Over 75 travel industry professionals representing tour operators, travel agencies, hotel owners, and faculty and students of a travel management institute convened at the 1st Asian Symposium on Gay & Lesbian Tourism, held at the Le Meridien Hotel in New Delhi on 28 November.
The programme was organised by San Francisco-based Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), the global market research and consultancy firm focused on gay and lesbian communications. Attendees heard from Thomas Roth, president of Community Marketing, Abhinav Goel, co-founder of New Delhi-based tour operator Out Journeys, LGBT community leaders, and a panel of travel industry experts. Each shared insights on LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) tourism from their own perspectives.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand's New York Office, a co-sponsor of the symposium, announced that it has embarked on a project to "crystalise" its approach to LGBT travellers. The pilot "Go Thai, be free" campaign is targeted at LGBT travellers living on the east coast of the US and is expected to launch in the first quarter next year.