By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng
BANGKOK, Aug 31 (Reuters) — This week, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier is set to arrive in Pattaya, Thailand, after a lengthy mission in the Middle East. The visit is expected to boost the local economy, even as officials increase enforcement against sex tourism in the area.
The USS Abraham Lincoln will dock on Wednesday at Laem Chabang, with two other Navy ships accompanying it. Approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard are looking forward to some rest and relaxation after spending over 200 days at sea, according to Thai authorities.
Ahead of the ship's arrival, local police are ramping up patrols near Pattaya's main beachfront and nightlife district. Recently, a series of raids led to the detention of 40 to 50 individuals suspected of prostitution, officials reported.
“We are doing our best, but it is challenging,” said Pattaya police chief Anek Srathongyoo. He noted that sex workers can sometimes operate in public without the authorities being aware.
While prostitution is illegal in Thailand, it is still openly present in various tourist areas, including parts of Bangkok and Pattaya, despite periodic crackdowns.
The Abraham Lincoln set sail from its home port in San Diego in November and was redirected to the Middle East to support military operations amid tensions with Iran — marking a modern record for consecutive days at sea, according to some lawmakers.
However, this extended deployment has raised concerns about mental health and living conditions aboard, with reports of suicide attempts and declining morale among the crew.
In Pattaya, which has transformed from a fishing village to a tourist hub thanks to U.S. servicemen during the Vietnam War, many hope for a financial boost from the sailors' visit.
Each military personnel could spend between 1,000 to 3,000 baht ($30 to $91) daily, depending on their time ashore and whether they choose to stay overnight, according to Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches.
Typically, shore leave is staggered, so not all personnel will disembark at once.
“This should help stimulate Pattaya's economy in the short term,” Poramase added.
RISK OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
However, this influx of visitors may also contribute to the darker side of Pattaya's entertainment scene. A decade ago, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation referred to it as “one of the world’s leading sex tourism destinations.”
“The large number of incoming customers could heighten the risk of sexual exploitation and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases,” stated Pipatpong Fakfare, an associate professor at Bangkok University’s School of Humanities and Tourism Management.
He also highlighted concerns about stress and suicide attempts among the personnel onboard the carrier.
The overall economic impact on Pattaya, which has over 300,000 hotel rooms, will depend partly on where the military personnel choose to spend their time, with some possibly heading to the capital, Bangkok, according to Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, president of the Association of Chonburi Tourism Federation.
“The news of a U.S. Navy warship docking in Pattaya has brought us hope,” said Lisa Hamilton, president of the Pattaya Nightlife Business Association.
“I have lived in Pattaya for over 20 years, and I have never seen such a slow year as this one.”
($1 = 32.9500 baht)