CHONBURI — 27 August 2026, The atmosphere at Walking Street in South Pattaya remains relatively quiet, with fewer Thai and foreign tourists visiting the popular entertainment district, according to a survey on Thursday.
The slowdown has affected some shops and local businesses, with operators facing weaker sales and fewer opportunities to earn income.
Police and relevant agencies continue to deploy personnel to provide security and assistance to tourists in an effort to maintain confidence in safety at Pattaya’s major tourist attractions.
Meanwhile, Pattaya business operators are closely watching the upcoming visit of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and two accompanying US Navy vessels to Thailand.
The three-ship group is scheduled to visit Laem Chabang Port from 2 to 6 September 2026.
The visit is intended as a port call to allow crew members to rest and recuperate after an extended period of operations at sea. It is not a military exercise or joint military operation with Thailand.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has about 5,000 personnel on board. If they are allowed to go ashore and spend time in Pattaya, local businesses expect to benefit, particularly restaurants, entertainment venues, transportation providers and other service businesses.
Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet estimated that if each service member spends around 1,000–3,000 baht, the visit could generate an estimated 5–15 million baht in local spending.
He stressed, however, that the figure is only an initial estimate. Actual spending will depend on how many personnel are allowed ashore, how long they remain in the area and their spending habits.
Chawalee Chomphutin, 30, a local business operator, said Pattaya has been relatively quiet recently, with tourist numbers noticeably lower than during busier periods.
She said the decline has made it increasingly difficult for small businesses to generate sales and income.
After hearing that around 5,000 US service members could be allowed to go ashore and visit Pattaya, Chawalee said local operators have gained renewed hope.
She believes the large number of personnel could help bring more activity to the city and generate additional income for shops and service businesses.
Local operators are now watching closely to see whether the US Navy’s visit in early September will help bring Walking Street and other major attractions back to life and provide a much-needed boost to Pattaya’s tourism economy during a period of relatively low visitor numbers.
