Over the past ten years, the travel market for the LGBTI+ community has grown significantly. When travel peaked before the pandemic, travel spending by LGBTI+ travellers reached $218 billion globally. By 2030, experts predict that travel spending by LGBTI+ travellers could reach $568.5 billion.
For the travel industry, this clearly indicates different market opportunities. It is also a direct call to understand better and appreciate this growing and diverse consumer group.
The future of LGBTI+ travel
But how is the future of LGBTI+ travel shaped?
As, among others, the CEO of Globetrender, Mrs. Jenny Southan, mentions on the occasion of the latest report concerning LGBTI+ travellers, tourists who belong to this purchasing power are more thirsty for travel than ever. At the same time, in many cases, they also have more disposable income.
Another exciting element is that the population of people who identify with the LGBTI+ community is growing. For example, a 2021 UK census found that 6.9% of Gen Zs identified as LGBT, compared to 3.5% of Millennials and 1.6% of Boomers.
Therefore, These figures are paramount to industry professionals seeking to promote diversity, equality and inclusion, as well as to strengthen their understanding of the LGBTQI+ market.
There is still a long way to go: Homosexuality is illegal in 64 countries, and 11 carry the death penalty.
That is why the most crucial criterion for LGBTI+ travellers, at a rate of 80%, which increased by 16% from the previous year, as pointed out in the latest relevant report by Booking, is their safety and peace of mind in their chosen destination.
However, as travel is the ultimate expression of freedom, there are positive changes worldwide that can bring people closer together.
The rainbow families
On the other hand, within this very context of the expression of freedom, social changes have also helped. Rainbow families, for example, are becoming more common: In 2019, there were almost 250,000 same-sex families in the UK – an increase of around 40% since 2015.
However, the first generation to truly embrace the diverse family in travel, the Millennials, as even the most progressive countries made various families "legal" just 20 years ago.
However, the report notes that many popular tourist destinations could still be problematic for families where homosexuality is illegal.
Travel inspired by the big screen
It is common for travellers to be influenced by movies or series when choosing their travel destination. In a 2023 American Express survey, 64% of participants answered that they selected their vacation destination based on movie or TV series footage or even reality shows.
For the LGBTQI+ community, the ultimate example of a travel boom that came from TV via The White Lotus, which sparked a wave of interest in travel to both Hawaii and Sicily, the locations of the first two seasons, is expected to happen ditto after the following season, which includes filming in Thailand.
Which destinations do they prefer in Greece?
For couples in the LGBTQ+ community, in at least the 34 countries where same-sex marriage is legal, planning a romantic honeymoon abroad comes with familiar choices—beach or city, resort, cruise, adventure or light recreation, always with security and peace of mind.
Especially for Greece, foreign travel agencies that create romantic honeymoon packages for same-sex couples, apart from the obvious options of Mykonos and Santorini, also offer packages to islands such as Naxos, Paros, Skiathos and Skopelos.
At the same time, they note that Greece has something for everyone, regardless of taste. Still, Mykonos and Santorini are considered the most friendly islands for the LGBTI+ community than anywhere else in the country.
In another aspect of romantic travel, Polyamory, a philosophy that allows people to have multiple romantic connections simultaneously, is also on the rise, mainly through dating apps. This is also evident from the 500% increase in searches for Polyamory within 2022.
Therefore, the travel profile of the LGBTI+ community is constantly changing as the community is enriched.
In conclusion, the travel industry has to move quickly to be able to reach this ever-growing segment of the market, which is not only growing in quantity but also in quality.
READ MORE: The TRUTH About LGBTQ+ in Ancient Greece - Once and for all.
