Starting March 2008, the National Tourist Office of Spain will be running an online campaign in a bid to reach out to the gay market within the South-East Asian region, specifically in Singapore.
Explaining his reasons for choosing Fridae, Enrique Ruiz de Lera, Director of NTO Spain, SE Asia, Australia, New Zealand and India said in a press release: "Working with Fridae allows us to hit the pink market in a subtle manner. Although, the general community behaviour towards the pink market in South-East Asia is quite lax, it still sometimes remains a taboo subject."
"Yet, one must realise that this is a huge niche market that cannot be ignored."
Fridae.com has been ranked as the No.1 most visited gay and lesbian website in Singapore from January to March 2007 by Hitwise, a leading online competitive intelligence service.
In 2006, Fridae.com was also the stickiest site in Singapore based on Nielsen/Netratings. Fridae attracted 380,000 unique browsers and 50 million page impressions per month. The average session duration has increased from 12 minutes to 18 minutes in January 2007.
"Fridae is very enthusiastic about working with Tour Spain to promote Spain as a destination of choice for the Asian gay and lesbian traveler, " said Dr Stuart Koe, CEO of Fridae.
He added: "Gays and lesbians are known to be avid travelers, and based on Fridae's research data, spend more than four times per capita compared to the average tourist. Spain, with its rich cultural and design heritage and gay-friendly society, is a perfect holiday choice."
Having decriminalised same-sex relations in 1979, Spain is today one of the most gay friendly countries in the world - being one of five countries that allow same-sex couples the right to marry and adopt children. The capital city of Madrid hosted Europride last June which turned out to be the biggest Europride ever attracting about 2.3 million people over a ten day period.
"Spain is one of the friendliest and most hospitable countries in the world, and that goes for every visitor, including the LGBT community," says Mr Ruiz de Lera. "The LGBT community consist of a young, affluent and travel-savvy audience that will find in Spain an irresistible mix of arts, culture, history, its pulsating nightlife, fashion and an amazing variety of food and wine."
"Fridae was the obvious partner to convey this message to the Southeast Asian gay community."
The most popular destinations for gay tourists who visit Spain are Madrid and its Chueca neighbourhood, Barcelona, Ibiza and Sitges. Visit www.fridae.asia/cityguides2 for for information on places to go, stay and more.
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Reader's Comments
after all, it's about the dollars and cents, isn't it, lol
dont hesitate, go to Spain and enjoy it! you will love it and of course meet the locals... may be you will find your husband there!
besos
Much as I love Spanish culture, Spanish people, Spanish landscapes, Spanish food etc etc... I also think that Asian gay tourists should be warned VERY SERIOUSLY that Spain is NOT AT ALL a safe destination for the moment. Along with Italy, it holds the sad record among Europeans countries of having the highest number of robberies, aggressions and scams with TOURISTS as victims, ESPECIALLY ASIAN TOURISTS (all viewed as rich Japanese!!!). Spanish people are going to hate me for saying this, but it is the PLAIN TRUTH. I understand that the Tourism Office of Spain is not exactly keen to give that warning and much less admit the sad truth. I'm also convinced that the Spanish police are trying their best to improve such an alarming situation... no matter what, right now, the fact of the matter is that going to Spain for a holiday can turn into a very nasty experience. Of all the friends that I know who have been there in the past 2 years, not ONE returned without at least one very unpleasant experience of being robbed, swindled, or cheated in some way. Stolen cameras, wallets, bags, are commonplace. Sometimes it can get a lot nastier. Friends of mine who went there with their car were swindled by a gang with a very elaborate routine and ended on the road with only their clothes on.
If you don't believe me, ask around you. Find people who have been to Spain and ask them about their experience. I truly love Spain and I can assure you that I would not be saying all of this if I hadn't heard MANY horrifying stories from people that I KNOW and TRUST.
If you go, at least, BE AWARE of the danger and don't be light headed, don't take offers of whatever kind at face value and be on your guard at all times.
If you have no bad experience, you will all the more enjoy this extraordinary country, people and culture.
your post stink of your french prejudice against spanish people, you could have also talked about the Inquisition or Franco...
Should we talk about how foreign people is treated by the French? Do you really think you are superior to any country? come on...
Of course you might be robbed in Spain, as you can also be robbed in Paris... visiting around Marseille is quite an scary situation, Le mirail quartier in Toulouse is a place where is better not to be when the night falls or simply paying 20 euros for a beer when the french local people are just paying 6 for the same (it happened to me)... all the big cities have this problem,
If you go to any southern European country (Spain, Italy, Greece.. etc) forget your french attitude and enjoy the experience... but if you go as if you were Napoleon, I guess you will have some nasty moments, may be deserved...
"The Spanish people have spoken clearly and decided to start a new era," Mr Zapatero announced.
The Socialist party will not have an absolute majority, but will form an alliance with smaller parties in order to govern the country.
Since taking control of Spain four years ago, Mr Zapatero has introduced full marriages for gay and lesbian couples, and legalised divorce for same-sex couples; as well as liberalising divorce and pulling Spanish troops out of Iraq.
In response, Spain's Catholics have appointed a hardline Bishop, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, to lead them in the fight against Mr Zapatero's reforms.
http://mcv.e-p.net.au/news/gay-ally-wins-spain-2753.html
Generalizing is a sign of imbecillity. I'm talking to YOU, not to Spanish people. So why don't you talk to ME too, rather than jump on the occasion to voice your simplistic hatred of French people, using the same ridiculous cliches we hear all the time ? Crime in Marseille is also a fact, I wouldn't dream of denying that, but it doesn't make crime in Spain any more justifiable, does it ? It doesn't DIMINISH crime in Spain does it ? So what is your point, exactly, Mr Angry ? You just want to do some french bashing ? Go ahead, it's an international sport, and quite honestly, we don't give a damn.
Definetively, Mr. Napoleon you got what you deserved when you went to Spain...
alons enfants de la patrie... any more french guy that thinks he is superior to everybody else?
LA FERME
If a Spanish guy says something unpleasant but true about Hungary or Romania or France (a country and culture which I love), I will not feel hurt, because the only thing that hurts me are stupid people like you. I will not call him General Franco either, regardless of what I think about your national hero, lol. I also happen to think that nationalism is a sign of weakness, insecurity and stupidity. You can't stop b i t c h i n g simply because you have a weak brain. yveserwan was right to simply stop arguing with you because arguing with idiots is a total waste of time. this will be my last note to you and you may keep on ranting like the old bitter shrew that you are but you will not get another word from me.
A dog never bites the hand that feeds him, so working for the french goverment, you have done your duty trying to defend "la grandeur" but let me tell you something... that was finished long time ago.
Anyway, its great you and your friend stop saying nonsense, Ive finally "ferm ta geule..."
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