was it for you to meet Brits who have moved to Thailand more permanently, rather than just the typical tourist experience?

It鈥檚 always important to see that side too. Holidaying in a destination and living there are two very different things. People will often say 鈥淚 wish I lived here!鈥� when they go on holiday somewhere beautiful, however it was important to show the realities of that, and actually just how difficult that can be. Not only financially, but also politically and socially.

What do you hope viewers, especially younger audiences, take away from this series?

I think this series is fun and entertaining, but I hope it questions what consequence looks like when you are thousands of miles from home. I hope that audiences will see that actions do have consequence, and you can鈥檛 just leave your inhibitions on the plane. Sometimes these consequences can be unpredictable.

How does this documentary differ from your previous work on more UK-focused social issues? And/or, what are the similarities?

This series contains a bit more fun, and has some more of my personality injected into it, but at its core it asks important questions about the ethics of the sex industry, we meet some of the women working in it, it looks at justice (and injustice), it looks at social and moral principles.

As someone in the social space, what role do you think social media and influencers play in the allure of Thailand for young travellers?

Social media gives an illusion of Thailand which, at times is real, true and representative of the real thing: it鈥檚 beautiful, the people and parties are amazing, the beaches are idyllic and the weather is incredible. But scratch beneath the surface and there can be complications that tourists may not know about.

What鈥檚 next for you after this documentary?

I am currently researching for another destination documentary, and I鈥檇 love to do more projects that cover violence against women and women鈥檚 issues.

Follow for more