Chasing the pink dollar

[reader]

Find it encouraging that government agencies are actively promoting gay tourism. Just hope that they don't lose sight of the fact that some come not only for headline events like the White Party,  but many of us for the bars, massage shops and go-go's that have been the meat and potato venues bringing gay dollars to Thailand for decades.

I appreciate the place the big events play in the greater scheme and acknowledge the role of apps in the evolving gay scene. Nevertheless I remain hopeful that there will continue to be a place--and a demand--for brick and mortar venues that will be displaced as commercial development moves ahead.

Excerpts from The Nation (Jan. 12)

While marriage equality is yet to clear the legislative thicket, advocates are encouraged by the country's efforts to woo more LGBTQ tourists

The Life Partnership Bill still has a long bureaucratic path ahead and an election and post-election uncertainty to endure before it could become law. But its recent approval in the Cabinet was an important initial step in making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to legally recognise same-sex civil partnerships. 

Brightening prospects further for Thailand’s sizeable LGBTQ community is the government’s interest in pursuing “pink dollars” – revenue derived from tourism programmes that appeal to LGBT travellers.

With a social climate widely seen as tolerant towards non-heterosexual orientations, Thailand has been called a haven for the gay and transgender lifestyle. The authorities are increasingly seeking to capitalise on that global reputation by encouraging more visits by foreign LGBT tourists, as well as the rights activists and artists who support the community. 

“LGBTQ are seen as a high-potential market with an above-average level of disposable income,” TAT deputy governor Srisuda Wanapinyosak told The Nation Weekend. “In tourism terms, they tend to travel more frequently than the demographic average.”

In a recent report, LGBT Capital estimated the global LGBT population at 496 million, with 4.5 million LGBT people living in Thailand. Global purchasing power was calculated at US$3.6 trillion and spending on tourism at $5.3 billion. 

Srisuda said the TAT had begun targeting this segment five years ago, but the market remained niche and hasn’t yet reached its full potential. With the Cabinet’s endorsement of the Life Partnership Bill, though – however troubled its future might be – the marketing is growing more aggressive both domestically and globally.

“The key to tapping into the LGBTQ market is to understand the diversity of preferences and respond accordingly,” she said. “It’s also important to welcome LGBT people genuinely and not be superficially ‘LGBT-friendly’.”

There are three main components to the TAT drive – events spanning entertainment and lifestyles like the Songkran festival and the Wonderfruit and White Party gatherings; high quality in the destinations, hospitality and cuisine on offer; and legal support from the government. 

The TAT hosted an LGBTQ symposium in Bangkok in September that drew travel agents from 50 countries. 

This month Srisuda will lead a road show in Spain. About 20 Thai tour operators will join her at Fitur, an international tourism-trade fair being held in Madrid. 

“LGBTQ is a game changer for the tourism business in Thailand,” gender academic Thitirat Duangkong told The Nation Weekend. 

“Gender diversity and equality are goals of the United Nations and other global bodies and are even part of the election platforms for some Thai political parties. So it’s quite relevant to the tourism business,” added the guest lecturer at Thammasat University.

“We’re stepping forward ahead off our neighbouring countries like the Philippines and Singapore, so we’re on track.” 

Tourism and Sport Minister Weerasak Kosurat said a new Bt30-million Digital Tourism Platform introduced by Kasikornbank will further boost the “pink economy”.

“LGBT people have purchasing power and also tend to be creative,” he said. “Our new Big Data platform will provide information about all target groups, including LGBTQ. They can easily select destinations, activities and services designed specially for them and book online. 

“Besides more pink dollars, we want to see more big smiles from the gender-diverse community visiting Thailand.”

Complete article available at

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30362082

 

[ggobkk]

Maybe...maybe more LGBTQ tourist outreach...maybe an election...

[Guest]

I read that article on the front page of The Nation and was struggling to find anything tangible in it.  Such as real examples of what they are doing.

There was a reference to a symposium in Bangkok and that's about it for gay specific actions.

Mind you, I'm not even sure TAT should bother promoting gay tourism.   If the general tourist environment is good, people will show up.   However, for a front page article, slightly more real content would be good.  If there is no story, put something else in the paper.

[reader]

From South China Morning Post (Jan. 13)

Three reasons Thailand is winning on same-sex rights in Asia

Success for the gay rights cause in Thailand lies in, as the old Chinese formula goes, the “right time, the right place, the right people”

Last month, the Thai government supported a bill that would make Thailand the first Asian jurisdiction to allow same-sex civil partnerships (“Thai government approves same-sex civil unions”, December 25). It is significant progress in the battle for sexual equality in Asia, in contrast to the failed referendum on gay marriage in Taiwan.

Success for the gay rights cause in Thailand lies in, as the old Chinese formula goes, 天時地利人和 (tian shi di li ren he), or the “right time, the right place, the right people”.

The right time: Asia has become more open-minded with regard to LGBT culture, as evident from increasing media productions featuring sexual minorities. The past few years in Thailand have seen a number of local movies and TV dramas portraying homosexuals and transgender people, which received worldwide exposure through web platforms such as Line TV and YouTube. Never before have sexual minorities received so much attention in the media and popular culture, which makes it the best time for Thailand to advance LGBT rights.

The right place: Thailand appears more relaxed about sex and sexual orientation in general. The sex industry, especially sex tourism, thrives in Thailand. Walk down a street in Bangkok and you will probably see a number of transgender entertainers. Their performances are welcomed by not only Thais but also overseas tourists. The atmosphere of openness in Thailand makes it the right place to promote same-sex marriage.

The right people: the country is facing political instability, as a result of the military coup and delayed general elections. The junta has been slammed for the political crisis. To stay in power and gain public confidence, it has to show the nation and the world that it has taken steps to promote human rights. The move to back an LBGT rights bill helps the military government promote a positive image and stay in the good books of the sexual minorities.

https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/2181660/three-reasons-thailand-winning-same-sex-rights-asia

[reader]

Following link was posted on Gaybutton site and I think it deserves re-posting in this thread. I believe it captures the emotions and anticipation most of us experience when we touch down at Swampy and turn on our phones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGrzmJnPL_4

 

[DivineMadman]

1 hour ago, reader said:

Following link was posted on Gaybutton site and I think it deserves re-posting in this thread. I believe it captures the emotions and anticipation most of us experience when we touch down at Swampy and turn on our phones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGrzmJnPL_4

 

Agree it's a delightful video, but so ripe for parody.....

[reader]

From Bloomberg News (12 Mar.)

Thailand’s Tourism Industry Getting Top Share of LGBT Spending

Thailand is advancing same-sex partnership legislation. And one of the nation’s biggest industries, tourism, is paying close attention.

Amid an election campaign, a measure that would give gay and lesbian couples more rights -- yet doesn’t legalize same-sex marriage -- was approved by the Cabinet and was headed to Parliament. Though the session ended before the bill became law, the tourism industry is using the occasion to actively promote Thailand as an LGBT-friendly destination.

“Thailand already has products and offerings catered to this market, and now our focus will be how we can better serve them,” Srisuda Wanapinyosak, a deputy governor for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said in an interview.

This year the Tourism Authority will host an LGBT travel symposium and plans more participation in pride parades in such cities as New York and Tel Aviv. Last month, it released a promotional video featuring LGBT travelers, including well-known lesbian bloggersRoxanne Weijer and Maartje Hensen. At a Madrid tourism event in January, the industry had a booth for the first time promoting Thailand specifically to gay and lesbian travelers.

The country’s tourism industry represents about one-fifth of the economy and is growing at a faster pace than other sectors. The LGBT market has become key to the industry’s fortunes. According to the investment firm LGBT Capital, tourism revenue from that community contributes 1.15 percent to Thailand’s economy, a greater share than any other destination.

Continues with photo

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2019-03-12/thailand-s-tourism-industry-looks-to-cash-in-on-same-sex-law

[ggobkk]

Good old Bloomberg...collecting all sorts of information 24/7.  Surprised by the Hong Kong percentage...

[PeterRS]

I can understand why Thailand hits the top spot. Like ggobkk  I am surprised that the numbers in Hong Kong are so high. It doesnt seem like a key gay destination since the number of gay clubs, saunas etc, is not particularly high. Would have been nice to see the figures for Taipei/Taiwan. With a bill re same sex partnerships becoming law by the early summer, quite a thriving local gay scene and big increases in gay tourists, it is a more likely gay destination than Japan. I wonder how many tourists fly in just for the annual Gay Pride week-end when somewhere around 140,000 join the March. Perhaps they just don[t spend as much as n Hong Kong, although how anyone knows how to determine who spends what baffles me.

Some photos of the last Gay Pride weekend from the gaybutton site

http://gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9355