Monday, April 3, 2017

IGLTA Foundation Partners with Pacific Asia Travel Association for Conference Scholarship

The IGLTA Foundation has partnered with the Pacific Asia Travel Association to provide a unique opportunity for a tourism student from Nepal to participate in the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association’s 34th Annual Global Convention, set for 4-6 May in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bishrut Raj Pokhrel was selected to attend the conference, which is considered the premier educational and networking event for the global LGBTQ tourism industry.

“IGLTA’s Building Bridges Scholarship Program is a cornerstone initiative of the Foundation’s work, as we look to developing passionate and deserving individuals who will be tomorrow’s hospitality leaders focused on promoting LGBTQ tourism,” said Gary Murakami, CMP, CMM, Chair, IGLTA Foundation Board of Directors. “We value our strategic partnership with a leading organization in travel and tourism like PATA and appreciate its support of the IGLTA Foundation.”

Pokhrel is working on his bachelor’s degree in international hospitality and tourism at Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management (affiliated with Queen Margaret University) in Kathmandu, Nepal. The conference scholarship provides an all-expenses-paid trip and convention registration for the event.

“Being able to attend the IGLTA annual global conference and learn about LGBTQ tourism through first-hand experience is a wonderful opportunity for a student like me who is aspiring to lead in the hospitality and tourism industry in the future,” said Pokhrel. “Coming from a developing country where the society is largely conservative, people need to be made aware about the issue of LGBTQ tourism. The convention will give me a broader vision in understanding this aspect of tourism and how I can help LGBTQ tourism develop in my country.”

This is the fifth year the IGLTA Foundation has offered its Building Bridges Scholarship Program to tourism students and small business owners, but the first time the nonprofit has collaborated with another organization on the project. IGLTA and PATA formed a partnership in 2015 and the application process for this joint sponsorship was open to students attending educational institutions that are PATA International members.

“As PATA focuses upon the development of young tourism professionals within the region the scholarship provides the perfect opportunity for Bishrut Raj Pokhrel to broaden his horizons and gain a deeper understanding of gay and lesbian tourism, which is a significant segment of the global tourism market,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “Our partnership with the IGLTA is a perfect example of a partnership that works to establish bridges for people of goodwill from all countries and create deeper understanding and empathy across borders.”