Taipei launches LGBTQ-themed bus tours for October Pride month

Taipei, Oct. 1 (CNA) Taipei City on Wednesday launched "rainbow sightseeing bus tours" as part of the city's October Pride month celebrations.

The tours, under the "2025 Color Taipei" series, will feature drag queens and LGBTQ+ influencers as tour guides, the city's Department of Information and Tourism said at a press conference.

Starting Friday, the tours will run every Thursday through Sunday until Oct. 26, with 27 regular "Show On The Go" trips and three special "Party Tour" trips, the department said.

The tours will stop at LGBTQ+ landmarks such as the Red House and Ketagalan Boulevard, with drag performances and talk shows introducing Taipei's Pride culture, it said.

The "Party Tour" buses will follow the sightseeing route and coincide with three major events, including the Drag Room drag competition finals on Oct. 9, the Taiwan Trans March on Oct. 24 and the Taipei International Drag Festival on Oct. 25, according to the department.

In addition, an exhibition on Taiwan's LGBTQ+ history will run from Wednesday to Oct. 31 at the Red House in Wanhua District, said Shiue Chiu-huo (薛秋火), deputy commissioner of the department.

Shiue said that the city is partnering with more than 30 LGBTQ-friendly hotels to offer discounts, dining promotions and gifts to attract local and international visitors.

Taiwan LGBT+ Pride, held annually on the last Saturday of October, falls on Oct. 25 this year.

Since its debut in 2003, the parade has grown into the largest in East Asia, attracting around 200,000 participants in recent years following the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2019, according to the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association.