Pattaya businesses eye 5,000 US sailors to boost tourism

South Pattaya's Walking Street is experiencing a lull in tourist activity, with fewer visitors from Thailand and abroad, according to a survey on Thursday. The slowdown has impacted local businesses, leading to diminished sales and income opportunities. Authorities maintain a strong security presence to ensure the safety of tourists and uphold confidence in Pattaya's major tourist sites.

The city's businesses are keenly observing the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and two accompanying US Navy vessels, scheduled to dock at Laem Chabang Port from September 2 to 6, 2026. This visit aims to provide the crew with a rest and recuperation period after a strenuous time at sea and is not associated with any military exercises or joint operations with Thailand.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, with approximately 5,000 personnel on board, presents an opportunity for local businesses to benefit from their spending if they are granted permission to leave the ship. Based on estimates, each sailor spending between 1,000 and 3,000 baht could result in Pattaya generating anywhere from 5 million to 15 million baht in local expenditure.

Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet acknowledges that this estimate is preliminary and that the final amount will be influenced by factors such as the number of personnel allowed ashore, the duration of their stay, and their spending patterns. Chawalee Chomphutin, a local business owner, notes that Pattaya has seen a decrease in tourist numbers recently, making it challenging for small enterprises to generate sales and revenue.

The prospect of around 5,000 US sailors being granted access to the city has brought renewed optimism to local operators, who believe the large influx of personnel could invigorate the town and provide a much-needed financial lift to shops and service industries during a period of low visitor volumes.