LGBTQ+ tourism revenue boom fuels drive for legalised same-sex marriage in Thailand

[webfact]

 

Thailand is witnessing a surge in the burgeoning LGBTQ+ community, as diversity takes centre stage worldwide, boosting LGBTQ+ tourism in the country. As per estimates by LGBT Capital, an asset management company serving the LGBTQ community, 5 to 10% of the world’s population identifies as LGBTQ+. This demographic represented around 3.6 million residents in Thailand in 2019.

 

During Pride Month this past June, massive crowds were seen participating in parades across Bangkok. This growing demographic has been a key contributing factor in nudging corporations to advocate for gender equality. Consequently, this shift is positioning Thailand’s tourism sector to capitalize on LGBTQ+ tourism, aiming to establish the country as a preferred travel destination that embraces diversity for both locals and international visitors.

 

LGBT Capital’s data point out that Thailand’s international LGBTQ+ tourism revenue accounted for a significant US$6.5 billion in 2019, making up 1.23% of the country’s GDP, drastically surpassing the regional average. Thailand’s neighbours have either failed to tap into or even deterred this segment by enforcing anti- LGBTQ+ policies, revealed the study.

Noticing the business opportunities of LGBTQ+-friendly countries like Thailand, Paul Thompson, founder of LGBT Capital, predicts a boom in this segment, once the global Covid-19 pandemic subsides. This potential boom in the LGBTQ+ tourism market is primarily driven by China’s reopening and various local changes in Thailand, such as the call for legalised same-sex marriage.

 

by Alex Morgan

Photo courtesy of businessdestinations.com

 

#news

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/business/thailands-lgbtq-tourism-revenue-boom-fuels-drive-for-legalised-same-sex-marriage

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-03

 

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[ThailandRyan]

Family and friends were happy to see the inclusiveness for the LGBTQ community.  They were also happy to see that in Bangkok many places had decorated, in fact Krungsri banks main office is still decorated appropriately to make folks feel welcome and not singled out.

[Jingthing]

Well it is true that Thailand has already been popular with LGBTQ international tourists, but seeing Thailand progress towards equal civil rights for Thai LGBTQ people will definitely add even more appeal to Thailand as a LGBTQ friendly destination. 

 

In Asia we can see the same effect in Taiwan which now has international reputation of being more LGBTQ friendly than other countries in the region. LGBTQ tourism thus increases.

 

The opposite is also true. When a country gets more oppressive to LGBTQ people, it's international appeal diminishes. Consider Elton John's current position on the USA. 

[ikke1959]

I am sure that if gay couples can get married it will do a lot of good for the economy.

Local gays will give big parties and foreigners will come as there are many beautiful wedding locations here... But the reality is that we will have to wait again maybe for a long time...

[stoner]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

LGBT Capital’s data point out that Thailand’s international LGBTQ+ tourism revenue accounted for a significant US$6.5 billion in 2019, making up 1.23% of the country’s GDP, drastically surpassing the regional average.

how is this even calculated ? are passengers asked at the airport about sexual orientation ? 

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

47 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Consider Elton John's current position on the USA. 

What would that be ?

edit: self answered

 

On the other part, are they, countries, actually getting more gay (to shorten things up) tourist, or simply more are out of the closet ?

 

I guess in reality, impossible to tell, unless a survey of gay travelers over a long period of time.

 

Obviously if 2 same sex traveling together request a 1 bed hotel room, and face arrest for doing so, then not going to be on the list of tourist places to visit.

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

5 minutes ago, stoner said:

how is this even calculated ? are passengers asked at the airport about sexual orientation ? 

 

 

 

Well if you looked at some of the research done and other articles you would find this information

 

https://communitymarketinginc.com/lgbtq-tourism/

 

Research confirms:  Travel is important to the LGBTQ community; most agree that travel is part of the LGBTQ cultural identity. LGBTQs spend more on travel than the general population, as well as take more trips. LGBTQs are also far more likely to travel internationally. LGBTQ travelers make up 7% to 10% of the travel industry—about $1 billion in the USA alone. Most critically, LGBTQ travel spend goes to suppliers and destinations that recognize their unique buying preferences, and offer them differentiated value.

 

and an older article which will help folks to understand better

https://www.businessdestinations.com/relax/chasing-the-rainbow-the-tourism-industry-is-becoming-more-inclusive/

 

According to research by Out Now Consulting, LGBTQ residents of the US spent $63.1bn on travel in 2018, representing a 1.9 percent average annual growth rate. In Brazil, the total spend was $26.8bn, while the UK’s LGBTQ community spent $11.7bn last year. These figures are set to grow further: according to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), LGBTQ travel is one of the fastest-growing markets in the worldwide travel industry.

 

 

[stoner]

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Well if you looked at some of the research done and other articles you would find this information

 

https://communitymarketinginc.com/lgbtq-tourism/

 

Research confirms:  Travel is important to the LGBTQ community; most agree that travel is part of the LGBTQ cultural identity. LGBTQs spend more on travel than the general population, as well as take more trips. LGBTQs are also far more likely to travel internationally. LGBTQ travelers make up 7% to 10% of the travel industry—about $1 billion in the USA alone. Most critically, LGBTQ travel spend goes to suppliers and destinations that recognize their unique buying preferences, and offer them differentiated value.

 

and an older article which will help folks to understand better

https://www.businessdestinations.com/relax/chasing-the-rainbow-the-tourism-industry-is-becoming-more-inclusive/

 

According to research by Out Now Consulting, LGBTQ residents of the US spent $63.1bn on travel in 2018, representing a 1.9 percent average annual growth rate. In Brazil, the total spend was $26.8bn, while the UK’s LGBTQ community spent $11.7bn last year. These figures are set to grow further: according to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), LGBTQ travel is one of the fastest-growing markets in the worldwide travel industry.

 

 

no explanation on how numbers were reached. talked about visually identifying and some programs plus a few other things but that's it. 

 

what about all of the people who you cannot tell by looking ? how do you track all that money ?

 

or how about all the lgbtq+ people who are quiet ? who don't mention it at all during their holiday ? who live totally silent. i imagine those numbers are quite high as well. 

 

i am simply saying there is no real way of knowing these kind of numbers.

 

 

 

[Rimmer]

A troll post also an inflammatory post and reply have been removed

[mfd101]

16 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Obviously if 2 same sex traveling together request a 1 bed hotel room, and face arrest for doing so, then not going to be on the list of tourist places to visit.

My experience of arriving with my Thai partner in hotels here in Thailand, but also in Australia, Vietnam, HK and Singapore, has always been the same: A quick glance from the front desk, cough cough, Um would that be two beds or one, Sir? One kingsize thank you. Very well, Sir.

 

Only once in NZ in what turned out to be a Christian hotel in Taupo was there the slightest appearance of alarm or discomfort, soon dissipated when it turned out we were quite civilized.

[KhunLA]

27 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Well if you looked at some of the research done and other articles you would find this information

 

https://communitymarketinginc.com/lgbtq-tourism/

 

Research confirms:  Travel is important to the LGBTQ community; most agree that travel is part of the LGBTQ cultural identity. LGBTQs spend more on travel than the general population, as well as take more trips. LGBTQs are also far more likely to travel internationally. LGBTQ travelers make up 7% to 10% of the travel industry—about $1 billion in the USA alone. Most critically, LGBTQ travel spend goes to suppliers and destinations that recognize their unique buying preferences, and offer them differentiated value.

 

and an older article which will help folks to understand better

https://www.businessdestinations.com/relax/chasing-the-rainbow-the-tourism-industry-is-becoming-more-inclusive/

 

According to research by Out Now Consulting, LGBTQ residents of the US spent $63.1bn on travel in 2018, representing a 1.9 percent average annual growth rate. In Brazil, the total spend was $26.8bn, while the UK’s LGBTQ community spent $11.7bn last year. These figures are set to grow further: according to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), LGBTQ travel is one of the fastest-growing markets in the worldwide travel industry.

Don't know about all that, but the simplistic reason, same sex couple simply have more disposable cash.

 

Usual 2 incomes, and NO kids.  Not having kids myself, till retired, I can relate to the extra pocket money, and how I holiday'd much more than my married co-workers, and considering we worked for an airlines, that' a bit telling.

 

Don't know what the hell this means, and a bit irrelevant:  "Most critically, LGBTQ travel spend goes to suppliers and destinations that recognize their unique buying preferences, and offer them differentiated value."

 

What is unique about spending money ?

[jcmj]

I was in the real estate business for many years and always marketed to the LBGQ community as well. DINK. Double income, no kids. They could, and usually would spend more on their homes and holidays. It’s a no brainer.  I imagine if they did pass a marriage law here, there would be a lot more over the top weddings and parties. Business is business. Why not capitalize on it now before other Asian countries do. It doesn’t harm anyone. Live and let live. 

[proton]

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Family and friends were happy to see the inclusiveness for the LGBTQ community.  They were also happy to see that in Bangkok many places had decorated, in fact Krungsri banks main office is still decorated appropriately to make folks feel welcome and not singled out.

How can the absence of a flag etc make anyone feel singled out? That's my Bank, thankfully undecorated. Commercial bandwagon jumping on very minority issues is unwelcome, in my opinion.

[ThailandRyan]

11 minutes ago, proton said:

How can the absence of a flag etc make anyone feel singled out? That's my Bank, thankfully undecorated. Commercial bandwagon jumping on very minority issues is unwelcome, in my opinion.

It has nothing to do with the absence of a flag, but the issue being that what Bangkok has done as well as elsewhere shows the support for the community and drives business to them.  Being closed minded about inclusivity is being disingenuous and shows a lack of welcoming to the changes in the world as far as openness.

[proton]

4 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

It has nothing to do with the absence of a flag, but the issue being that what Bangkok has done as well as elsewhere shows the support for the community and drives business to them.  Being closed minded about inclusivity is being disingenuous and shows a lack of welcoming to the changes in the world as far as openness.

i'm not against inclusivity, gay marriage and people being treated the same, I just wish they would act the same, drop the eternal victimhood and stop plastering everything with their divisive emblems, that's not inclusive at all.

[Rimmer]

A troll post has been removed

[PETERTHEEATER]

If these people want Laser Guided Bomb  Technolgy (LGBT)give it to them.It isnot secret.????

[ICU Kid]

If the Thai authorities go down this LGB&Q+ Rainbow route, it may be the first step to end some of the (non-PC) discrimination against non-Thais (double pricing & different visa reqs for foreign female spouses (or maybe we'll be able to 'identify as women') and so on).

 

In reality though, they're likely just virtue signalling to get more tourists $$$$$ 

[BangkokReady]

3 hours ago, ICU Kid said:

If the Thai authorities go down this LGB&Q+ Rainbow route, it may be the first step to end some of the (non-PC) discrimination against non-Thais (double pricing & different visa reqs for foreign female spouses (or maybe we'll be able to 'identify as women') and so on).

I think that would be a case of "We didn't mean that progressive!".

 

It's certainly interesting how much support there is for equality when it's LGBT, but not so much when it's foreigners.

[BangkokReady]

8 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Family and friends were happy to see the inclusiveness for the LGBTQ community.  They were also happy to see that in Bangkok many places had decorated, in fact Krungsri banks main office is still decorated appropriately to make folks feel welcome and not singled out.

How would people feel unwelcome or singled out if the Krungsri bank wasn't decorated with Pride decorations?

[Baht Simpson]

Actually he's a retired Anglican vicar who runs the evangelical Filling Station in the U.K. 

https://thefillingstation.org/

 

Not much doubt about evangelicals views on LGBT+

 

It would be interesting to see what he actually said.

[Peabody]

6 hours ago, proton said:

i'm not against inclusivity, gay marriage and people being treated the same, I just wish they would act the same, drop the eternal victimhood and stop plastering everything with their divisive emblems, that's not inclusive at all.

Perhaps they feel that those who consider symbols representing their identity as divisive are the ones who themselves are divisive?

[proton]

7 minutes ago, Peabody said:

Perhaps they feel that those who consider symbols representing their identity as divisive are the ones who themselves are divisive?

Feelings are not reality

[BayArea]

Medical,  marijuana,  digital nomad and now gay hub. Amazing Thailand is one stop shopping paradise of the world! Anything for that baht.

[redwood1]

5 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

How would people feel unwelcome or singled out if the Krungsri bank wasn't decorated with Pride decorations?

I want Krungsri Bank to have hetrosexual flags for me. so I dont feel descriminated  against.....

[sharksy]

Damn, more monkeypox

[Jingthing]

On 7/4/2023 at 2:55 AM, redwood1 said:

I want Krungsri Bank to have hetrosexual flags for me. so I dont feel descriminated  against.....

Their default decorations all year are heterosexual. The entire world is dominated by heteronormative culture. It's hilarious to me how heterosexuals are so often blind to that. A straight flag would be redundant overkill.

[Jingthing]

24 minutes ago, sharksy said:

Damn, more monkeypox

Damn, more stigmatizing.

[Jingthing]

On 7/4/2023 at 2:15 AM, BayArea said:

Medical,  marijuana,  digital nomad and now gay hub. Amazing Thailand is one stop shopping paradise of the world! Anything for that baht.

Thailand has been a major International gay tourist destination for decades. Thailand tourism authorities promoting that are not at all new either.

[sharksy]

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Damn, more stigmatizing.

Google: Among U.S. monkeypox cases with available data, 99% occurred in men, 94% of whom reported recent male-to-male sexual or close intimate contact; racial and ethnic minority groups appear to be disproportionately affected.

 

Truth hurts?