Thai Examiner
US servicemen left behind a financial windfall in Pattaya but also a spirit of optimism and generosity
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Farewell Pattaya! USS Abraham Lincoln sails after 5,000 sailors bring a ฿100m spending bonanza. Huge tips delight Thai workers, shops boom and bars fill as the Americans surprise locals with generosity, discipline and spending far beyond nightlife.
Key facts
- USS Abraham Lincoln sails after 5,000 sailors bring a ฿100m spending bonanza
- The five-day visit delivered a major low-season windfall, produced striking stories of ฿1,000 and ฿2,000 tips, and sent some retail sales surging
- The USS Abraham Lincoln left Thailand on Sunday after nearly 5,000 US sailors and Marines poured into Pattaya following 286 days at sea, spending heavily across shops, restaurants, hotels, bars and local services
- US sailors leave large tips as Pattaya workers share stories of unexpected generosity and fresh spending
- Yet the American reportedly handed over ฿1,000
- When the delivery arrived, the driver reportedly received a ฿2,000 tip
Summary
The USS Abraham Lincoln left Thailand on Sunday after nearly 5,000 US sailors and Marines poured into Pattaya following 286 days at sea, spending heavily across shops, restaurants, hotels, bars and local services. The five-day visit delivered a major low-season windfall, produced striking stories of ฿1,000 and ฿2,000 tips, and sent some retail sales surging.
The USS Abraham Lincoln sailed from Thailand on Sunday after a successful five-day visit to Chonburi and Pattaya. Nearly 5,000 US sailors and Marines came ashore during the port call. For many, it was their first substantial break in months. The giant carrier had arrived at Laem Chabang on September 2. Its crew had endured 286 consecutive days at sea. Notably, the deployment included a key role in US military operations against Iran.