OSAKA, Japan — For the first time in its 41 year history, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association will this week hold its annual convention in Asia, marking milestones both for the world’s premier LGBTQ travel industry organization and for the fast-growing Japanese and Asian queer travel markets.
The three-day convention kicks off on Wednesday and runs through Friday, to be followed this weekend by Rainbow Festa, Osaka’s Pride event, where IGLTA will also host a pavilion.
Japan’s third largest city with some 2.75 million people, Osaka was an early capital of the country dating back to the 7th century.
More recently, it has wowed modern visitors to Japan with its stellar street food scene and its less-hectic-than-Tokyo urban vibe.