He travels much more than average and generally has no particular budget problems. According to the AITGL Observatory, the Italian Gay and Lesbian Tourism Association, in 2021 12% of travelers in Europe were LGBTQ + and generated a turnover of 43 billion dollars compared to 75 billion in 2019. That year the community generated a turnover of 2.7 billion in Italy. The pandemic caused a heavy downturn but less than that of other tourist segments. It is also necessary to consider, the Observatory points out, that 54% of those who have traveled ensure that they will return to do so this year and in 12% of cases they plan to increase their dedicated budget. There is a high concentration in the 25-44 age group even if the 18-24 age group is constantly increasing. More than 50% of these live with their partner or are married, while 21% declare themselves single. A clientele with a good income: 19% is below 18 thousand euros, 32% between 18,000 and 35,000 euros, 20.6% between 36,000 and 58,000 euros, 10.5% between 59,000 and 85,000 euros. For all, Italy is the most dreamed of destination but Spain and Germany stand out for hospitality. The choice of destination falls on three aspects considered fundamental: in the first place certainly the opening of the same to the issues of Diversity & Inclusion, or how much LGBTQ + Friendly (50%) is, followed by the level of care and cleanliness (44.7% ) and ease of access to medical and health services (42%). This last figure makes us understand how the pandemic has somehow influenced today’s traveler in his evaluations of choosing a tourist destination. As far as accommodation is concerned, we discover that agritourisms (+ 155%), modern or design accommodation (+ 104%) and luxury villas / apartments (+ 85%) have grown more in popularity. Apart from the classic relaxing holidays by the sea or in the sun, this target in 2021 proved to be much more attracted to travels that contemplate a sort of voluntary activity (+ 133%) compared to the previous year. Golfing holidays (+ 117%) and those offering gastronomic experiences (+ 75%) are also growing ahead in the ranking. “Travelers who identify as LGBTQ + represent 7-10% of the global travel industry travel more frequently and also tend to spend more while traveling, it’s a diverse segment and attracted to a wide variety of tourism products – recalls Alessandra Priante, director of the European Regional Commission of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (Unwto) -. It is a promising market that can help increase the competitiveness of destinations, especially in Europe where the legal protection of the LGBTQ + community is particularly advanced. As a leader, Europe is in a unique position to lead the further development of LGBTQ + tourism and benefit from its multiplier effect on the economy in general ”. A clientele, a community to welcome with a specific offer. «Tourist companies are faced with the opportunity to get in touch with other entrepreneurial realities to exchange ideas, projects and establish synergies and collaborations. This is why ENIT promotes LGBTQ + tourism by adhering to specific initiatives, to give Italy an opportunity to expand and seasonally adjust the tourist flows and enhance the image of the country as a welcoming nation with an eye to progress applied to tourism “recalls Giorgio Palmucci, president of ENIT. So Milan is preparing to host, from 26 to 28 October “IGLTA Milan 2022”, the 38th IGLTA (International LGBTQ + Travel Association) World Convention promoted by AITGL (Italian LGBTQ + Tourism Organization) in collaboration with ENIT (National Tourism Agency), Municipality of Milan, US Consulate and European Travel Commission. The association is made up of travel agents, tour operators, hotels, bed and breakfasts, tourism organizations, airlines or companies related to the world of travel, dedicated to gay and lesbian tourism. Around 400 delegates are expected in Milan from as many companies in the tourism sector, including hotel chains, theme parks, airlines from the 80 countries where the association is present. The president of Federturismo Confindustria, Marina Lalli, concludes: “It is with great pleasure that we have joined the initiative by giving our patronage to contribute to the growth of a market that must be favored by networking between institutions, associations and companies to enhance the value of social inclusion and the culture of hospitality. Although Italy is a very popular destination with a high degree of attractiveness, it still does not have an extensive integrated, structured and communicated offer for the LGBTQ + segment as is the case in other European countries. It is crucial that this type of tourism is not considered a simple niche segment, but the subject of an increasingly specific attention on the part of Italian strategic tourism planning, as it represents a useful tool for increasing the number of arrivals and presences in our country, both by intercepting part of foreign visitors and by involving Italian demand ».
Italy is the destination most dreamed of by LGBTQ + travelers, customers who generated revenues of 43 billion dollars in Europe in 2021
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