India hits the ‘gaydar’
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Two years after the government legalised homosexuality in India, a small group of travel professionals are carving out a niche in Gay & Lesbian Tourism.
In fact, those involved claim that the market is growing nicely. Speaking at the 18th South Asia Travel and Tour Expo (SATTE) in Delhi on Friday, Director of the first and only gay travel boutique Indjapink, Sanjay Malhotra said that after the High Court ruling two years ago the tourism industry in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Tourists (LGBT) has increased manifold.
According to Malhorta, Gay & Lesbian tourists bypassed India for many years, heading to Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia instead. However, Kerala, Rajasthan and Varanasi are now on the ‘gaydar’.
It is potentially quite a lucrative niche as gay men travel in large groups from Western Europe and North America.
‘Gays or lesbians are the biggest spender of lifestyle products.
They have maximum disposable incomes as they come from DINK (Double Income, No Kids) group.
So they are recession proof and they are vacation savvy,’ said Thomas Boemkes, managing director, Tom On Tour, a portal for gay travellers and friends.
However the market growth does face challenges in India.
Panellists highlighted the pervasive conservatism of Indian society and the heightening insensitivity of the hospitality industry in many luxury hotels.
“Although New Delhi has a string of luxury hotels only one or two is gay friendly.
For example, in a hotel despite informing that a group of tourists is gay, the front desk staff at certain hotels allotted rooms with separate single beds,” Malhotra said.
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