Thailand’s Pattaya pins hopes on arrival of 5,000 US sailors to boost tourism

After more than 250 days at sea, much of it fighting the war on Iran – and amid reports of dire conditions on board – the USS Abraham Lincoln is finally set to dock near Pattaya this week, giving more than 5,000 American sailors and Marines shore leave as the Thai resort city hopes they will spend big during their last pit stop before home. The eastern Thai beach resort, known for its colourful nightlife, has faced a grim low tourist season, driven in part by the economic downturn triggered by the same war that has kept the carrier and its crew in combat. The Lincoln’s deployment, believed to be a record for a vessel of its size, was extended after it was unexpectedly redirected to the Middle East shortly before the US and Israel launched their February attack on Iran. It is set to dock on Wednesday in Thailand, allowing the crew up to four days of rest and recuperation before its onwards journey across the Pacific. Ahead of its arrival, a strict list of dos and don’ts has emerged for the crew. While Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said the shore leave could see around 100 million baht (US$3 million) injected into the local economy over the four-day visit, he warned that the crew had been strictly warned to stay away from drugs and red-light areas. “We discussed with their [US] representative the restrictions on cannabis, as well as certain areas that are strictly off-limits after sunset,” he said in a social media post late on Monday. ‘’Some will be staying at hotels in Pattaya, while others will return to … the ship.” Thailand’s loosening of tight control laws around cannabis ostensibly for medicinal use has resulted in widespread recreational sale – including in stalls across Pattaya. The carrier, one of the world’s largest military boats, has also been at the centre of political controversy in the US. The row has pitted a defensive White House against reporters who have published complaints by crew members over apparent food and hygiene lapses after months at sea – as well as concerns over the mental health of some of the thousands on board. US President Donald Trump last Friday rejected reports of supply shortcomings on the carrier, saying the at-sea deployment was “not nearly long enough” and that the Lincoln “will return home soon”. But the controversy has raised questions in America regarding the treatment of its servicepeople and the scope of planning for a war on Iran, which was billed as an easy win but continues six months later. The Lincoln, a third of a kilometre long and built to carry dozens of fighter jets, will dock at Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chonburi, eastern Thailand, on Wednesday, along with two support vessels. The port is a short drive to Pattaya, where businesses are in catching position for the unexpected but welcome spending of a crew trapped at sea – much of it spent in active combat – since last December, when it docked in Guam, a US territory in the Pacific. Hotels, restaurants and bars have had to contend with only a fraction of their usual low-season occupancy and sales rates, as the Iran crisis sent fuel costs soaring and complicated travel plans for many, including the crucial Middle East market seeking cooler climes during their sweltering summer months. “I’m glad that the sailors will be here to boost our local economy,” said Bhunanan Patanasin, president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association. “Our town has been very quiet with fewer visitors this year.” The presence of thousands of servicemen and women in Pattaya has stirred endless amusement across social media. The Thai meme factory has gone into overdrive, with influencers and celebrities joking about Pattaya bars stocking up for the fleet, women preparing to greet sailors at the beach and the inevitable cultural collision of thousands of service members docking in a city with a reputation for racy nightlife and visible sex work. Over the weekend, Thai police detained 25 sex workers operating on the beachfront, in what Thais say is a tokenistic clean-up ahead of Lincoln’s arrival. Prostitution remains illegal in Thailand, and advocacy groups say that instead of making jokes, the energy would be better spent campaigning for the legal and safety protections of people working in the sex industry as their only means to make money. “When people talk about Pattaya, they talk about money, jokes and nightlife – but why don’t we talk more about the workers?” Swing, a campaign group for sex workers, said on social media. “Enough with jokes that turn other people’s jobs into a punchline.” Thai authorities say police have also been briefed on how to sensitively manage any incidents that may occur as the Lincoln’s crew members hit bars and clubs for the first time in months.

Thailand’s Pattaya pins hopes on arrival of 5,000 US sailors to boost tourism

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Pattaya has faced a grim low tourist season, driven in part by the economic downturn triggered by the Iran war

Pattaya has faced a grim low tourist season, driven in part by the economic downturn triggered by the Iran war