US Carrier Visit to Thailand’s Pattaya Lifting Hope and Sex Tourism Risk The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln in Pattaya, Thailand, is being hailed as a potential economic lifeline for the city's struggling tourism industry.
With nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines set to disembark and spend their shore leave in the popular resort town, local officials are optimistic about the boost to the local economy.
However, beneath this welcome windfall lies a complex web of risks and challenges that warrant closer examination. Pattaya's sex tourism industry has long been a double edged sword for the city.