Asia Gears Up for Lesbian, Gay Visitors
Asia Gears Up for Lesbian, Gay Visitors
Over 75 travel industry professionals representing tour operators, travel agencies, hotel owners, and faculty and students of a travel management institute convened at the 1st Asian Symposium on Gay & Lesbian Tourism, held at the Le Meridien Hotel in New Delhi on 28 November.
The program was organized by San Francisco-based Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), the global market research and consultancy firm focused on gay and lesbian communications.
Attendees heard from Thomas Roth, president of Community Marketing, Abhinav Goel, co-founder of New Delhi-based tour operator Out Journeys, LGBT community leaders, and a panel of travel industry experts. Each shared insights on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) tourism from their own perspectives.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s New York Office, a co-sponsor of the symposium, announced that it has embarked on a project to “crystallize” its approach to LGBT travelers. The pilot “Go Thai, be free” campaign is targeted at LGBT travelers living on the east coast of the US and is expected to launch in the first quarter next year.
The agenda focused on helping tourism and hospitality leaders understand the opportunities presented by increasing LGBT visitors, getting to know their potential customers better, as well as the challenges and best practices associated with LGBT travel.
At least half a dozen tour operators such as Cox & Kings, Go India, Sita Travel and adventure travel specialist Holiday Moods Adventures, and travel agency giant Thomas Cook, say they are already engaging in, or interested in reaching out to gay travelers.
Amit Prasad, Chief Operating Officer of Go India Journeys, a division of La Passage to India, told attendees that his company had recently set up a team of staff members to research and meet the needs of LGBT travelers.
Tour operators say a challenge they face is to provide sensitivity training to their vendors including drivers, tour guides and hotel staff, but that the expected return will be worth the time and investment.
