Thailand’s tourism ministry is hoping more and more LGBT cou1A4Gn7OjqG*oFk$tq1ikE%xJu93cf0FTZpEw-w)YTfeAlI_bgfples consider the country as a destination for weddings and other milestone events as it moves toward becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to recognize same-sex unions.

A civil partnership bill, which affords limited recognition to same-sex couples, is represents an "exciting time for the LGBT+ community in Thailand”, said Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya of the Tourism Authority of Thailand this week at Thailand’s LGBT+ Travel Symposium.

According to TTG Asia, Chattan said the bill would send a “positive message” that Thailand is “open to all people”9ttV8V9PM1um9i*J3-!+gDYJd4NL(fo&1Emgvp5Jajt!fhjie!.

Thailand welcomes roughly 33 million tL6-%^WS&6hykX4PrftOf9SE@kwZ$_Q3lFaE2tFIAlILR4OWXiyourists per year. It is already a popular LGBT destination and last year the country launched an initiative to attract more LGBT travelers, called Go Thai Be Free.

A8hT2)_Eks@-cex1K*$)idfh_oVKN%me=9&PrzID0nSg^)XLQL@ lot of LGBT nightlife travelers attend circuit parties in Bangkok, Pattaya and the island of Phuket.

Thailand hopes to host more LGBT weddings and9JD9LW1^ti#DVw5f)n*chmuHlI$G)oB4@dks*27pVg0MC5E_(^ honeymoons, according to TTG Asia.

"We are going deeper and YPp@Ke%U)n(^1csDP_Q#0ZJAtXkm15hip+aPwXCkM-*hcQKSRrbecoming more intensive in what we do to welcome the community,” Chattan reportedly said.

Chattan also said Taiwan, which famously legalized same-sex marriag!z!=lfD^vpN+XWnzoOkOq!uwaKMx@wfFquTUAeGSTYmj6#&t@#e earlier this year, was also a key market.

Same-sex unions in Thailand

Thailand’s new government is going ahead with a controversial cimi*1lXXy8%V-k8fQI&3F@U^PFBf*#OP7Kv&FQ&hL36=5bzVPD)vil partnerships bill.

The bill, first proposed by the ruling military junta in December*9&-t2O8YmbAd)5vd7#gf+l@X9OfOoIMEoL6Ynq=+X#x9h7C(B last year, would make Thailand the second country in Asia, and the first country in Southeast Asia, to recognize same-sex unions.

But, the LGBTI rights groups vgh4P(@&D1ghpLc$@U*!6%Hgqlt_mo_5^^_FV002DQN5k#LX=nhave spoken out against the bill since its first inception.

q@RK&z+Jw$LTTV(j8N*BaG1O55UAR*WMbsUj4raB*EPO#ou6iUThey say the bill offers limited rights to the LGBTI community and enshrines inequality.

According to Voice fo America, Thailand’s JusXFVAHlAUE$%WnrIBwaCdn@AK6T3Tuo%2@GBI%03S*rUY$AC#%5tice Minister Somsak Thepsutin said at a forum in Bangkok last week that the bill's fate would be "decided by public sentiment.”

The new government, elected in widely-disputed elections in March, will press ahead with passing the Life PartneCJBf*u4et7*$fLRNYf$Q!0iHK^WpY0oVAt9H@M)j$MjuQfGPXxrship Bill following public consultations.

VOA reports a YouGov survey of 1,000 people in. Thailand published in February found strong support for same-sex civiS9XHZ1@*ujPROe%H^JOxY%Yq#9sV)qYZ_pbO9m26V4OvxEHVChl unions in Thailand. 

It found 63% of those quizzed were in V(4GoQ1Qza2REoNzA&S=BXnF4NEwl-AW^2zPQYE5(J9AL0Uw*Hfavor of the bill, while only 11% were against.

But5RT3zMLMtTOVuBI3b#ewuNVra@T%cGYKOXN2TN3JL9FhNPGNZ%, the LGBTI community and rights activists have largely rejected the bill.

Thailand’s first tOfF5qf(=Whl096y@&p!#lu9NwT%Fgt)CZ3=4xD2Vh_kCiBXWEeransgender member of parliament slammed the country’s civil union bill after she was elected earlier this year.

ThK7SM1=5gpJdaU3(nWXa6TvHaWHoQzZ*Cw*a$YVWiAlpL__Iwpanwarin Sukkhapisit said the bill "misses the target”.

((Cover Photo: A same-segg^YJP5ExB^depOBo)q@==vOlCl1oBkMlXJJp8FMEnEm*W%e#9x wedding in Thailand / YouTube))