In November, Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey made history by becoming the first queer individuals in Nepal to officially register their marriage. Now, the couple hopes their union, formalised at a government office, will be the spark that leads to a wave of LGBTQ tourism in Nepal. Through their newly founded non-profit group Maya Ko Pahichan – which loosely translates as “recognition of love” – they aspire to attract more LGBTQ travellers as they, and other tourism entrepreneurs and officials in the country, attempt to tap into the multibillion-dollar global market serving this growing customer segment. “If we promote Nepal as a queer-friendly destination, it will benefit both the LGBTQ community and the country,” Gurung said. “Our marriage has sent a positive message for all queer travellers wanting to visit Nepal.”