Osaka to host International LGBTQ+ Travel Association’s premier event in Asia for the first time

The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) has announced that it has selected Osaka, Japan as the destination for its 2024 Global Convention. This will be IGLTA’s first-ever Global Convention in Asia. IGLTA will partner with the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (OCTB) to deliver the event. “After a very detailed evaluation process, we are proud to recognise Osaka’s impressive bid and the leadership they have shown as an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in Japan. Their commitment toward more discrimination-free spaces and travel experiences is remarkable,” said IGLTA Board Chair Felipe Cardenas. Osaka is home to the second-largest LGBTQ+ scene outside of Tokyo in Japan andOsaka Prefecture was the first regional-level government to implement a same-sex partnership system. “We truly thank you for selecting Osaka as the host of the 2024 IGLTA Global Convention. Osaka actively works to develop into a city even more welcoming of all travellers, and we were the first destination in Japan to develop strategies specifically in LGBTQ+ tourism,” said Hiroshi Mizohata, President, Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau. “Osaka has a long history of being the gathering place for people, ideas, and goods from across Japan, making it well-suited to be labelled a diverse destination.” Osaka is undergoing rapid development to receive a massive influx of visitors for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The theme of Expo 2025 is ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’, a philosophy that the CVB says is deeply shared with IGLTA’s mission. More information: www.visitgayosaka.com. IGLTA’s global network includes 12,000 LGBTQ+ welcoming accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events, and travel media in 80 countries. More information: iglta.org