Some 5,000 US service members are about to descend on
Thailand, as the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier makes a
port call near the coastal city of Pattaya, known for its beaches and nightlife.
The Lincoln, as well as the destroyer the USS Frank E Petersen Jr,
is expected to dock in eastern Thailand this week before heading back to the US
after a lengthy deployment in the Middle East as part of the US war against Iran.
American officials estimate that a sailor could spend between 100 to 150 US dollars
per day, estimating this could generate about 100 million baht for the town.
Government officials are warning local businesses not to overcharge American
sailors and there will be a greater police presence in popular areas along
Pattaya Beach and the city's Walking Street.