The market for LGBTQ+ travellers came out “roaring” after Covid travel restrictions were eased, according to the boss of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA).
John Tanzella, IGLTA president and chief executive, said: “The recovery of our sector reflects that of the wider travel trade – we went into hibernation in the pandemic but the sector has come roaring out after the pandemic.
“LGBTQ+ travellers tend to travel more than the overall market.
“And we are not seeing an impact from the cost of living.”
He was speaking after registration went live for the IGLTA annual global convention which this year will mark the association’s 40th anniversary.
It will take place on October 4-7 at Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and promises to be the biggest LGBTQ+ travel event of the year.
Last year, the event was held in Milan, Italy, and next year’s will be in the Japanese city of Osaka.
Tanzella said the convention organisers are targeting 1,000 attendees, which will be close to the number at the 2019 event in New York. Milan attracted about 600 attendees.
“We will have a very large attendance from UK, as it’s such a big market for buyers and suppliers,” he said.
Delegates will include travel agents, tour operators, accommodation providers, airlines, cruise lines, representatives from the media, and tourism boards – including VisitBritain and Marketing Manchester from the UK.
The convention will hear the results of a study into the LGBTQ+ travel market by the UNWTO and there will be a focus on the challenges of travelling in the Caribbean.
“We hope to bring a lot of LGBTQ+ travel professionals from the Caribbean to learn about the travel trends and market their islands,” said Tanzella.
“Puerto Rico, Curacao and Aruba are very welcoming but it is not the same everywhere in the Caribbean.
“Jamaica can be very challenging. There is a large LGBTQ+ community there but for the most part they are underground and not thriving. We want to help them thrive.
“Puerto Rico is the up-and-coming ‘go to’ place for the LGBTQ+ community and other islands are dipping into the market.”
IGLTA held a conference in Delhi last month to capitalise on growth in the country’s large inbound and outbound LGBTQ+ travel market.
But Tanzella said other regions present challenges, such as the Middle East and parts of southeast Asia, and even places within countries such as the US and Australia.
The IGLTA Foundation – which promotes LGBTQ+ travel and tourism across the globe and supports businesses in emerging destinations – will hold its annual fundraising event at the convention.
Other topics for discussion at the convention include sustainability and responsible tourism, and ‘bucket list’ travel.
The first day of the event will feature a B2B marketplace for buyers and suppliers, organised in partnership with Travel Weekly parent Jacobs Media Group.