The LGBT market has grown huge over the past few years. According to the research from Community Marketing Incorporated, LGBT people have higher disposable incomes, which means they have more money to spend on travel; of which more than 70% of the reservations are made online through the advertisements in the LGBT media. Japan is now trying to take part of this niche market, as JNTO clearly has said they would target LGBT travellers, and as Shibuya and many other cities of Tokyo has in fact legalized same-sex marriage.
For my graduation project, I will be interviewing some participants of Sydney Mardi Gras and hopefully an LGBT-friendly hotel in Sydney to get the idea of pink tourism, and also to understand the structure of it. I will also visit some of the popular LGBT medias and local accommodations in Japan and do some interviews about LGBT-friendly tourist sites and hotels. My final outcome will be a homepage and a tour booklet that will actually be handed out to the LGBT tourists.
terms:
LGBT - a short for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender / often used as a general term for sexual minority
Community Marketing Inc., - a market research institute in San Francisco
disposable income - the amount of money available for one to spend or save
JNTO - Japan National Tourism Organization
Sydney Mardi Gras - a huge LGBT event organized in Sydney to appeal LGBT rights