Pattaya's Mixed Blessings: The Economic Upsurge and Moral Quagmire The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln in Pattaya, Thailand's resort city, has triggered a familiar response – promises of economic growth and warnings about exploitation.
With 5,000 US sailors and Marines disembarking after over 200 days at sea, Pattaya is poised to reap an estimated windfall from the visit.
Pattaya's sex industry is a long standing phenomenon that generates revenue for local economies but also perpetuates human trafficking and social ills.