Kathmandu: The First International Rainbow Tourism Conference 2024 has concluded here in Kathmandu, marking a significant step for Nepal to become a safe and welcoming destination for global sexual and gender minority tourists.
Addressing the event, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Bhagbati Chaudhary said the national gender equality policy was implemented in 2077.
“Gender equality policy has been implemented in 2077, the first same-sex marriage has been registered,” said Minister Chaudhary, “In the past, orientation and awareness programmes were organised for the sexual and gender minorities in Lumbini and Koshi provinces. Now preparations are underway to expand them to all seven provinces.”
The ministry has assigned a separate body to revise the policy, she said. “For pink tourism, our hospitals, heritages and service delivery are gender friendly, and that has already begun,” she said, “Rainbow tourism can also be attracted at tourist areas at the provincial and local levels.”
Laws for gender equality are sufficient and they are being fully implemented, she said.
It may be noted that on November 29, 2023, Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey registered their same-sex marriage in Dordi Rural Municipality in Lamjung district, making Nepal the first country to legalise same-sex marriage in South Asia, and second in Asia behind Taiwan in Asia. Neighboring countries China and India have yet to legalise same-sex marriage.
Following Maya and Surendra’s marriage registration, Suprita Gurung and Dipti Shrestha have been given a lesbian marriage registration certificate by Bardiya’s Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality.
Minister Chaudhary highlighted the importance of drawing rainbow tourists by introducing the inclusive character adopted by Nepal for the sexual and gender minority communities to the world.
Thanking the organisers and supporters for organising the first international conference, she mentioned that the rainbow tourism sector contributed 20 percent to Thailand’s gross domestic product.
Similarly, Supreme Court Justice Hari Phuyal said Nepal is safe for sexual and gender minority tourists. He referred to the recent groundbreaking phenomena of the registration of same-sex marriage in Nepal.
Highlighting Nepal’s potential to become a destination country for pink tourism, Nandani Lahe Thapa, Senior Director for the Nepal Tourism Board, said the tourism board was working to bring in the sexual and gender minority tourists.
Sunil Babu Pant, Asia’s first openly gay former parliamentarian of Nepal and executive director for Mayako Pahichan Nepal, expressed Nepal’s readiness to welcome sexual and gender minority tourists.
Asking global tourists from the communities to freely visit Nepal, as the country is safe, he said, “Constitutional rights have been given. When going to other countries, you have to be in fear. Nepal is safe for the communities. We are thinking of making Nepal a honeymoon destination for same-sex couples.”
Also, Veronique Lorenzo, European Union Ambassador to Nepal, said Nepal is a safe haven for sexual and gender minorities according to a study conducted in 145 countries of the world. “Nepal’s progress has been good. Nepal has become the second country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.”
Informing that the EU was helping to raise the living standards of sexual and gender minorities, she said she saw the potential of rainbow tourism in Nepal better than in other countries.
World market of rainbow tourism
Writer and journalist Diane Anderson presented a global overview of sexual and gender minority tourism and its contribution to the economy, stating that the rainbow tourism market is worth $211 billion worldwide.
Nepal also has the purchasing power of rainbow tourism in the United States, China and Japan. He presented a study showing that the market of rainbow tourism which was 4 trillion dollars during COVID pandemic in three countries has now reached 4.7 trillion dollars.
The population of sexual and gender minorities in the world is 300 million. “This is 6.5 percent of the total population,” she said, “They prefer to travel a lot.”
For sexual and gender minorities, Thailand is known for its sex tourism and Greece has recently been said to lack security for the communities. “There is a security problem in Greece, they are looking for an alternative to Thailand,” she said, “Nepal is a country with potential, and it can take advantage.”
At the conference, tourism professionals from the US, New Zealand, and Germany presented working papers, while Indian writers and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik and Paromita presented old facts about sexuality and gender. Maruni dance was performed on the occasion.
Organised by Mayako Pahichan Nepal, a non-profit organisation advocating for the rights of sexual and gender minorities, in collaboration with the NTB, the conference aims to make Nepal a destination for rainbow tourism, it has been said.
