Sunil Babu Pant, who heads LGBTI group of Nepal under Blue Diamond Society (BDS), said the target has been set with assumption that LBGTI tourists constitute about 20 percent of total tourist arrivals in LGBTI-friendly countries. [break]
“If Nepal meets the target for tourist arrival set for this year, there is a fair chances that 20 percent of them will be LGBTI tourists,” Pant, who is also a Constituent Assembly member, told Republica.
Pink Mountain Travel Agency, which was established last year, has been providing travel packages, including wedding and honeymoon packages, exclusively for this group. Nepal managed to draw the attention of international media by hosting same sex marriage in the capital last year.
“We´ve already received confirmation to host a gay marriage in March and a lesbian marriage in June,” Pant said.
Officials at Pink Mountain said they had handled two groups of LGBTI tourists so far. More groups are coming soon, they said.
The first group handled by Pink Mountain involved in adventure activities, while the other was in Nepal for pilgrimage.
Tourism entrepreneurs say they have no problem serving the LGBTIs as most of them are assumed to be high-end clients.
“As the country´s laws already safeguard rights of sexual minorities, there is no reason why we should discourage the entry of LGBTI tourists in the country,” said Yogendra Shakya, coordinator of NTY Main Organizing Committee.
“Nepal is a paradise for everyone. As the entry of LGBTI tourists will help us meet our target, we are more than happy to welcome them.”
Pant explained that Nepal holds a huge potential to attract LGBTI tourists as other countries in South Asia are not that friendly with sexual minorities. “India has recently started welcoming LGBTIs, but we are already considered a top destination for them in the region,” he added. He, however, said his group was not promoting same sex tourism for trading sex like that of places like Bangkok.
“We want LGBTIs to come like other tourists and enjoy regular activities like adventure, sightseeing and others.”
Last year, Pant was invited in Boston as a keynote speaker in connection with the promotion of NTY 2011.
“Quite a few people of this group have placed Nepal at the top of their destinations list, but there is a need to work out attractive packages to attract them,” he told Republica. Pant also requested travel agencies to come up with exclusive packages to attract LGBTIs.
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