In 2013, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s office in New York launched its campaign, “Go Thai Be Free,” to actively welcome LGBTQ travelers. In recent years, on the heels of gay marriage court rulings, tourist boards in the more permissive corners of the world are promoting their countries as same-sex wedding and honeymoon destinations. Many are not parents and therefore have a greater disposable income, plus are better able to travel outside peak holiday periods. The economic potential of LGBTQ travelers in particular is increasingly catching the eyes of tourist operators worldwide. In comparison, less than 700,000 Americans and a little over 500,000 French citizens visited Thailand so far this year. Thailand has already welcomed 6.6 million Chinese tourists in 2017 - up from a total of 2.7 million five years ago - bringing a flood of cash into the key sector. Photo: Lillian Suwanrumpha/ AFPĬhina sends more tourists to Thailand than any other country, with cheap air links and no visa requirements funneling visitors to the kingdom. 7, 2017 shows Thai male dancers taking their shirts off on stage at ZAG bar in Thailand’s southern tourist destination of Phuket. In Thailand they don’t have to worry,” said Ji Chengfeng, a 37-year-old entrepreneur from Beijing, who was visiting Phuket on one of his frequent holidays in the kingdom. “I have a lot of friends who don’t feel safe in China and feel they need to hide. The relaxed atmosphere offers a rush of liberation for those who make the trip. Nearly a dozen agents offer trips to Thailand for gay tourists, with ads showing travelers partying on yachts decorated with rainbow streamers and balloons. They’re polite and curious about Thailand,” said a waiter at the nearby MO2 club.Ĭhinese travel companies are also crowding in to tap the market. They used to come in the past, but this year suddenly there were a lot, so we added Chinese songs,” Bon Nadech, the owner of ZAG bar told AFP. “Every night, around half our customers are from China. While LGBTQ Thais often still face discrimination in the workplace, the country’s gay party scene is famously loud and proud, known for late-night clubbing and cabaret shows in Bangkok and along its coastal resorts. That makes Thailand, renowned for its more permissive attitude towards sexuality, an alluring holiday option for gay Chinese looking to cut loose away from family pressures and censorious eyes. Homeosexuality was classified as a mental illness in China until 2001 and a crime until 1997, and authorities have arrested gay rights activists. Some Chinese parents have even brought gay children to “conversion” clinics for treatment. Yet in China being openly gay is still fraught with difficulties.ĭressing a certain way or public displays of affection can draw stares and lead to family turmoil. With an estimated LGBTQ population of 70 million, China has the world’s third-largest “pink market” after Europe and the United States.
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