Thai resort town steps up prostitution crackdown ahead of U.S. sailors’ arrival

Pattaya is tightening its fight against prostitution just as the USS Abraham Lincoln arrives offshore with two other U.S. Navy ships. The Thai resort city expects about 5,000 American sailors and Marines after their months-long deployment in the Middle East.

Police have increased patrols on beaches and in nightlife districts. Weekend raids led to the detention of more than 50 people on suspicion of prostitution. Pattaya police chief Anek Srathongyoo acknowledged the difficulty of the task, saying, “We are doing everything we can, but it is difficult.”

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, yet major tourist centers such as Bangkok and Pattaya remain known for sex tourism. The ship’s arrival has brought that contradiction into sharper focus, particularly in a city whose nightlife economy has long depended on visiting foreigners.

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We are doing everything we can, but it is difficult.

Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampicheses said he hoped the arrival of thousands of U.S. service members would stimulate the regional economy. He estimated that each sailor could spend about $30 to $90 a day, depending on where they stay and how long they remain in the city.

“When we heard that a U.S. Navy ship would dock in Pattaya, it gave us hope,” said Lisa Hamilton, president of Pattaya’s nightlife business association. Pattaya grew from a small fishing village into a major tourist center largely because U.S. troops visited for rest and entertainment during the Vietnam War. The USS Abraham Lincoln left its San Diego base in November before being redirected to the Middle East during the U.S. war with Iran. Its prolonged deployment has also prompted concern over reported health problems among sailors, deteriorating conditions aboard the ship and declining crew morale.

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When we heard that a U.S. Navy ship would dock in Pattaya, it gave us hope.