Thailand’s same-sex marriage law, which is set to take effect in January 2025, could attract an additional 4 million tourists to the country each year, according to a report released by travel company Agoda.
A report published Thursday estimated that the country’s marriage equality law could increase tourism arrivals by 10 percent, giving the country an additional $2 billion in annual tourism revenue within two years. .
The influx is expected, not just from same-sex couples and their wedding guests, but from the broader LGBTQ community and beyond.
“Thailand is poised to attract a growing number of travelers and foreign workers who seek not just a vacation destination but a place where they can truly feel welcome,” according to the report. The Economic Impact of Marriage Equality on the Land’s Tourism Industry. “
Thailand’s new legislation – which will take effect on January 22, 2025 – is expected to add 76,000 full-time jobs to its tourism industry, while increasing the country’s gross domestic product by .3 percent. Report From the Public Policy Consultancy Access Partnership.
The new law will make Thailand the third country in Asia to allow same-sex marriage after Taiwan in 2019 and, On a more limited basis, Nepal in 2023. The law is also set to give same-sex couples rights to adopt children, health care and inheritance.
Calculating the effect
To assess the potential economic impact of Thailand’s new legislation, the report examined the impact of same-sex marriage laws in other countries.
“Other markets, such as New Zealand and the US, saw significant increases in same-sex marriages after the introduction of marriage equality legislation,” said Timothy Hughes, Agoda’s vice president of corporate development. CNBC Travel.
New Zealand legalized same-sex marriage in 2013. As of 2016, the majority of same-sex weddings in the country were for pilgrims, the report said.
Australians performed more than half (58 per cent) of same-sex marriages in New Zealand from 2013 to 2017, according to the report, citing Statistics New Zealand. That number dropped to 26 percent in 2017, when Australia passed its own same-sex marriage law, she said.
Within a 5-hour flight of Thailand, there are over 3.6 billion people in markets with no marriage equality.
Timothy Hughes
Vice President of Corporate Development at Agoda
Agoda’s report also analyzed other factors that influence international tourists, including destination attractiveness, travel affordability, ease of entry, and perceived level of acceptance of LGBTQIA+ issues.
Assessing the Tourism Impact of Same-Sex Legislation in Thailand
1. Attractiveness: Appeal as a travel destination
2. Access: Ease of entry through visa-free deals
3. Affordability: Cost of traveling in relation to other countries
4. Availability of alternatives: Proximity to other viable destinations
Finally, the report also considered the availability of viable alternative destinations for LGBTQIA+ or regional travelers.
“Within a 5-hour flight to Thailand, there are over 3.6 billion people in markets with no marriage equality,” Hughes said.
He highlighted the economic opportunities from Indian travelers, predicting that Thailand will “become a top destination for Indian LGBTQIA+ couples and those ready to celebrate with them.”
A ‘unique strategic opportunity’
Planning has already begun for some.
Anne Chomapuran, a Thai rights activist and co-founder of Bangkok Pride, said her organization is planning a mass wedding ceremony for same-sex couples on January 23, 2025 – the day marriage registrations can be filed. are
“We have over 300 couples registered, and our goal is to reach 1,000 couples across the country,” he told CNBC Travel. “We already have international couples registered.”
The Thai government has also focused on hosting World Pride.New South Wales will receive A$185.6 million Australian dollars ($120 million) in Sydney hosting the World Pride event in 2023, Agoda reports.
Evidence from other markets shows that couples travel abroad to get married, even if the marriage is not legally recognized in their home countries, said Agoda’s Timothy Hughes.
Ezra Akyan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Rainbow tourism, as it is known, is worth $200 billion worldwide, according to the report.
In an era of fierce competition for tourists – especially those attending weddings and related events – Thailand has a “unique strategic opportunity”, said Marcus Ng, director of the Access Partnership.
“While we cannot predict what other markets may do, what this report shows is that inclusion has clear economic benefits for both the tourism sector and the wider economy.”
