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8 / LGBTQ+ Travel
Pride
without prejudice
Fifty years after the UK hosted its first Pride, planning a holiday remains challenging for many in the LGBTQ+ community. Charlotte Flach suggest how agents can help
H
olidays should be a memorable experience for clients, but sometimes this can be for all the wrong reasons. For travellers who identify as LGBTQ+ this often requires endless hours of research into which destinations, hotels and activities are going to be not just actively welcoming, but also safe. “For individuals to be truly free to embrace all aspects of their personalities and be proud of who they are, differences must be more than tolerated; they must not only be accepted but celebrated,” says Ellie Jones, Founder and CEO of Liberate, a Guernsey based charity supporting the LGBTQ+ community. However, this isn’t always the case for LGBTQ+ travellers. Recent research from Booking.com has shone a light on the specific challenges faced by LGBTQ+ holidaymakers, with 71% revealing that they have felt uncomfortable while on holiday. Other findings showed that when selecting a destination, 61% report they have to consider their safety and wellbeing, while 47% said it impacts the activities they participate in when away.
Welcoming destinations Many destinations pride themselves on being LGBTQ+ friendly, and offer year-round tailored product for the LGBTQ+ community. This July saw London mark 50 Years since the first Pride took place in the UK, with the capital also frequently topping the list of best LGBTQ+ destinations. Meanwhile, new LGBTQ+ tour
operator Chillimix has just introduced Malta by offering city breaks along with packages to Europride, which runs from September 7-17, 2023. A host of U.S. destinations have their own dedicated Pride celebrations, often spanning over several days or weeks. In Florida, Tampa Pride usually takes place in March and the destination also boasts Pride on the River, the nation’s first Pride boat parade. October sees the Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, showcasing LGBTQ+ focused stories from 30-plus years ago. Japan is also leading the way in LGBTQ+ Pride events or, ‘Rainbow Pride’ as they’re known, with events happening in many big cities and growing in size year on year. “Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo all have thriving scenes,and nightlife to accompany them, and have equally amazing Pride celebrations throughout the calendar year; Tokyo in April, Osaka in October, Fukuoka in November and Sapporo in September,” says Matthew Joslin, Senior Marketing & Comms Manager - JNTO London Office. Channel Islands Pride returns to Guernsey this year, kicking off on September 3. Live acts will include Element 6, RuPaul Drag Race star Tia Kofi and music from headline act The Freemasons with Amanda Wilson and Katherine Ellis. Sydney, Australia, will host Sydney WorldPride from February 17- to March 5, 2023, a 17-day celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, with over 300 events across the city.
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