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.

India: Enormous interest among LGBT Travelers:

India was selected to host the 1st Asian Symposium on Gay & Lesbian Tourism due to its recent emergence on the global “gay map,” resulting from the cancellation of Section 377 banning same-gender relations. Symposium organiser Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), founded in 1992, is the world’s leading LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) tourism research, communications and marketing agency.

Recent research among 3,865 American LGBT consumers conducted by CMI demonstrated the pent-up demand for visiting India. When past LGBT visitors to India were asked if they would return, over 80% indicated, “yes.” Culture, history, temples/religion/spirituality and cuisine are the top activities and interests 35% of past LGBT visitors to India had been there multiple times.

“The research found that among gay men, India ranks as the #2 desired cultural/adventure destination just behind Thailand, but ahead of China, South Africa and Japan,” Said Thomas Roth, Founder and President of Community Marketing. “India is the #1 desired destination from this list among lesbians surveyed. At the Symposium, Mr. Roth will present CMI’s latest research findings and trends affecting the future of gay tourism and hospitality.

Global LGBT Media to Visit India for the First Time:

In conjunction with the Symposium, New Delhi-based Out Journeys is hosting the first-ever LGBT Journalist Tour. Representatives of the leading LGBT print and online media from the USA, Canada, Germany and Australia will start their tour by participating in the Symposium, followed by a tour of New Delhi. The itinerary continues with visits to Agra, Fetehpur Sikri and Jaipur. They will then enjoy the experience of an overnight train trip to Varanasi, where they will be immersed in Hindu and Buddhist culture and history, before returning to New Delhi and their return flights. India is expected to be featured in gay travel publications and websites around the world as a result of this initiative.

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