Diversity pays dividends. Thailand’s legalization of same-sex marriage has boosted its profile as a civil rights leader, enhancing its appeal to travelers and sparking a flourishing of LGBTQ+ culture and acceptance, according to Condé Nast Traveler, a global travel publication from the United States.

“Never in my life have I seen so many pride events in Thailand,” Thai-American LGBTQ+ activist Robert Conner told the magazine in an article about how locals are enjoying a new chapter of the Kingdom’s vibrant LGBTQ+ heritage.

Virtually every corner of the country is experiencing a surge in LGBTQ+ cultural events and the opening of businesses that serve or are related to the LGBTQ+ community. Bangkok now hosts an annual white party and pride parade, while Phuket has its own parade. Hotels and wedding services are expanding on Koh Samui, and even Chiang Mai has seen new bars and entertainment venues open. Villages in Isan, a rural farming region, have staged their first-ever pride parades.

This transformation gained momentum earlier this year when Thailand made global headlines by becoming only the third country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. The Kingdom has long been known for its tolerance of diverse lifestyles and sexual orientations.

“Same-sex marriage really cements everything for me and for others in terms of permanent, clear evidence of acceptance,” Conner said.

Now more than ever, Thailand should be at the top of people's “must-visit” destinations, Conner told Condé Nast Traveler. As a result, travel agencies specializing in the LGBTQ+ market have opened across the country, and LGBTQ+ tourism is booming.

“Positivity always brings people in,” said Chakgai Jermkwan, a performer and owner of a popular gay bar on Silom Soi 4 in Bangkok. Chakgai, also known as Miss M Stranger Fox, married his husband in the United States, where same-sex marriage was legalized a decade ago. Their Stranger Bar doubles as a theater and is packed most nights with patrons enjoying a lineup of performances.

Thailand’s tourism authorities are experts at finding niche markets to promote and attract tourists, keeping visitor numbers rising. With LGBTQ+ culture and travel

burgeoning, Ken Kreangsak Leing, whose company G-Spot Entertainment organizes LGBTQ+ events, noted that the government’s acceptance of LGBTQ+ society makes perfect sense.

“If they did not accept it before, it was because they didn’t know the power of the pink dollar,” Ken stressed.

Photo courtesy of https://www.cntraveler.com/