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LGBTQ tourism (or gay tourism) is a form of tourism marketed to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer(LGBTQ) people. [4] People might be open about their sexual orientation and gender identity at times, but less so in areas known for violence against LGBTQ people. [5] [6]
The main components of LGBTQ tourism include: destinations, accommodations, and travel services wishing to attract LGBTQ tourists; people looking to travel to LGBTQ-friendly destinations; people wanting to travel with other LGBTQ people when traveling regardless of the destination; and LGBTQ travelers who are mainly concerned with cultural and safety issues. [7] The slang term gaycation has come to imply a version of a vacation that includes a pronounced aspect of LGBTQ culture, either in the journey or destination. [8] The LGBTQ tourism industry includes destinations (tourism offices and CVBs), travel agents, accommodations and hotel groups, tour companies, cruise lines, and travel advertising and promotions companies who market these destinations to the gay community. [7] Coinciding with the increased visibility of LGBTQ people raising children in the 1990s, an increase in family-friendly LGBTQ tourism has emerged in the 2000s, for instance R Family Vacations which includes activities and entertainment geared towards couples including same-sex weddings. R Family's first cruise was held aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines's Norwegian Dawn with 1600 passengers including 600 children. [9] [10]
Major companies in the travel industry have become aware of the substantial money (also known as the "pink money") generated by this marketing niche and have made it a point to align themselves with the gay community and gay tourism campaigns. [11] According to a 2000 Travel University report, 10% of international tourists were gays and lesbians, accounting for more than 70 million arrivals worldwide. [12] This market segment is expected to continue to grow as a result of ongoing acceptance of LGBTQ people and changing attitudes towards sexual and gender minorities. [7] Outside larger companies, LGBTQ tourists are offered other traditional tourism tools, such as networks of LGBTQ individuals who offer each other hospitality during their travels and even home swaps where people live in each other's homes. [13] Also, available worldwide are social groups for resident and visiting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender expatriates and friends. [14]
LGBT-friendly travel destinations are popularly known because they usually maintain welcoming attitudes, with local leaders and business owners instilling a consciousness and positive awareness of LGBTQ travelers to their fellow inhabitants and employees. These locales also feature infrastructure, businesses and services whose representatives are sensitive to and friendly with LGBT travelers; this includes everything from bars, travel agencies/guides, restaurants, hotels, resorts, nightlife, entertainment, media, political/legal aid and, more than anything, the opportunity to meet others and socialize. [5] [7]
Gay travel destinations are often medium to large cities, and can coincide with the existence of gay neighborhoods. These neighborhoods often work actively to develop their reputations as safe and fun, specifically for LGBTQ people, to travel to. LGBTQ travel guide Queer in the World states, "The fabulosity of Gay New York is unrivaled on Earth, and queer culture seeps into every corner of its five boroughs". [15]
The LGBTQ tourism industry is highly profitable; an average of US$65 billion is spent on gay travel in the US alone, annually. According to In Europe, the gay tourism market has been estimated at €50 billion per year by the Gay European Tourism Association. The adult LGBTQ community in the US had a total economic spending power of more than $600 billion annually, as of 2007 (according to Witeck-Combs), [16] and by 2016 this had risen to $917 billion. [17] Some governments tend to highlight this for foreign visitors, like the official US website [18] that promotes historic New York places in Greenwich Village, such as the Stonewall Inn or Eve's Hangout, [19] that are well-known sites to visit for Europeans. [20]
Philadelphia was the first destination in the world to create and air a television commercial specifically marketed towards gay tourists. Philadelphia was also the first destination to commission a research study, aimed at a specific destination, to learn about gay travel to a specific city. [21] [ better source needed ]
The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) holds an annual world convention and four symposia in different tourism destinations around the world. [22] Each symposium attracts over 500 representatives of convention & visitor bureaus, tour agencies and travel publications that specialize in the gay and lesbian market. The association was founded in 1983, and it currently represents over 2000 members. Its headquarters are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. [23] The "17th International Conference on Gay & Lesbian Tourism" was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, on 11–13 December 2016.
With nine issues a year, Passport Magazine is currently the only gay and lesbian travel magazine still in publication in the United States. [ citation needed ] It is available internationally. Spartacus International and FunMaps of Maplewood, New Jersey, have promoted gay- and lesbian-friendly businesses since 1982. One of Europe's gay and lesbian travel marketing specialists is Out Now Consulting.
The Gay European Tourism Association (GETA) works to promote and enhance LGBT tourism in Europe. [24]
In 2003, LGBT activist Juan P. Julia Blanch opened the first gay-friendly hotel chain Axel Hotels in several cities and countries around the world. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29]
There are a large number of LGBT events, such as:
Many OTA travel websites now feature LGBT travel search options. The most popular travel resources are still ones from local LGBT media organizations and online LGBT news and lifestyle websites. [32] [33] Additional destination-specific LGBT travel information is commonly found on niche gay travel blogs. [34] The US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs now offers information about LGBT travel and provides tips about what one can do before traveling. It also provides information about different issues one should take care of before traveling.
In 69 UN member states, there are laws that criminalize consensual same-sex relationships, making it important to check the laws of the country before travelling to avoid issues and persecution. [35]
LGBT museums and exhibits focus on documenting and presenting the history, culture, and experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities. These institutions play a crucial role in preserving diverse LGBT stories, using artifacts, documents, and multimedia to show the community's contributions to society, art, politics, and culture. [36] [37]
LGBT museums, like the GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco, often become key places for education and cultural engagement. Exhibits in general museums also highlight important events, movements, and figures in LGBT history, giving visitors the opportunity to explore these narratives. [38] [39]
Their support of tourism includes drawing in visitors interested in exploring the history and culture of LGBT communities, offering unique and educational experiences. They also contribute to the promotion of inclusive tourism, attracting a diverse audience and enhancing the cultural appeal of the destinations where they are located. [40] [41]
The GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco, established in 2011, is one of the first museums in the United States dedicated to LGBT history. It offers both permanent and temporary exhibits that cover different aspects of LGBT life and history. By focusing specifically on LGBT history, the museum draws tourists who want to understand the evolution of LGBT rights and culture, as well as those interested in San Francisco’s important role in the LGBT rights movement. [42] [43]
In Minnesota, the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County at the Hjemkomst Center hosted the exhibit "At Last: 10th Anniversary of Marriage Equality in Minnesota" to celebrate ten years since same-sex marriage was legalized in the state. The exhibit included a range of materials, such as photographs, legal documents, and personal stories, to show the journey toward marriage equality in Minnesota. It attracted both tourists and local visitors, especially those interested in civil rights history and the progress of LGBT legal and social acceptance. By focusing on this important legal milestone, the exhibit provided insight into the broader struggle for LGBT rights in the United States, making it a significant attraction for people visiting the region. [44] [45] [46]
A gay village, also known as a gayborhood, is a geographical area with generally recognized boundaries that is inhabited or frequented by many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. Gay villages often contain a number of gay-oriented establishments, such as gay bars and pubs, nightclubs, bathhouses, restaurants, boutiques, and bookstores.
The LGBTQ community is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning individuals united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. LGBTQ activists and sociologists see LGBTQ community-building as a counterweight to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. The term pride or sometimes gay pride expresses the LGBTQ community's identity and collective strength; pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. The LGBTQ community is diverse in political affiliation. Not all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender consider themselves part of the LGBTQ community.
R Family Vacations is an LGBT vacation entertainment company that provides luxury cruise ship trips with a focus on inclusive activities for children and services including same-sex marriage ceremonies. They are a subsidiary of Tzell Travel Group.
Pride is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people as a social group. Pride, as opposed to shame and social stigma, is the predominant outlook that bolsters most LGBTQ rights movements. Pride has lent its name to LGBTQ-themed organizations, institutes, foundations, book titles, periodicals, a cable TV channel, and the Pride Library.
The GLBT Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of archival materials, artifacts and graphic arts relating to the history of LGBTQ people in the United States, with a focus on the LGBT communities of San Francisco and Northern California.
LGBT tourism in Brazil is a form of niche tourism marketed to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people who come to Brazil. The city of Rio de Janeiro was elected the best LGBT destination of the world, according to the U.S. Logo channel, owned by Viacom's MTV Networks. Rio de Janeiro also was elected the most sexy city of the world to LGBT people, according to the U.S. Logo channel and TripOutGayTravel. In 2014, Brazil and the United States were the two countries more wanted by international LGBT tourists, according to the World Travel Market.
LGBT tourism in South Africa is a form of niche tourism marketed to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people who visit South Africa. Cape Town is the most popular destination for LGBT tourists in South Africa and is regarded as the gay capital of Africa, hosting the Cape Town Pride festival in February/March, the Mother City Queer Project in December, and the Out in Africa Film Festival in September/October every year. Other regional events include the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras in Knysna, Western Cape.
Out & About, was a travel newsletter tailored for gay and lesbian travelers. It was founded in 1992. Until the publishing ceased in 2004, the newsletter was putting out a publication rich in detail and tinged with LGBT advocacy.
The Tucson Gay Museum maintains an extensive collection of archival materials, artifacts and graphic arts relating to the history of LGBT people in the United States, with a focus on the LGBT communities of Tucson, Arizona and Phoenix, Arizona. It became a member of the Arizona LGBTQIA+ Archives in 2020.
The Castro District, commonly referred to as the Castro, is a neighborhood in Eureka Valley in San Francisco. The Castro was one of the first gay neighborhoods in the United States. Having transformed from a working-class neighborhood through the 1960s and 1970s, the Castro remains one of the most prominent symbols of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) activism and events in the world.
D.C.Black Pride is the first official black gay pride event in the United States and one of two officially recognized festivals for the African-American LGBT community. It is a program of the Center for Black Equity (CBE) and is also affiliated with the Capital Pride Alliance. DC Black Pride is held annually on Memorial Day weekend.
LGBTQ cruises are a rising phenomenon in LGBTQ culture and a growing trend in the LGBTQ tourism industry. LGBTQ cruises typically consist of cruises oriented towards gay men or lesbians.
Twin Cities Pride, sometimes Twin Cities LGBT Pride, is an American nonprofit organization in Minnesota that hosts an annual celebration each June that focuses on the LGBT community. The celebration features a pride parade which draws crowds of nearly 600,000 people. The parade was designated the Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade in honor of the late former parade organizer and transgender LGBT rights activist. Other Twin Cities Pride events include a festival in Loring Park and a block party spanning multiple days.
The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is an association of tourism businesses that welcome the LGBTQ+ community. As of 2016, the association had member businesses in about 80 countries.
Oriol Pamies is a Spanish entrepreneur, LGBT activist and tourism expert, known for co-founding LGBT social network, Moovz and Queer Destinations.
Miami has one of the largest and most prominent LGBTQ communities in the United States. Miami has had a gay nightlife scene as early as the 1930s. Miami has a current status as a gay mecca that attracts more than 1 million LGBT visitors a year. The Miami area as a whole has been gay-friendly for decades and is one of the few places where the LGBTQ community has its own chamber of commerce, the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC). As of 2005, Miami was home to an estimated 15,277 self-identifying gay and bisexual individuals. The Miami metropolitan area had an estimated 183,346 self-identifying LGBT residents.
The LGBT community of Sydney, in New South Wales, is the largest in Australia and has a firm place as one of the iconic gay cities of the contemporary world. In a 2013 Pew Research poll, 79% of Australians agreed that homosexuality should be accepted by society, making it the fifth most supportive country in the survey behind Spain (88%), Germany (87%), Canada and the Czech Republic. With a long history of LGBT rights activism and the annual three-week-long Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival, Sydney is one of the most gay-friendly cities in Australia and in the world.
The city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, Mexico, is a popular destination for LGBT+ tourists. CNN has described Puerto Vallarta as Mexico's "top LGBT destination" with "one of the best week-long Pride festivals in the world". According to The Independent, the city is "the gay capital of Mexico, with a whole district of hotels and restaurants catering to the LGBT+ community". Puerto Vallarta's LGBTQ culture is based in the Zona Romántica, which includes the gay-friendly Playa de los Muertos.
Report on the number and value of gay European tourists – by GETA – the Gay European Tourism Association (2013).
Cloud, J. (2010). "Gay Days in the Magic Kingdom". Time, 175(24), 69–70.
Link, M. (2007). "Fantastic family fun". Advocate, (983), 52–53.
Scott Gatz. (2009). Advocate, (1027/1028), 87.