Pattaya, Thailand - Around 5,000 US sailors and Marines arrived in Thailand on Sept 2, headed for a resort town with a seedy reputation after a Middle East deployment that sparked concerns over conditions on board.

The crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln docked just north of Pattaya, near Bangkok, for their first port call in 286 days at sea for five days of rest and recreation.

Their arrival was eagerly awaited in Pattaya, a city known for its beaches and nightlife, and also as a hub for sex tourism.

On one street known as a hotspot for that industry, women paraded in revealing sailor outfits – although the mayor emphasised the city’s other offerings, from sports and wellness to beaches and malls.

“We’re all very excited, it should get quite lively,” said Anthony “AJ” Jones, a 60-year-old musician from New Zealand who performs every night at M’s Mojito beach bar in Pattaya.

A banner outside the establishment reads: “Welcome all US military personnel. Thank you for your service.”

“It’s been the talk of the town for the past few days... it will be a boon for businesses,” Jones, said adding he was planning to perform some American classics to entertain the sailors.

With authorities wary of potential trouble, security has been stepped up in the city.

The sailors are not allowed to engage in water sports, such as jet-skiing, nor to take advantage of Thailand’s lax cannabis laws, according to Pattaya’s mayor, Poramase Ngampiches.

Authorities recently cracked down on sex workers in the city, but Poramase denied reports of arrests ahead of the Lincoln crew’s visit.

Asked about the city’s seedy reputation, Poramase told reporters on Sept 2: “We have to be honest, that kind of thing still happens in Pattaya.”

‘Food, sleep, water’