Market For LGBT Travel Still Grows

In a still struggling economy, one travel segment continues to grow - LGBT travel. Thus, one would think that localities and regions dependent upon tourism - Williamsburg is one such place locally that has been hard hit by the economic down turn - would get the message that anti-gay laws are a bad thing financially. After all, what LGBT individual wants to visit a state where dogs and cats get more legal protections than LGBT citizens (not that I'm against dogs and cats). Yet states like Virginia - and Neanderthals like Bob McDonnell, Randy Forbes and Eric Cantor - go out of their way to induce the sought after tourist dollars to go elsewhere by keeping gays third class citizens. Believe it or not guys, we gays can recognize a place that is not welcoming and which has legislatively approved homophobia. It's particularly ironic since Virginia Governor elect McDonnell is slashing salaries for cabinet officers, etc., because the state is in such a financial bind. Increased tourism revenues are particularly needed now. But where do many Virginia gays go to vacation? Places that are more gay friendly and OUTSIDE of Virginia (the boyfriend and I NEVER vacation in Virginia). NY1 looks at the still vibrant gay travel market. Here are some highlights:
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In this down economy, at least one market that has seen growth in the beleaguered tourism industry. Travel directed for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender vacationers is proving to be recession-resistant. "Gay and lesbian travelers have not been pulling back on travel spending, the number of vacations they are taking or the number of days they are spending on vacation the way the general public is," says Passport Magazine editor Andrew Mersmann. Data show that a gay couple spends $7,000 on a week's trip, about $2,000 more than their heterosexual counterparts.
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The weather for an LGBT trip can be either hot or cold, but the biggest turnoff is an intolerant climate. "We are not going to book a whole lot of travel to Jamaica anytime soon because there is such systemic homophobia and violence against the gay and lesbian community, it's not safe to go there. And you don't want to spend your dollars there," says Mersmann.
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The gay community will generally find it smooth sailing onboard cruise ships. "There are all-gay cruises, and on most of the large cruise ships there tend to be gay groups with specific events, cocktail parties," says Mersmann.
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If Virginia and Virginians were smart, they'd take down the "gays not wanted" signs and not only hang onto Virginia gay dollars, but gather them in from other states as well. Gay friendly Key West will be getting our travel dollars soon.