Hello, sailor: Thailand’s Pattaya rolls out welcome mat for USS Abraham Lincoln crew

At Risa’s Massage, Fai cancelled her holiday to be at work this week; suitmaker Tito has laid on a made-in-24-hours special for US Navy visitors and hawker Pui is aiming to sell 15 watches in the five days the USS Abraham Lincoln will be in Pattaya.

On Wednesday, the Thai resort city began to welcome over 5,000 sailors and Marines, finally on shore leave after being at sea for a record 286 days.

It is a timely visit for the US crew – and an economic tonic for a city facing a sharp drop in tourism, partly caused by the war being fought by those aboard the aircraft carrier.

Outside the Hard Rock Hotel, which is hosting some of the US servicemembers, Pui Kanda was among the cluster of taxi drivers, hawkers and other hopefuls waiting for them to hit the city.

“It’s been very quiet in Pattaya. We have had few visitors this low season so I’m hoping to make some money from these American sailors,” she said, showing her wooden display box of timepieces.