Thailand’s tourism ministry is hoping more and more LGBT F+uKNC+cwW%7E-M%C*_PIbZb+Z+^ijbbWovemF2(G7^D@F=KV#couples 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 partnersjMkPL(y(b1EsvwVHjPkBdf*Vi_#Jn7@cgbAN7kNIP5J=iPgWEghip 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_^d$_fXK%%T)=7!cgzI5**%$#v*x6VpFC5)w)a2hJuGYm3uUUC TTG Asia, Chattan said the bill would send a “positive message” that Thailand is “open to all people”.

Thailand welcomes roughly 33 million tourists per year. It is already a popular LGBT destination and last year th6z7l6$LL0BXgEA-8iyYO1L1C_rXdr7Pu$rJ7Y5hb)pzq@MBXn0e country launched an initiative to attract more LGBT travelers, called Go Thai Be Free.

A lot of LGBT nightlife travelers attend circuit parties in Bangkok, PattayapJQ=b$+TaadF&Qx3_MZy4m-IPn!wAHRL@pm8PcWS@-2x1d8e0i and the island of Phuket.

Thailand hopes to host more LGBT weddings and honeymoons, according toH=$a25I!&+lLKzw9rqDIJ&m-!fQ^8_6FXB_X%-21l&&5YthKeh TTG Asia.

"We are going deeper and becoming more intensive in what we do to welcome the community,5v%)qt!b&5H%J-kEDuM&t%$&C$CjOio726MqBOw@S^&PZ7v$q+” Chattan reportedly said.

Chattan also said Taiwan, whicPMsO-4r!Ya4SzVBe8mZfL5w^uU#14)A5HkP$pGcwmU!cuaYi79h famously legalized same-sex marriage earlier this year, was also a key market.

Same-sex unions in Thailand

Thailand’s new government is going ahead with a controversial civil IJW*q*py7@A-R8A)%vNrO5(*QOA2@GwAaY$HbyT$SOJgP!BVobpartnerships bill.

The bill, first proposed by the ruling military junta in December last year, would make Thailand the second country in Asia, and the first country in Southeast Asia, to rmJ$I)7&1hU%LRr(oJG%7hJO)ePEfgkmYzwGhH0E7j-Ii4B9LE&ecognize same-sex unions.

But, the LGBTI rights groups have spoken out against the bill since its first iQLt9C!uchIifv$(teHP(9M_nX$2jobSwhkAh+^Ls#gV2f!Al6Anception.

They1xjBSr8GxntRv&nIcMyZL*2b(lKKA#8H__0+QL7cXD-s=k1kSS say the bill offers limited rights to the LGBTI community and enshrines inequality.

According to Voice fo America, Thailand’s Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin said at a forum in Bangkok last week that th=QX*E05$f)hJOE*TYFucxxehjV&FyD*kE1*NMmc4(A5u&Ff09Ke 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 PartpmR((&ZiSenS(HUbxuwCSenKDD&ErjLUo)4b#8uH_gK$=QUN#Cnership Bill following public consultations.

VOA reports a YouGov survey of 1,000 people in. Thailand published in February found strong support for same-sex civil unions _BB9fzoxE%Th8!$%vTQ7Ap+11=VVhFyaymLSC3!5lr-PHPdlQvin Thailand. 

It found 63% of those quizzed were in favor of the bill, while only 11%CrsWBeoqPcP$-6R&fPM__eHA@=bO)5*iY@10ce0$qvRQilMVQY were against.

But, the LGBTI community and rights activists have largely rejected the bpKLklIKUtEtOz7gr^lM!(@j%89U3D*u_n*KFV=LZK&wNS#A^dlill.

Thailand’s first transgender member of parliamen%89@OEDw8N(w*EUyzI7-mGObXp=CwTvx*&&O&7o!yC*5USwiJ@t slammed the country’s civil union bill after she was elected earlier this year.

Tanwarin Sukkhapisit said the bill "misses thf3p5fYEq8f7gqMDgNq6o3(XFl!(mwo$Bg&NL0hBRI@WTOeuKSce target”.

(Cover Photo:c)P^qpa8-&bnWv!hHBpG$Vz8Psc^pEdNTA&izr)u%uQz+qW#er A same-sex wedding in Thailand / YouTube)