Thaindian News

Panaji, Oct 19 (IANS) Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transexual (LGBT) tourism might constitute the biggest slice of India’s tourist pie in the near future. And Goa is eager for the first nibble.

Speaking to reporters in Panaji Wednesday, Goa Tourism Director Swapnil Naik said that LGBT tourism as an emerging trend would be discussed threadbare at the Goa International Travel Mart (GITM) which kicks off here Friday.

“LGBT tourism is being discussed a part of a knowledge session which will see the participation of the Berlin International Trade mart representatives,” Naik said.

“It is an emerging tourism trend in Europe and has potential to become one of the biggest segments in tourism,” he added.

Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Gaurish Dhond said that LGBT tourism was a growing worldwide tourism trend and Goa was keen to attract tourists from this segment.

“You have to accept the trends,” Dhond said, endorsing Goa tourism’s overtures to the LGBT segment. “The society here will accept it. Tourism here will have to grow.”

Naik, who said that there was a need to sensitise the local population as well as the tourism industry stakeholders to the new LGBT tourism trend, also cautiously added that the Goa government was in no way “promoting LGBT tourism”.

“We are discussing it as a trend and we are trying to sensitise the tourism and travel industry stakeholders to the needs and demands of the LGBT tourists,” Naik said.

Over the years, lots of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual tourists had been visiting Goa, but after the recent judgement decriminalizing homosexuality in India, the travel and tourism industry expressed openness to organizing such tours.

Goa, known for its famous beaches, attracts nearly 2.6 million tourists annually, out of which nearly half a million are foreigners.