LGBTQ-Friendly Promotion Packages
In recent years, the LGBTQ+ community has gained wider recognition in the news and greater representation across the entertainment industry both in Japan and worldwide. Municipalities across Japan have begun enacting ordinances that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and many have introduced same-sex partnership certificate systems. Osaka Prefecture was the first regional-level government in Japan to enact such a system. Organizations and companies have also recognized protections for LGBTQ+ individuals to be a vital issue to be addressed and have created CSR (corporate social responsibility) teams and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs.
It is estimated that 8-10% of the population belongs to the LGBTQ+ demographic, and the annual global LGBTQ+ travel market is estimated to be worth USD $211 billion (per a 2016 study.) This makes the LGBTQ+ traveler segment a significant portion of the travel industry.
At the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, we strive to ensure that LGBTQ+ travelers can discover Osaka safely and with peace in mind, and we work to help local accommodations and other facilities to be welcoming as possible to all travelers. We have developed the LGBTQ-Friendly Promotional Package in order to provide basic knowledge on LGBTQ-related issues and trends, as well as traveler needs, and thus increase the overall number of LGBTQ-friendly facilities. We provide general support to facilities in Osaka in welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers.
Package Contents
1. LGBTQ Seminar
A seminar conducted by a consultant who as an expert on LGBTQ issues. This two-part seminar consists of basic knowledge on LGBTQ as well as LGBTQ tourism marketing to help participants gain a deeper understanding on LGBTQ individuals and how to best market to, and better welcome, this segment.
2. Mystery Shopper Evaluation
Upon completing the LGBTQ seminar, facilities are then subject to an evaluation from undercover staff at a suitable time unbeknownst to the facility, so-called “mystery shoppers,” These contracted mystery shoppers (both Japanese and non-Japanese) who are members of the LGBTQ+ community undergo the entire experience as a regular customer, from booking to checkout, to provide a comprehensive evaluation with tailored feedback on the implementation of information learned from the LGBTQ training.
3. Listing on Visit Gay Osaka
Visit Gay Osaka is the LGBTQ portal site managed by the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, the first of its kind in Japan. Run entirely in English, the website provides information on popular tourist attractions in Osaka in addition to LGBTQ-friendly hotels and restaurants, as well as LGBTQ bars and events.
Visit Gay Osaka: https://visitgayosaka.com/
4. referred Status on Travel Booking Sites
Trends and surveys indicate that LGBTQ travelers consistently prefer to stay at accommodations that are accredited as LGBTQ-friendly. Hotels that undergo the LGBTQ-Friendly Promotion Package earn priority listing on our partner booking site, which has been frequently cited in international LGBTQ media.
LGBT Friendly Hotels Japan: https://outasiatravel.com/lgbtfriendlyhotels/
If you are a tourism operator or facility in Osaka and are interested in our promotional packages,
please refer to our Japanese page for pricing and more options:
https://octb.osaka-info.jp/sdgs/lgbt_friendly.html
For more information on what we do to make Osaka an LGBTQ+-friendly destination,