Alternative investment

Investing in LGBTIQ tourism will benefit Nepal in multiple ways.

The ongoing Nepal Investment Summit hopes to attract much-needed investment to the country. Taking part are over 1,700 potential investors from 55 countries. A total of 150 public and private projects are being showcased at the gathering. After two previous rather disappointing summits (in terms of realisation of pledged investments), we will have to wait a bit to see the outcome of this one. But there is one more promising avenue for Nepali economy. A week ago, Kathmandu hosted another vital gathering: The country’s first international LGBTIQ tourism conference. Whether or not Nepal can pull in big investments, it can certainly welcome more queer tourists and make big bucks: According to one estimate, the global spending power of the queer segment is around $4.7 trillion. Nepal is increasingly seen as a safe travel destination for LGBTIQ folks. This image has only been boosted by the successful marriage registration of Surendra Pandey and Maya Gurung, the first same-sex couple to be legally recognised in Nepal, in November 2023. It was only the latest in a series of legal interventions recognising the rights of people of all genders and sexual orientations.