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

Pattaya, a famed beach resort in eastern Thailand, is eagerly awaiting the arrival of over 5,000 American sailors and Marines on a massive USS Abraham Lincoln carrier. The vessel, which has been at sea for over 250 days during the conflict in Iran, is set to dock for four days of shore leave in Pattaya before continuing its journey across the Pacific.

The Thai city, known for its vibrant nightlife, has been struggling with a low tourist season, largely due to economic downturns stemming from the same war that has kept the carrier and its crew engaged in combat.

The Lincoln's deployment, believed to be the largest for a vessel of its size, was extended after it was unexpectedly redirected to the Middle East shortly before the US and Israel initiated their February attack on Iran. The ship's presence has raised concerns in the US, with political controversy surrounding reports of food and hygiene issues among crew members, as well as questions about the mental health of thousands of service personnel in such a confined space.

Local businesses in Pattaya are preparing for a significant economic boost from the incoming fleet. Hotels, restaurants, and bars are bracing for the influx of sailors and Marines, who have been confined to the carrier since December. The Lincoln, a three-kilometer long vessel, will dock at the Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chonburi, just a short drive from Pattaya, where businesses are eagerly anticipating the unexpected but welcomed spending of a crew trapped at sea since last December.

Pattaya's president, Bhunanan Patanasin, expressed relief that the sailors will contribute to the local economy, noting that the city has been quite quiet with fewer visitors this year. The arrival of the Lincoln has sparked a wave of humor and satire across Thai social media, with memes and jokes about bars stocking up for the crew, women preparing to greet sailors, and the cultural clash of thousands of service members arriving in a city known for its racy nightlife and visible sex work.

In response to the anticipated surge in visitors, Thai authorities have also taken action to address the city's reputation. Over the weekend, police detained 25 sex workers operating on the beachfront in what locals claim is a tokenistic clean-up ahead of the Lincoln's arrival. Prostitution remains illegal in Thailand, and advocacy groups argue that the focus should be on campaigning for the legal protection and well-being of sex workers rather than making light of their situation through jokes and memes.