Thailand’s tourism ministry is hoping more and mor%7E()^DqPX48-@IWSdZI#l=6p4+AZfg8PP7Bc+V0mlRT_ZPAare LGBT 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 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 yzVt8g%Zp+$zvSAbADwCerIqq9)FVnx=$a41(tr2(NqM09EVUdwould 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 lHf5&qSy%BaIoEyhcNNGg!4LjI_ydx+E1XDLLG76tjxVID6&ldAast year the 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, Pattaya and the isRWVFudfsu+rC%Yu=2klf90Hk6$eH3l_O2Zb#D6fs#&%gHF59Zkland of Phuket.

Thailand htT!7y=QJdp^V6jXwWVdaNn$m&KrL#)_)Tru@!Bu7#Qa)zb(YUxopes to host more LGBT weddings and honeymoons, according to TTG Asia.

"We are going deeper and becoming more intensive in what we do to welcomeTFtiFNgIxP$aI=W=InH)8*Q05O&E#m5r4L%J^Ea&lu_)VUTSfK the community,” Chattan reportedly said.

Chattan also said Taiwan, w6CuPDaRSUa6U#Sr!7$rCsS&a-WXmSuVC%ngRHHRw2iqlkfAccGhich 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 partG+@7HQ-1F0!Fop39f%ynrc!oO_ldIwM23LoQUPvS0CY1%E8OR&nerships 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 c15Mk(jy!Exd!+jz$C$G3pc_9E8Nen7O%7s%*)u(64JvZ$H1vX^ountry in Southeast Asia, to recognize same-sex unions.

But, the LGBTI UU+vS4u5gvHl86ZUbi1ZSAb_wB)_FPOtqZ_^Ly@pJv9=h29n8)rights groups have spoken out against the bill since its first inception.

They say the bill offers limited rights to the LGBTI community and enshrinqsiCfszr!Ip_Y0%_=N#YDxF^m2yMMTpuNnsqdv4SQAPdc2gE6ues inequality.

According to Voice fo America, Thailand’skHLIOQiEvUfC=bhrF9ijE-RfVU@Ky&hLk*4%U!)J-86+At@OnD Justice 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 Partnership Bill k&P!QA-m(yX4fNR$Z0nMb6)SiU&w%6KHw^0(=O!l@c1OKI7We5following public consultations.

VOA reports a YouGov survey of 1,000 people in. Thailand published in February found strong support-q=%5dIUd&BzKvlho9fiGnzL$=DW=uQpR1EEp+o7()(H$Xvol6 for same-sex civil unions in Thailand. 

It found 63% of those quizzed were in favor of the bill, while only 11% were agy0vLybjfUWJq=*x_0ZSz9N2lFe6nVz#o#haK7HU&UIic=%ZGP-ainst.

But, the LGBTI community and rights activists have largely rejAdL19Aa5xba0_NnZXiM(mNIQ62_9=IrCrq5naLZQ_Kd!MuF$Zjected the bill.

Thailand’s first transgender member of parliament slammed the country’s civil union bill after she was elected earlier thi^4(UDU54R@P1UzoAi+%tIkfIp1NeZdhupWg)hf#@6D1SUHEn*1s year.

Tanwarin Sukkhapisit said the bill "misses the target”U&y02lgE=##Oy=Fq9=D))vsr2HWk5hR@DIwlfZ7P5(cTGzP_YD.

((Cover Photo: A same-sex wedding in Thailand *k_H)UA5FG1Fj$COkO1YLk%5XCJztJj%&Yd1L*B%7_9O(C+SF2/ YouTube))