67 million arrivals last year in Europe, but Italy falls in the rights ranking and for the companies pioneering this segment it is a difficult time against the DE&I policies
10 August is World LGBTQ+ Tourism Day. All over the world there are events and activities focusing on a theme this year: ‘Visibility and Rights: Promoting Unity through LGBTQ+ Tourism‘, in line with the slogan proposed by the World Tourism Organization for this year, which once again focuses on the future as the sector continues its rapid recovery. The day was set up by the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Argentina (CCGLAR, acronym in Italian) and many associations are joining in worldwide to promote inclusive, responsible, sustainable, safe and universally accessible tourism.
In Europe, 9 per cent of the population belongs to the LGBTQ+ community, according to IPSOS data, and 67 million LGBTQ+ tourist arrivals were recorded last year, for an economic value of 55 billion euros, with a 27.9 per cent growth in the segment over the previous year.
It should also be considered that 2 million people employed in tourism in Europe belong to the LGBTQ+ community.
“It would be worth remembering how important it is to develop the inclusive policies within companies that Europe itself calls for with DE&I (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) planning, policies that can be adopted through dedicated and authoritative training, internationally recognizable certifications,” says Alessio Virgili, president of AITGL (Italian LGBTQ+ Tourism Board) and ELTA (European LGBTQ+ Travel Alliance) .
“We are at a significant time for the tourism industry and the LGBTQ+ community in Europe, a time when we are working even harder to promote inclusive hospitality and the creation of jobs that are safe and respectful of diversity,” adds Alessio Virgili.
The goal for all should be to rethink tourism as a sustainable, inclusive and welcoming economic sector.
Every 10 August, the celebration of World LGBTQ+ Tourism Day takes place with the aim of remembering those who have been responsible for initiatives that have made travel safer for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender tourists and recognizing those who have prioritized respect for diversity within their businesses.
“Through the companies, organizations, and associations that adhere to AITGL and ELTA, we have contributed to shaping LGBTQ+ tourism in Italy and Europe,’ concludes Alessio Virgili. ‘Unfortunately, in Italy we are taking big steps backwards: according to the ILGA 2023 report, we have fallen to 35th place (out of 49 European countries) in terms of rights for LGBTQ+ people, and this certainly does not qualify us in terms of welcoming this very important segment of the economy to tourism.