Spain and LGBTQI+ Travelers

Spain is demonstrating that tourism can be much more than a business. Our country has become a benchmark in LGBTQI+ tourism thanks to a series of initiatives that highlight our sensitivity and commitment to inclusion. Do you want to know why Spain is the ideal destination for your next trip? How are we achieving this? Let’s find out.

In a recent (2022) worldwide study among LGBTQ+ travelers, it was reported that:

In 2022, Miguel Sanz, Director General of Turespaña, stated that Spain, “as one of the world’s favorite destinations, has the opportunity to position itself at the international forefront of inclusion and diversity, consolidating itself as a world leader in this field.” To promote this, Turespaña signed an agreement with Booking.com to help publicize its Travel Proud initiative among Spanish accommodations.

Booking.com launched its Travel Proud program two years ago, which until now was only available in English, with the aim of, as Pilar Crespo, the regional director of the company for Spain and Portugal, emphasized, “helping to improve the experience of the community when they travel and stay in establishments”.

To this end, the Travel Proud program consists of three parts, as explained by its manager: “A 75-minute webinar in which tools and keys are shared to develop technical skills to improve service and experience for the community, free for the platform’s accommodations; they must commit to carrying it out using the materials and resources we provide so that all staff at the establishment can access this training and thus make the world of travel more inclusive.”

Those who pass the three phases receive the Travel Proud Certified identification, which, in Crespo’s words, “indicates acceptance and respect, being an accommodation that imparts and projects that philosophy and commitment; a commitment that has already been acquired by 10,000 establishments worldwide.”

“In Spain, impressive initiatives are being carried out so that the tourism sector stands out in its social component, not by price; we have a sensitivity that no one else has, and we have been doing differential things for years because not everything is about making money or growing, and that must be incorporated into our DNA and strategy to become a world power in accessibility and the most welcoming country in the world,” according to José Ángel Preciados, General Director and CEO of Ilunion Hotels.

Precisely this Booking.com initiative, which its director for Western Europe, Mireia Prieto, has defined as “a challenge to contribute to being better, the most natural step in the necessary evolution of the tourism sector that will help our partners to position themselves, but also to ensure that Spain further strengthens its image as a welcoming destination thanks to this international distinction.”

The Crisis as an Opportunity

It is no coincidence that many companies strived to emerge from the COVID crisis with a different outlook. The challenge was to reactivate the tourism sector without returning to the starting point, understanding the crisis as an opportunity, and in this case, focusing even more on integration to continue building a more inclusive and tolerant society, changing the lives of millions of people who come to Spain to enjoy their vacations without prejudice.

The LGBTQI+ Market

Already in 2019, just before the pandemic hit, Spain received 20% of the tourists from this community within the European Union, more than seven million travelers, as highlighted by former minister Mrs. Reyes Maroto; while Natalia Bayona, Director of Innovation, Education, and Investments at the UNWTO (World Tourism Organization), has emphasized the potential of this demand segment, given that “it is the first to recover and the first to seek to travel because it is the one that saves the most and one of the ones that spends the most,” approximately 30% more.

Spain, as a great world touristic power, must export this knowledge to countries in other regions of the world where they are not so advanced in this regard; it is the perfect time given the polarity that is occurring in other regions of the world.

Nevertheless, these statements should be taken with a grain of salt.

Homophobia Index

The acceptance and tolerance offered to queer travelers vary greatly from country to country. Some countries are considered “gay-friendly” and have rights and protections for the community, including a growing number of countries where gay marriage is legal.

Other countries are less welcoming. In these countries, not only is same-sex marriage illegal, but simply being a member of the LGBTQI+ community can be considered a crime punishable by death in some cases. Countries that follow Sharia law are particularly prone to considering homosexuality as a sin deserving of the death penalty. Additionally, even in countries where homosexuality and other activities related to the queer community are legal, society in general may discriminate against the LGBTQI+ community, even to the point of subjecting individuals to violence. Brazil and Iran are often cited as examples of such a scenario.

Creating a list of the most homophobic countries is a challenging process because homophobia is difficult to quantify and takes on a wide variety of different forms.

The Homophobic Climate Index

Arguably, the most scientifically solid measure of homophobia was published in October 2018 by the European Journal of Public Health. This report collected and compiled many data points that fit into one of two categories: institutionalized or social homophobia. Institutionalized homophobia involved the presence and level of enforcement of laws that penalized or protected same-sex relationships and activities. In comparison, social homophobia referred to acceptance, tolerance, violence against homosexuality, and justification of it within society as a whole.

Analyzing the data from the Homophobic Climate Index (HCI) and the Travel Safety Index (TSI), and the value LGBTQI+ travelers place on safety in the destinations they choose for their vacations tells us a story: according to the latest data from both indices, the Netherlands, Malta, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom are the main destinations worldwide for LGBTQI+ travelers. Thus, our country ranks fourth in a ranking that ends with Yemen, Qatar, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia as the least safe countries for this profile of visitors in the summer of 2024.

A detailed look at the list shows that in Africa, countries like Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, and Djibouti are safe; while in Asia and Oceania, New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Thailand, and Nepal stand out; while in America, Uruguay, Canada, Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil better accept lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and other people outside conventional categories of sexuality and gender.

Mozambique and Angola emerge as leaders in Africa, while Nepal unexpectedly enters the top five in Asia and Oceania. Uruguay tops the list in America, even surpassing the United States.

It is worth noting that the latest Booking.com study on LGBTQI+ travel indicated that two-thirds (74%) of these tourists say they are “completely banned” in some destinations. Fortunately, positive travel experiences are becoming much more common and are undoubtedly increasing the confidence of LGBTQI+ communities.

Another study by UNIK provides a valuable resource for LGBTQI+ travelers seeking safe and inclusive destinations in 2024. By considering factors such as legal rights, social climate, and travel safety, our study offers a well-rounded perspective on global LGBTQIA+ travel safety.

Safest Countries for LGBTQI+ Tourists

• Europe and the World: The Netherlands, Malta, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
• Africa: South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, and Djibouti.
• Asia and Oceania: New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Thailand, and Nepal.
• America: Uruguay, Canada, Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil.

Conclusions

In conclusion, Spain has demonstrated a strong commitment to inclusion and diversity in tourism, positioning itself as a world-leading destination for the LGBTQI+ community. Initiatives and collaborations, such as the one between Turespaña and Booking.com, underline ongoing efforts to ensure that all travelers feel welcome and safe.

Statistics show that a significant number of these travelers still face discrimination; however, the measures adopted by Spain and its tourism sector are helping to change this reality. The Travel Proud program is a clear example of how the industry can work to improve the travel experience for this community, fostering an environment of acceptance and respect.

The LGBTQI+ market not only represents a segment with great economic potential due to its high purchasing power, but also drives positive social change. By promoting inclusive policies and responsible tourism practices, Spain not only attracts more visitors but also leads by example in promoting equality and human rights. With high rankings in safety and acceptance indices for LGBTQI+ travelers, Spain reaffirms its global leadership in inclusive tourism. The combination of a favorable legal environment, innovative initiatives, and an increasingly tolerant and open society makes Spain a preferred destination for travelers seeking safety and an enriching experience.

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