Fears of STD spread: US aircraft carrier arrives in Pattaya

After more than 250 days at sea, about 5,000 crew members of the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln will receive a rest leave in the resort city of Pattaya, Thailand. The aircraft carrier is expected to dock on Wednesday at the Laem Chabang port near the city, accompanied by two other US Navy ships, Reuters reported today (Monday) citing Thai officials.

Its arrival raises hopes in Pattaya for a boost to the local economy, but at the same time, local authorities have stepped up enforcement against the sex industry with which the city is identified.

Ahead of the aircraft carrier's arrival, the police are preparing to deploy additional patrols along the central coastline and in Pattaya's nightlife area, as well as monitor the area using drones. This follows raids conducted over the weekend, during which between 40 and 50 people were arrested on suspicion of engaging in prostitution, Reuters reported citing official sources.

"We are doing our best, but it is difficult," said Pattaya Police Chief Anek Suthongyu, explaining that sex workers may approach clients in public spaces without the authorities knowing about it.

Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, but despite enforcement operations that occur from time to time, the sex industry operates openly in major tourist hubs, including Bangkok and Pattaya.

The current operational deployment of the Lincoln began in November last year with its departure from its home port in San Diego, and it was subsequently directed to the Middle East to support military activity in the war against Iran. During the deployment, the aircraft carrier set a modern-era record for the number of consecutive days at sea.

The prolonged deployment was also accompanied by reports of mental distress and deteriorating conditions on board.

US military newspapers reported this month on repeated attempts by sailors to jump from the deck into the water and on a crew that is close to a mental breaking point, and in conversations that Navy commanders held with the families of the crew members, claims were raised about a shortage of food and basic supplies.

Pattaya was once a fishing village and became a tourism hub largely thanks to American soldiers who sought refuge there during the Vietnam War days. Now there are those in the city who hope for a repeat of the script.

Mayor Poramet Ngampichet estimated that each American military personnel would spend between 1,000 and 3,000 baht per day, about 30 to 91 dollars, depending on how much time they spend on land and if they stay overnight in the city. However, shore leaves are usually granted in rotation, so not all crew members will get off the ships together. "It should stimulate Pattaya's economy in the short term," he said.

However, some of the money may also flow into the dark side of the city's entertainment industry, an industry so large that the FBI described Pattaya about a decade ago as one of the world's leading sex tourism destinations. "The risk is to health and safety, because an influx of a large number of clients could increase the chance of sexual exploitation and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases," said Pipatpong Pakpar, an associate professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Tourism Management at Bangkok University. He added that reports of mental stress and suicide attempts among the crew members add another layer of concern.

Chairman of the Chonburi Tourism Association, Thanet Supornsahastrangsi, said that the overall commercial impact on Pattaya, which has more than 300,000 hotel rooms, will depend, among other things, on where the crew members choose to spend time, as some of them may travel to Bangkok.

"When we heard that an American warship was going to dock in Pattaya, it became a source of hope for us," said Lisa Hamilton, chair of the Pattaya Nightlife Business Association. "I have lived in Pattaya for more than 20 years, and I have never seen an economically weak year like this one."