PHUKET: Teams of volunteers, local police and US MPs will patrol the streets of Patong as Phuket's born-to-be-wild west coast destination greets the US fleet tomorrow.
''Fleet'' may be a slight exaggeration but the thousands of personnel from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and warship USS Princeton are expected to deliver more than 10 million baht in takings each night to Patong's bars.
Little wonder that the ''Welcome'' signs were going up in Patong's famous walking street, Soi Bangla, with the President of the Patong Entertainment Association, Weerawit Kuresombut, looking forward to the friendly invasion.
''Takings in the bars would usually be about the five million baht mark, perhaps seven million baht on a good night,'' he said.
''We expect that to rise to 10 million baht with the US service people on Phuket.''
Khun Weerawit said he had called on bar owners not to boost prices of drinks just because the Americans were in port.
''The US sailors trust us and that trust has to be returned,'' he said. ''If Patong does the wrong thing, the sailors will go elsewhere.''
Arrival of large numbers of US personnel usually also brings in ladyboy Katoeys from other parts of Thailand, and increases police patrols around the Patong area.
''We will have volunteers on the streets as well to make sure there is no trouble,'' Khun Weerawit said.
The Liberty Leave stay is likely to extend to three days and involve many of the crews in community service activities on Phuket and in Phang Nga as well.
''Fleet'' may be a slight exaggeration but the thousands of personnel from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and warship USS Princeton are expected to deliver more than 10 million baht in takings each night to Patong's bars.
Little wonder that the ''Welcome'' signs were going up in Patong's famous walking street, Soi Bangla, with the President of the Patong Entertainment Association, Weerawit Kuresombut, looking forward to the friendly invasion.
''Takings in the bars would usually be about the five million baht mark, perhaps seven million baht on a good night,'' he said.
''We expect that to rise to 10 million baht with the US service people on Phuket.''
Khun Weerawit said he had called on bar owners not to boost prices of drinks just because the Americans were in port.
''The US sailors trust us and that trust has to be returned,'' he said. ''If Patong does the wrong thing, the sailors will go elsewhere.''
Arrival of large numbers of US personnel usually also brings in ladyboy Katoeys from other parts of Thailand, and increases police patrols around the Patong area.
''We will have volunteers on the streets as well to make sure there is no trouble,'' Khun Weerawit said.
The Liberty Leave stay is likely to extend to three days and involve many of the crews in community service activities on Phuket and in Phang Nga as well.
