As Thailand battles to reclaim its massive international tourist reputation, a major attempt is underway to obtain a significantly larger share of the US$200 billion in annual spending by LGBT travelers worldwide.
According to Chiang Mai’s tourist director, “we live in a country that is open and pretty liberal – I can’t think of a market that we wouldn’t welcome.” That’s a big assertion.
TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) has recently sponsored gay pride events in a number of Thai cities, not just Bangkok, and has now expanded its roadshow marketing to gay Muslims in a number of countries by promoting halal food and spas, publicizing the availability of prayer rooms in public facilities, and more quietly including the gay rainbow flag in marketing campaigns. Homosexuality is illegal in a number of other Southeast Asian nations with Muslim majorities.
TAT is promoting gay romantic Thai dramas like “2gether” and “I Promised You The Moon” in Japan and worldwide, which are freely available on the internet and have proven to be quite successful, even with non-gay audiences.
They are typically puppy-love romances that rarely address adult relationship issues or everyday obstacles confronting gay men, such as financial and career challenges.
Boys-love plays are attempting to capitalize on gay-related soft power, with annual exports nearing 3 billion baht through foreign business relationships.
Critics claim that TAT’s stance is entirely commercial, ignoring the fact that Thailand falls well short of being a gay paradise, particularly for lesbians, who are largely ignored in marketing initiatives.
Despite the fact that tourist-friendly towns offer a plethora of social media interaction sites and male-oriented homosexual bars and clubs, including cabaret shows that employ a sizable fraction of the transgender community, legal protection is limited.
Despite widespread attention, gay marriage and adoption remain banned, while transgender people can legally alter their names but not their genders.
Most laws prohibit discrimination against gay people in the workplace.
“But,” continues the TAT officer, “it’s a wonderful place for a holiday.” Particularly for males.
There are many places for the Gay community in Pattaya to relax and enjoy a holiday.
