Thailand To Host Asia's Biggest Gay Festival (365Gay.com)
11 Jun, 2005
Thailand's popular gay resort Phuket is the new home for the Nation, a three day festival scheduled for November.
Organizers were unable to get a permit to hold the event in Singapore, its home for the past four years. Singapore police said that the festival which attracts thousands of visitors from Asia and Australia is "contrary to public interest."
The decision came a few months after a senior official in the tightly controlled Southeast Asian island nation blamed such parties for the rise in HIV infections among gays.
Singapore's loss is Phuket's gain. “Phuket is ready and willing to host this event,” said the region's governor. The festival, now likely to take place on the Karon Beach from November 4 - 6.
Last year's party attracted some 8,000 revelers. With some of the best beaches in Asia and a strong LGBT community, Phuket has been one of the top gay resorts in the Far East.
Devastated in December by the tsunami that raged across the region, Phuket wasted no time in getting back up and running. While tourism in general has been down since the tsunami gay tourism has suffered little damage.
