Pattaya braces for 5,000 American sailors after record deployment After 250-plus days at sea, welcome to PattayaPattaya is about to receive a rather unusual tourist invasion. The USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived at Laem Chabang with around 5,000 American sailors and Marines after one of the longest uninterrupted deployments in modern US Navy history — more than 250 days at sea. And now, apparently, they have been given permission to come ashore. Welcome to Pattaya, lads. The carrier group is making a five-day port call from September 2 to 6 for rest, recovery and logistical support after a gruelling deployment that took the ship from the Pacific into the Middle East during the US conflict with Iran. Reports from aboard the carrier have raised concerns about fatigue, mental strain and shortages of some basic supplies. After all that, Thailand must look like heaven. Pattaya knows exactly what is comingCity officials are taking no chances. Police and municipal authorities have been preparing for the arrival, while around 600 Thai officials are reportedly involved in security and logistics. Shuttle buses are being arranged to move personnel between Laem Chabang and Pattaya. And Pattaya has already produced its own version of the welcome mat — with a few pages torn out. US personnel have been told to stay away from certain nightlife areas, including Soi 6, Soi 6/1 and Soi 7, while cannabis shops and various potentially risky activities are also off the menu. Thailand, it seems, would like the Americans to have a good time — just not too good a time. The old Pattaya-US connectionThere is a long history behind all this. Pattaya's relationship with American military personnel goes back to the Vietnam War era, when the city became famous as a rest-and-recreation destination for US servicemen. The USS Abraham Lincoln itself is no stranger to Thailand, having previously visited Laem Chabang in 2006 and 2012. But this visit comes at a rather different moment. Pattaya has been suffering through a difficult tourism period, with businesses complaining about weaker spending. Suddenly, several thousand hungry, tired and hopefully reasonably well-paid Americans are about to walk through the door. Local businesses are understandably rubbing their hands. Follow the moneyThai officials estimate the visiting personnel could inject millions of baht into the local economy through restaurants, hotels, transport, shopping and entertainment. And that is precisely why Pattaya wants the sailors to come. The city is keen to present itself as more than its old international reputation as Thailand's nightlife capital. Officials have been emphasising restaurants, beaches, shopping, sport, wellness and family attractions. Which is probably a sensible idea. Because when 5,000 young Americans who have been stuck on a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for more than 250 days suddenly get several days of shore leave in Pattaya, nobody really needs to explain where the city's reputation came from. The authorities are watchingPolice have already increased patrols and conducted raids in nightlife areas ahead of the arrival. Local businesses have also been warned to behave themselves, including charging fair prices and providing good service. That last bit could become important. Pattaya wants the sailors' money, but it also wants them to leave with a good impression of Thailand — rather than a story about being ripped off, arrested or ending up in hospital after doing something spectacularly stupid. And judging by the preparations, the authorities are taking the challenge seriously. Five days of controlled chaos?The Americans are expected to begin returning home after their Thailand stop. For Pattaya, however, the next few days could be rather interesting. The city gets several thousand customers it desperately wants. The sailors get beaches, restaurants, sunshine and a few days away from a ship that has been their home for most of the year. The police get a headache. The bars get busy. The restaurants get hungry customers. And somewhere in Pattaya tonight, thousands of local businesses will be looking at the calendar and thinking exactly the same thing: Let the boys come ashore. Just keep them away from Soi 6. SOURCE
