How US troopers helped flip sleepy fishing port into ‘Sin City’ intercourse capital of the world
The Thai port of Pattaya was this week put on high alert ahead of the arrival of almost 5,000 US service crew who had been cooped up onboard a warship for almost a year. Famed for its beaches and nightlife, the city has been dubbed “Porno Disneyland”.
The ship’s docking sparked fears of a surge in sexually transmitted diseases being spread in the city dubbed the world’s ‘prostitution capital’. Weary sailors will enjoy the neon-lit alleys of one of the world’s most famous and frenetic party towns.
But it wasn’t always this way. And they will be following in the footsteps of hundreds of thousands of US troops who visited the port for rest and relaxation during the Vietnam war – and transformed the once-sleepy fishing village into a booming party town.
Pattaya’s Mayor Poramet Ngampichet welcomes US sailors to the city(Image: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
One large group arrived from a base in Korat in June 1959 and rented houses from Phraya Sunthorn at the south end of the beach, on what is now known as the “Strip”. Those early arrivals are credited with recommending Pattaya to their mates.
As its fame spread by word of mouth, the small town grew over the next decade and in November 1978 was granted city status by the Thai government. It also became a special governed city, along with Bangkok.
Mayor Poramase Ngampiches recognises the impact of the troops US on the city’s history. He said: “The visits of US military men 50-60 years ago introduced Pattaya to the world and turned it into a tourist attraction.”
American service members arrive in Thailand(Image: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The controversial aircraft carrier set sail from San Diego last November and has spent a record 265 consecutive days at sea. It has hit global headlines after food shortages, cramped living quarters and disgusting living conditions sparked mental health fears on board.
It is due to dock in the port on Tuesday and departs on September 6. Pipatpong Fakfare, an associate professor at Bangkok University’s School of Humanities and Tourism Management, warned it poses a “risk to health and safety”.
He told local media: “The influx of a large number of customers may increase the likelihood of sexual exploitation and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.”
Businesses in the city are anticipating a boost from the sailors(Image: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
But it is hoped the current crop of US service personnel will be better behaved than their predecessors from the 1970s. It comes after Thai cops launched a crack down on sex tourism in Pattaya in a bid to clean up the notorious resort’s seedy reputation.
While prostitution is illegal in Thailand, the city boasts an estimated 60,000 sex workers and hundreds of go-go bars, massage parlours and brothels.
Mayor Poramase told the BBC: “We have to be frank, the city has a reputation for bar girls. We understand the stereotypes. We can’t stop that.
Pattaya is famed for its raucous night life(Image: Getty Images)
“What we can do is to show that Pattaya has changed, that we now have other things, such as sports, seminars, wellness and family-friendly activities. It’s a mixture of everything.”
It is reported the servicemen and women have been told there are no go areas for them as US and Thai officials are desperate to avoid becoming embroiled in salacious headlines.
One of them is the notorious Soi 6, which runs down to the main beach and is known for its concentration of racy go-go bars. The city’s many cannabis shops are also said to be off-limits to US crew members, along with sea-sports like paragliding and jet-skis.
A banner welcoming US military personnel displayed outside a bar in Pattaya(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Shuttle buses will run from the port into Pattaya from 5am to 2am every day the carrier is in Thailand. Two hotels have been designated as “suitable” for those US crew members who want a night ashore.
The Thai authorities have deployed hundreds of police officers to keep an eye on the city’s entertainment zones, and warned local businesses not to rip off their American guests.
