Nepal is set to host its inaugural tourism conference aimed at showcasing the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom as a secure and appealing destination for travellers from the LGBTQ+ community. Dubbed ‘Yatra 2 Happiness: First Rainbow Tourism International Conference’, the two-day event is scheduled to be held on April 20-21 in Kathmandu.
Organised through a collaboration between the Nepal Tourism Board and Maya ko Pahichan Nepal (MKPN), the conference marks a groundbreaking endeavor in the country’s tourism landscape.
Sunil Babu Panta, executive director of MKPN and Nepal’s first openly LGBTQ+ lawmaker, anticipates a diverse audience including international tourism stakeholders, hoteliers, donor agencies, celebrities, and media representatives to participate in the conference.
This rainbow conference is expected to provide economic empowerment to Nepal’s LGBTQ+ community while fostering employment opportunities and propelling the nation’s tourism sector to new heights. Panta an LGBTQ+ activist, highlighted the event’s significance amid Nepal’s strides towards safeguarding the rights and well-being of sexual and gender minorities.
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Nandini Lahe Thapa, interim CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, pledged her support for the advancement of rainbow tourism within the country, recognising it as a tourism segment with immense potentials. Thapa highlighted the likelihood of attracting rainbow tourists from neighboring India and China, where advancements in LGBTQ+ rights and welfare have been relatively sluggish.
The conference promises a vibrant array of activities including entertainment shows, fashion exhibitions, culinary delights, film screenings, and enticing travel packages. With the participation of approximately 150 travel industry operators and hoteliers, the international Rainbow Tourism conference could go on to make a significant impact on Nepal’s tourism industry.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
