Nepal, the new Eldorado of gay tourism?

Aug. 23 2013

by Marc Dedonder

WillNepal soon be the new gay-friendly destination in Asia? Considering the speed at which gay rights are progressing in this small country and the activism of some of its promoters, it is conceivable that this will be the case.

Last winter, Sunil Pant, head of the Nepalese travel agencyPink Mountain, announced that he would soon be offering gay tourists weddings in Nepal.he would soon be offering gay tourists weddings at the foot of Mount Everest or honeymoons on elephant back in the Himalayas... Completely unthinkable? Also a parliamentarian and above all the main LGBT figure of the country, Sunil Pant kept his word: the first gay wedding of a foreign couple was celebrated last week in Kathmandu. A Hindu priest married a British man and his Indian friend, under the auspices of Mr. Pant's association,Blue Diamond Society.

Of course, gay marriage is not yet officially recognized in Nepal, and this ceremony is more symbolic than anything else. But same-sex unions, encouraged by a recent Supreme Court decision, could be enshrined in the country's next constitution, currently being adopted. That constitution should also enshrine equal rights for gays and the principle of non-discrimination, while the country already issues special identity cards for trangenarians.

This is a very surprising record for a country where homosexuality was only decriminalized in 2007. Until then, gays were victims of both the authorities, notably under the regime of King Gyanendra, and the Maoist rebels. But after years of civil war, political changes are profound in Nepal and allow a real opening.

In addition, the authorities claim to want to make tourism a new priority, with the objective of one million visitors per year against 400 000 currently. In this context, and while very few countries in the region claim to be "friendly", this positioning in the gay tourism market, which is considered more lucrative than tourism for men and women, is a real challenge.this positioning on the gay tourism market, considered more profitable than the classic "backpacker" tourism, seems to be a daring but well thought out and ambitious bet.

This Wednesday, Nepal will experience its first ever gay pride. A march organized in the streets of Kathmandu by Sunil Pant and his associationBlue Diamond Society. He hopes to gather 3 000 people. A new proof of the progress of gay rights in this country. A new signal sent to all gay travelers, worldwide.