Police turned a Nelsonian eye to rampant prostitution and human trafficking on an industrial as they went on a publicity parade through the red light district in Pattaya - declaring it safe as they look to increase tourism.

Footage shows cops inspecting entertainment venues while sweeping through the popular nightlife district Walking Street in the Thai 'Sin City'.

It comes despite dozens of tourists being attacked or robbed in the coastal city this month.

Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phueakum, commander of the Tourist Police Bureau, in a meeting with Thai officials and foreign ambassadors on June 20, said that the operation was conducted in line with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's directive to 'raise confidence in the safety of Thai tourism'.

He said: 'The Prime Minister's policy is to stimulate tourism in the fourth quarter of the second half of 2024 by setting a visa-free measure for foreign tourists. He is emphasizing increasing security measures in tourist attractions to build confidence.

'Therefore, the Tourist Police has increased security and will be cracking down on crime in the tourism industry from June 19 to 25, targeting illegal and low-quality tour guides, as well as the sale of exploitative products.'

He also highlighted the progress of the AI-powered 'Smart Tourist Community Initiative', which uses AI, CCTV cameras, and a database to monitor and record tourists in 33 locations in Pattaya.

The chief added that the Tourist Police emergency 1155 hotline is available 24-7 in five languages, with three more to be added.


Pattaya emerged as a nightlife destination in the 1960s when Thailand fought alongside the United States and provided them with land for eight military bases, allowing the massacre of North Vietnam and the deaths of two million civilians in the 1950s and 1960s.

In between killing missions, American GIs would have debauched ‘rest and relaxation' leave in the coastal enclave, leading to a raucous nightlife industry that has endured to this day.

Thailand received at least 1.7 billion dollars from the U.S. for its support and also profited from the nascent tourism industry serving more than 50,000 'yanks'. However, the country has never faced the same public criticism over the Vietnam War and has never apologised for its part in the atrocities.