Nepal to Host Its First LGBTQ+ Tourism Conference

The global annual spending power of the LGBTQ+ consumer segment, measured in 2022, is $4.7 trillion, according to LGBT Capital, a corporate advisory and asset management company. It’s probably one of the reasons Nepal – specifically its capital Kathmandu – will host its first two-day LGBTQ+ tourism conference on January 18-19, 2024.

In August, Vacationer told you how Kathmandu was becoming the next hot tourist destination for LGBTQ+ travelers, and now, this new tourism conference is expected to help establish the country as a welcoming, queer-friendly travel destination. The epic announcement of the event comes just two months after Nepal legalized same-sex marriage, making it the first South Asian country to do so.  

Sunil Babu Pant, the first openly gay former parliamentarian in Asia, told The Kathmandu Post, that “Nepal is considered a champion and beacon of hope for LGBTIQ+ rights in South Asia. Now, it needs to tap its potential business opportunities—pink tourism. We may invite prominent people from the LGBTIQ+ communities from around the world. The international participants may number just over 100. This is just the beginning.”

In July, Nepal produced the first batch of guides trained to guide LGBTIQ+ trekkers, and the conference will not only build more just and equitable societies but also benefit the economy and LGBTQ+ folks who want to work in an industry as their authentic selves.  

Also an LGBTQ+ activist, Pant believes making Nepal stand out as an LGBTQ+-welcoming travel destination will also benefit queer folks looking for work. “When the economy suffers, it’s hard for LGBTIQ+ communities to get jobs here. These are the people who struggle to get jobs abroad—mainly in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Malaysia where laws are harsh for them. Let’s tap into the global LGBTIQ+ community. They want to see the world.”

The LGBTIQ+ tourism conference will be supported by the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA), The World Bank, the European LGBTQ+ Travel Alliance, Nepal’s Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, and the Nepal Tourism Board.

“Hosting an event focused on LGBTIQ+ tourism promotes inclusivity and diversity,” said Nandini Lahe-Thapa, director at the Nepal Tourism Board, the country’s tourism promotional body. “The LGBTIQ+ Tourism event creates a safe and welcoming space for individuals of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. They promote inclusivity and foster a sense of belonging.”