Pattaya’s notorious Walking Street played host to around 6,000 American sailors from the United States Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 9. The sailors, who were on a rest and relaxation visit, arrived in Pattaya on April 24 and departed yesterday, April 28.
The visit, marked by their presence in various bars, restaurants, and go-go bars, ended up being a welcome economic boost for the city, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
During this period, Sunthorn, a go-go bar owner on Walking Street, experienced a significant increase in patronage, a sight that had been sorely missed since the onset of the pandemic. He expressed his delight, noting that the city had finally seen a resurgence of international tourists.
In his estimation, the sailors’ visit had potentially brought in hundreds of millions of baht in revenue, a significant injection into the city’s economy.
“I’m ecstatic about the resurgence of international tourists after the pandemic. I believe the sailors’ visit generated hundreds of millions of baht in revenue for the city.”
In a similar vein, Lisa Hamilton, the President of the Pattaya Nightlife Business Association, also noted changes in the sailors’ behaviour. Many opted to spend time soaking up the sun on the beach or indulging in retail therapy at the local malls. This shift, she believed, could have been influenced by the hot weather or due to the strict guidelines set by the US Navy to prevent any untoward incidents.
“I observed a change in the sailors’ behaviour. They opted to spend time on the beach or shop at malls, possibly due to the hot weather or the Navy’s regulations.”
Echoing these sentiments were Kai and Chris, the owner and manager of another go-go bar on Walking Street, respectively. The duo expressed gratitude towards the Pattaya authorities for their efforts in promoting tourism in the city, reported Pattaya News.
They shared that their business had seen a significant uptick during the sailors’ stay, marking a much-needed revival of the local economy.
“We’ve seen a substantial increase in business during the sailors’ stay. We’re grateful to the Pattaya authorities for promoting tourism in our city.”
Pattaya News
