Serious caveats for hosting 5,000 US Marines

Next week, the 5,000 crew members of the USS Abraham Lincoln and two associated ships will come ashore in Laem Chabang.

They are here for rest and recuperation (R&R) after more than 270 days of operations. By now, local authorities and businesses, especially those in the entertainment sector, must be very excited.

Their faces are beaming with joy as millions of dollars are expected to change hands. But it is not all about money.

Only a few days remain for the authorities concerned to prepare for and manage a very special group of visitors.

Although Thailand’s seaside resorts have considerable experience hosting Americans in uniform, particularly during port calls and the annual Cobra Gold joint exercise, this time is different.

The visitors are Marines who have been at sea for a long time without a port call. The local hosts should be courteous but cautious.

To ensure that this historic R&R visit goes smoothly and that there are no unfortunate incidents that could damage the reputation of either side, some serious caveats are in order.

First, this is the first time that 5,000 young Marines will come ashore here. The five-day port call, from Sept 2 to 6, must be carefully managed, as there is no previous precedent on this scale.

Remember, this will be their first port call after a very long period of operations and isolation. Local authorities, especially those in and around Bang Lamung, Si Racha, Sattahip and Pattaya, must understand their circumstances.

Second, exploitation through overcharging and fraudulent services must be prevented.

Local police and provincial and district authorities must be vigilant in protecting the visitors from local malfeasance. Price tags should be clearly displayed, with no dubious additional charges.

Third, with many young Marines seeking to relax and have a good time, there are bound to be communication challenges. There should be a joint crisis-management team to smooth things over whenever there are fights, arrests or other incidents.

Given the high level of xenophobia and the influence of social media, this mechanism must also be able to respond quickly to misinformation and emerging problems.

Fourth, once they are ashore, they should not be treated primarily as men and women in uniform but as our guests, like other tourists visiting Thailand. Local authorities must be aware of this and must not become complacent about their status.

Fifth, local authorities must be mindful of politically motivated incidents. The Marines have just completed a long-standing deployment in the Middle East.

There could be elements or groups, both inside and outside the country, that seek to politicise their visit. Some social media users may also try to spread misinformation to attract viewers, as they have done with other issues.

Finally, their visit is important because it will demonstrate Thailand’s ability to engage with and manage a huge influx of visitors while ensuring their safety and extending warm hospitality to an ally.