The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) announced today, Tuesday, March 7, 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 and IGLTA will partner with the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (OCTB) to make this historic event possible.
“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. “This is truly a historic moment as Osaka becomes the first-ever IGLTA Global Convention host city in Asia – a reflection of our deep commitment to bring a more fair and inclusive travel industry to every corner of the globe.”
Home to the second-largest LGBTQ+ scene outside of Tokyo, Osaka is known for its welcoming locals and decadent food culture. Osaka Prefecture was the first regional-level government to implement a same-sex partnership system, for which over 500 couples have registered as of January 2023.
Osaka city has also led Japan in encouraging businesses and organisations to incorporate and implement protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. In 2019, Osaka launched the LGBT Leading Company initiative, evaluating organisations on their actions, both as service providers and as employers, to ensure that all individuals can enjoy the same benefits regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
“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.”
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