The traditional gay scene in Thai tourist cities has centered on westerners. But that scenario could be changing with marriage equality becoming legal early next year. Bangkok’s Rainbow Alliance points out there are three billion people living less than five hours flying time from Bangkok. They reside in countries where homosexuality is either frowned on or actually illegal. So the trickledown benefits to Thailand’s economy could be awesome. Thailand is the first country in south east Asia to legalize same sex nuptials.
According to the digital travel platform Agoda, 4 million extra visitors could boost revenue by US$2 billion and lift the country’s gross national product by 0.3 percent. Thailand’s friendly gay image is a key plank of the international marketing plan to entice any and all interest groups as long as they’re not actually a threat to national security. The advent of the 60 days visa-free entry and of the five-years validity Destination Thailand Visa are just two examples of the strategy in action.
As usual in Asian economic affairs, China leads the way. Owen Zhu, a Bangkok-based realtor, said that the purchase of Thai condominiums by Chinese gays was now mainstream as some look to establish second homes in Thailand with their partners, or anticipate longterm capital appreciation. What appeals to gay Chinese is “a place where you are accepted”. One pointed out in the South China Morning Post that you would never find a transexual receptionist at a business in China, a common phenomenon in Thailand. Chinese nationals buy 40 percent of all foreign property purchases in Thailand.
Indian tourist numbers to Thailand have rocketed since the abolition of visa restrictions on entry although gayness is still a matter most prefer to keep private. There is heavy investment in the Thai hospitality industry, often via proxies in Dubai, but not directly in gay-orientated businesses. However, this could well change during the next few years. A spokesperson for Pattaya’s Walking Street Collective said, “There are lots of Indians already enjoying themselves in dance clubs, so it’s just a matter of time before the gay scene opens up.”
There are other clues. According to Bangkok Pride, there are many Asians trying to register for their gay wedding in Thailand from January 2025, South Koreans and Singaporeans in particular. A Pacific-based gay tour operator, Thai Freedoms, is advertising Thai vacations in Malaysia and Indonesia where homophobia still rules the roost. A previous report by Agoda claimed that Thailand is the most popular destination for Japanese gay vacationers. Meanwhile, Thailand’s Boy Love website and mini-series dramas are popular throughout the region, clearly indicating how soft power or influences can stimulate the economy.
This is not to say that western gay tourists are a relic of the past. The commercial gay scene is still mostly geared to them, although online dating apps less so. But the number of European and American visitors, as well as expats, appear to be declining, even though the return of the Trump administration in USA could witness more voluntary exiles including a fair proportion of gays seeking warmer climes. International Thai tourism has already experienced many shakeups as it has diversified its appeal beyond traditional western fun seekers. As Thailand’s business orientation continues to evolve, gay tourism can be expected to follow suit.
