Nepal Looks To Create A Multi-billion Dollar LGBTQ Tourism Market

Nepal hosted its inaugural international LGBTIQ tourism conference on 11 May, aiming to tap into the lucrative multi-billion dollar pink market following the successful legal recognition of same-sex marriage last November.

“Forget Nepal’s biased history. Now, we aim at building more just and equitable societies. Let the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, or queer (LGBTIQ) get equal economic opportunity,” stated Sunil Babu Pant, Asia’s first openly gay former parliamentarian, during his address in Kathmandu.

Just a few years ago, police brutality against gay and transgender individuals was common in Nepal. After nearly two decades of legal battles, the law and society now accept the LGBTIQ community. Pant emphasised the need for equal economic opportunities and attracting LGBTIQ tourists from the global market.

The conference followed the landmark marriage registration of Surendra Pandey and Maya Gurung, Nepal’s first legally recognised same-sex couple, on 29 November  2023. Their marriage, the first of its kind in South Asia, represents a significant milestone for LGBTIQ rights in the region.

Supreme Court Justice Hari Prasad Phuyal, who argued for LGBTIQ rights in 2007, highlighted the importance of economic, social and cultural rights alongside civil and political rights. He noted that ‘rainbow tourism’ could foster inclusion and empowerment within the LGBTIQ community while contributing to national prosperity.

Diane Anderson-Minshall, CEO of GO Magazine, discussed the significant purchasing power of the LGBTIQ community, citing a 4.7 trillion USD global annual spending capacity based on the 2023 Wealth and Travel Data Report of LGBT Capital. She highlighted China as an untapped market poised for growth, with Chinese gay travellers seeking safe and welcoming destinations.

Nandini Lahe-Thapa, Director, Nepal Tourism Board, hailed the LGBTIQ conference as a triumph for Nepal’s tourism industry, which is embracing the principle of ‘tourism for all’. The board has initiated efforts to create a more inclusive environment, including training trekking guides from the LGBTIQ community.

Pant noted that businesses owned by LGBTIQ community members are thriving in Kathmandu, with at least two dozen bars, restaurants, travel agencies and hotels. Nepal aims to promote itself as a same-sex marriage and honeymoon destination, leveraging its rich LGBTIQ-related cultural traditions and festivals.

Veronique Lorenzo, the EU ambassador to Nepal, commended the country’s progress, recognising it as the second in Asia to register same-sex marriage. She emphasised that the fight for legislative and legal frameworks to align with societal evolution must continue. Lorenzo added that promoting inclusiveness in tourism benefits both the economy and travellers.

Nepal’s embrace of the pink community represents a new segment of valuable visitors, fostering economic growth and inclusivity in the tourism sector.