The sceptics were right. When there was rumor that India wanted to increase its efforts to attract gay and lesbian tourists a few weeks ago, local insiders in tourism were surprised. It was only on June 30th, 2009 that India had abolished a 148-year-old colonial law that criminalised homosexual acts. But being gay is still a taboo in the country. The stand of governement officials and society on  homosexuality is somewhat difficult.

The western Indian state of Goa is an example. Shortly after a seminar on LGBT tourism during Goa International Travel Mart (GITM) in Panaji, organised by the makers of International Tourismsus Exchange Berlin ITB, the state withdrew its plans to promote gays and lesbian tourism. As the Asian Catholic press service Ucanews reported on Friday, the withdrawal took place under pressure from the church and Hindu groups. The Archdiocese of Goa has made it clear in talks with government representatives that the church will not tolerate such initiatives, as the general secretary of the diocesan Human Rights Council “Justitia et Pax”, Maverick Fernandes, stated to the press service.

According to Ucanews, resistance also came from the Hindu side. Dattaram Sawant of the Hindu group “Janajagruti Samiti” said that gay travel as a topic of the tourism fair was “only an attempt to stir up anger”.

Gay tour operators in India are aware of the problems related to the matter of homosexuality and the hostility to which gays and lesbians can be exposed. Although there are many gay-friendly hotels and gay employees within the tourism industry, hardly anyone dares to advertise for gay and lesbian tourists in public, a representative of the special organiser “GoPink Asia” told Spartacus Traveler.

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