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Introduction Thai gay men and transgender women (GM&TGW) sex workers are more likely to suffer from economic harm since the sex tourism industry in Thailand has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. They also are more likely to experience poverty and mental health issues subsequent to the pandemic as minority groups in conservative Thai society. While their highly problematic social and economic situation would predict a wide range of psychological issues, little is known about their mental health. Hence, this study examined the prevalence and symptom severity of psychological distress among the group as well as the associations between suicidal ideation, poverty, and psychological distress. Methods Two hundred seventy questionnaire responses were collected online via Google forms in Phuket in 2021. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and Smart-PLS. Results Based on the results, most respondents had experienced mild to extremely severe symptoms of psychological distress. However, transgender women sex workers scored higher on depression and anxiety compared to gay men sex workers. This study confirmed the prominent associations between the study variables and the mediation effect of psychological distress. Conclusions Poverty resulting from the pandemic imposes a substantial human cost for this vulnerable minority beyond the virus itself as it amplifies mental health problems. Policy Implications The findings further extend our awareness of the discriminatory treatment of Thai GM&TGW sex workers and address a gap in Thai law and policy for prohibiting discrimination against them. It is of urgent necessity for Thai public health and tourism policymakers to establish sound support interventions.

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Food functions as a medium through which we encounter the world. We consume food based on our society's paramount attitudes towards nature, religious beliefs and nutritional benefits rather than just according to our needs. In this research, the author studied a group of Hare Krishna tourists belonging to ISKCON religious movement of Hindu religion. There are several studies done on the western vegetarian groups based primarily on their ethical, environmental and health-based vegetarian food habits but not many studies on the food consumption behaviour of religious tourists, especially on the Hare Krishnas' during a holiday. This under-represented and under-researched group's struggles and behaviour patterns will help us understand other divergent groups of vegetarians and vegans from across the world and help sensitise the tourism industry to this large group of intermingled and often confusing group of people. This ethnographical, qualitative research is focussed on reflexively studying the Hare Krishna religious tourist's comprehension and interpretation of vegetarianism and the factors which influence their holiday destination choice. The author further strives to understand what happens to the religious food values of a Hare Krishna follower while making food choices during a holiday and whether these tourism experiences influence or transform the religious food values of this group. Food is taken to be a purely functional and supporting resource to tourism and as such tourist's food consumption behaviour and patterns are largely ignored and neglected in tourism literature. In this research, the author adds to the limited body of knowledge of vegetarians based on their religious beliefs along with revealing the reasons, visible and invisible cues this group exhibit and are engaged in while planning their holidays and food choices.

Despite its importance, food habits of an individual in a foreign location has not received adequate attention in Asian research. Most of the previous studies were based in the US and Europe and focused on the students from a specific discipline (Greaney et al., 2009, LaCaille et al., 2011) or specific backgrounds (Nelson et al., 2009, Cluskey and Grobe 2009). Since the host culture is an important influence towards food consumption behaviour, this ethnographic study provides a unique, Malaysian perspective on international student’s food consumption patterns. The objective in this research was to ethnographically explore the food choice behaviour and influences on international students in private universities around Subang Jaya, Malaysia. Participant observation along with semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with the respondents. The various emerging themes of the food consumption behaviour of international long-term education tourists included food neophilia, stress eating, convenience and health and the influences comprised of price, social networking sites, friends, and word of mouth. Difference in age between researcher and other international students along with the limitations of conducting semi-structured interviews were some of the major limitations. This research can help policymakers make informed choices regarding sustainable developmental and tourism marketing for similar long-term tourists. It can help sensitize local population on the challenges and issues faced by foreign students in a new country. Furthermore, this can help the F&B industry as well as the society get a deeper understanding on how to cater to foreign long-term tourists.