Gay India: Getting Ready for its Close-up

In 2009 when the New Delhi High Court decriminalized gay sex (by repealing section 377 of India’s Penal Code) it opened the doors to the growth of the LGBT community, including a nascent gay travel segment (both outbound for LGBT Indians and inbound for lesbian and gay travelers intrigued by this culturally rich country).

Just two years later India was selected to host the first Asian Symposium on Gay & Lesbian Tourism organized by Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), leaders in gay travel market research since 1992. In conjunction with the symposium, there will be the first-ever LGBT media tour of the country. According to their website:

Tourism and hospitality professionals from across India and throughout Asia will convene in New Delhi on 28 November, for Community Marketing’s 1st Asian Symposium on Gay & Lesbian Tourism, in partnership with American Airlines, IGLTA, Traveltechie.com, Out Journeys, and Pink Banana Media.

The Symposium features educational presentations and networking opportunities for government tourism offices, visitor bureaus, destination management companies, meeting planners, and travel suppliers including airlines, hotels, tour operators, etc. Topics include market research, sales, marketing, advertising, web 2.0, public relations, meetings and events; many illustrated by case studies. To learn more about speakers and topics, and to register, please visit the Symposium website

CMI founder and president Tom Roth says “The Symposium and the LGBT Journalist Tour are dreams come true for me. I have visited India about 15 times since 1980. With the elimination of Section 377 and the new emergence of the LGBT communities of India, I can now bring my LGBT tourism marketing skills together with my passion for India.”