Political decisions in the United States have led to more LGBTQ+ travelers needing to consider their safety and well-being when picking a destination.<\/p>\n
Research from Booking.com revealed that 80% said they must consider their safety, up from 65% in 2022.<\/p>\n
The study also reports that vacation choices are being impacted with discriminatory legislation and attitudes in the spotlight following media reports on sporting and music events.<\/p>\n
More than 75% of LGBTQ+ respondents from the U.S. said such controversy in the news has had a significant impact on destination choice, rising to 84% of Australian travelers and 82% of Hong Kong travelers.<\/p>\n
In addition, 30% of LGBTQ+ U.S. travelers also said they have canceled a trip in the past year to a destination not supporting those identifying as LGBTQ+ while 63% of transgender global travelers have canceled a trip.<\/p>\n
More than 50% of travelers from the LGBTQ+ community also said they face discrimination when traveling. Of the U.S. cohort, 30% said they have been stereotyped, almost a fifth have been stared or laughed at or verbally abused by other travelers.<\/p>\n
About 20% of LGBTQ+ travelers said they have faced the same abuse from locals in destination and 10% have been threatened or intimidated by local law enforcement.<\/p>\n
Most travelers, 77%, have had a positive experience when it comes to engaging with accommodation providers, with 48% of U.S. travelers reporting friendly correspondence prior to arrival, up from 30% in 2022.<\/p>\n
In addition, 51% said they have had a great first impression, up from 36% in 2022.<\/p>\n
The study also reveals that travel brands can benefit by having LGBTQ+ policies in place, with 60% researching brands and experiences prior to travel to ascertain if they support the community.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 67% said they are more likely to book travel with LGBTQ+-owned brands, a slight increase from 62% in 2022. And 65% said they would favor airlines and brands with inclusive policies.<\/p>\n
Arjan Dijk, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of Booking.com, said: “I understand the self-confidence that comes from growing up and learning to navigate the world as a gay man, as well as the extra thought and consideration for safety and well-being that we see LGBTQ+ travelers continuing to grapple with in this research.<\/p>\n
“At Booking.com, we believe that everyone should be able to experience the world as themselves, always. While visibility, understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people has come a long way in recent years, we can’t take that progress for granted. The travel industry should strive to be a beacon of inclusion, helping foster an environment where everyone can flourish and thrive, whether exploring closer to home or traveling to the other side of the world.”<\/p>\n
The Booking.com study was conducted online amongst 11,555 LGBTQ+ travelers across 27 countries in March and April.<\/p>\n