Booking.com’s most extensive LGBTQ+ travel research to date spotlights the steady progress, as well as the recent setbacks, for these communities when it comes to travel. Despite the travel industry’s growing recognition of the scope and variety of LGBTQ+ experiences, many travellers today still face enormous challenges. With a background of polarizing political decisions in the past 12 months, personal safety has never been more of a focus, with four fifths (78%) of Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers reporting that they must consider their safety and wellbeing as an LGBTQ+ person when picking a destination – up significantly from 68% last year. This also increases for intersex (90%), genderfluid (90%), transfeminine (89%) and transmasculine (87%) travellers globally.
Conducted amongst 11,555 LGBTQ+ travellers across 27 countries and territories around the world, the extensive study shows that mainstream news – from issues around recent major world sporting and music events to celebrity and corporate sponsorships – has put discriminatory legislation and views in the spotlight for many, impacting considerations around vacation decisions. More than three quarters (77%) of Canadian respondents admit that controversy in the news around attitudes, discrimination and violence towards people who identify as LGBTQ+ has had a big impact on their choice of destination, with LGBTQ+ travellers from Australia (84%), Hong Kong (82%) and the U.S. (79%) indicating that they are the most cautious.
This is an important issue in society today, and I’m very happy to see Booking.com do this survey. It’s terrible to see governments and politicians in various parts of the world making statements that increase bigotry and hatred of our LGBTQ+ friends.
Pride Weekend sign at the Toronto Blue Jays game, June 3, 2022. JIM BYERS PHOTO
INCREASING CONCERNS ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY
This step backwards means that personal safety is now an increased point of discussion for LGBTQ+ people when planning travel, particularly amongst those who are transgender. Worldwide, there are still 64 countries that criminalize same-sex relationships – including 11 where the death penalty can be imposed – meaning destinations like these are out of the question for the majority of Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers, despite some playing host to major global events. More than half (60%) say that some destinations are completely off-limits, rising to 74% for transgender travellers who reportedly face a disproportionately higher rate of discrimination and violence around the world. Even after booking trips, Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers remain vigilant, with 28% having canceled a trip in the past year after seeing a destination not supporting those who identify as LGBTQ+, rising significantly to 63% for those who are transgender.
I asked a relative of mine who’s gay and loves to travel what he thought of the study.
“I’d say the political climate does for sure impact my decision of where to travel,” he said. “Often times people say ‘You’ll be fine,’ but it’s just not a risk I want to take.
“When a country is too divided on those issues I’d rather just go somewhere else. I don’t want to take the risk of being uncomfortable, hurt or slandered. With all the money I’m spending I want to just enjoy my self and feel safe doing so.”
Discrimination remains a key concern across the entire travel experience, with the majority (53%) of Canadian respondents having experienced discrimination when travelling, increasing to 86% of transfeminine and 83% of transmasculine travellers. Out of all LGBTQ+ travellers globally:
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29% reveal that they have been subjected to stereotyping, rising to 51% for genderfluid or genderqueer travellers
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One in five (20%) say they have been stared at, laughed at or verbally abused by other travellers. This is highest amongst pansexual travellers (26%) and lesbian travellers (23%)
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A similar number (18%) share that they have faced the same but by locals at their travel destination, rising to 23% for lesbian travellers and 22% for both queer and pansexual travellers
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While 13% report that they have been threatened or intimidated by local law enforcement, this rises to nearly one in three (32%) for intersex travellers and nearly one in four (24%) for transgender travellers
Gay Pride. Raphael Renter/Unsplash Photo
TRANSGENDER WORRIES
For those who are transgender, travel can come with additional barriers, for example, if their gender identity, name or appearance does not match that of their passport. While 62% of Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers admit that being an LGBTQ+ person has impacted how they present themselves in terms of their clothing and make-up choices while travelling, this increases to three quarters (75%) globally for those that identify as transgender. What’s more, while 17% of Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers have had someone incorrectly assume their gender or pronouns, twice as many (38%) transgender travellers have experienced this.
While travelling can instill a sense of freedom and self expression, a significant proportion of LGBTQ+ people still feel restricted. More than a third (39%) have felt that they need to change their behavior to avoid judgment or awkward interactions with others (up from 29% in 2022), while 31% have felt they need to change their appearance to avoid the same (up from 21% in 2022). This affects the younger generation the most, with 48% of Canadian Gen Z LGBTQ+ travellers feeling they need to change their behavior and 41% feeling the need to change their appearance.
Even travelling to destinations where they feel there is adequate legislation to protect their rights, a proportion of LGBTQ+ travellers still feel uneasy across the entire trip experience – especially versus those destinations with less than adequate legislation.
While personal safety concerns have a key impact on destination choices for LGBTQ+ communities at large (53%), other key motivations for travel play a very strong role, with beautiful natural scenery (55%), tasty local cuisine (53%) and great beaches (46%) rounding out the top elements that have the greatest impact on destination choices.
TRAVEL CONFIDENCE
Despite the headlines and significant challenges that persist in many destinations, 59% feel that their experience of being LGBTQ+ actually makes them more confident as a traveller (up from 54% in 2022), with transfeminine (83%) and transmasculine (81%) the most confident travellers out of the different LGBTQ+ gender identities. It’s also refreshing that, when it comes to experiences on vacation, 80% of LGBTQ+ travellers feel confident to partake in any activities they want.
The majority of Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers (61%) are more likely to seek out attractions and activities that are tailored to people identifying as LGBTQ+. For example, Booking.com has a range of LGBTQ+ specific activities available to travellers around the world, from guided walking tours of the LGBTQ+ history and culture of Vancouver, around the vibrant streets of the Marais in Paris and Asakusa and 2-Chome in Tokyo, to an informative tour in New York documenting how LGBTQ+ communities have helped shape the Chelsea district into the thriving urban neighborhood that it is today.
