The LGBTQ community spends a lot of money on traveling, but there are still some places that don't openly welcome these people. Although there is a rise in the pink dollar in the travel industry, they still consider the countries they will visit to avoid discrimination and other hassles.
According to the South China Morning Post, research by the specialist consultants Out Now revealed that LGBTQ travelers spend US$211 billion every year. "The LGBTQ community has 23 percent more disposable income than their heterosexual counterparts," TravelGay.com and OutOfOffice.com managing director Darren Burn said. They even spend more on resorts and travel more often.
One of the LGBTQ travelers' main concerns when traveling is safety, and that is Geosure promised. Geosure is an app that rates neighborhoods' safety for LGBTQ people in over 30,000 places worldwide. However, there are still 70 countries that criminalize same-sex relationships. International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (ILGTA) even said that gender nonconforming people might be more targeted. So here are the five safest places LGBTQ people can safely visit.
The Canary Islands
The Canary Islands is famous among LGBTQ travelers. Aside from its hot temperature, beautiful beaches, and stunning landscapes, it also welcomes LGBTQ people with open arms.
The Spanish archipelago also holds Maspalomas Gay Pride event in Gran Canaria every year attended by 100,000 people. The event lasts for 10 days, and it includes LGBT parades, pool parties, and organized boat trips, per Metro News.
Berlin
Berlin is said to be Germany's dynamic gay capital. LGBTQ tourists can freely enjoy non-stop partying in bars, carnivals, and clubs here.
It also has Berlin Pride or also known as Christopher Street Day, the biggest event of the capital's LGBTQ community. They will also surely enjoy the Schoneberg district as it is known as the center of the Berlin gay scene.
San Francisco
Considered as the gay capital of the world, San Francisco holds historical accounts of LGBT rights and activism. It is also the residence of the U.S. very first gay neighborhoods, Castro District.
The city also holds San Francisco Pride Parade & Celebration. The organizers said that this event aims to "educate the world, commemorate heritage, celebrate culture, and liberate people."
Barcelona
Southern Europe's gay capital Barcelona has a lively nightlife for LGBTQ people. The city also celebrates LGBTQ culture.
Barcelona hosts the annual Barcelona Pride, the Mediterranean's main gay pride celebration. Attended by more than 200,000 people, they do the parade and protest at the same time to fight for the LGBTQ community's rights.
Toronto
Toronto holds that largest gay community in Canada. It has a gay village or also known as "The Village" that lets that visitors see an array of arts, culture, and nightlife.
It also celebrates the most significant LGBTQ event, the pride month, every June. About 1.2 million people visit the city to witness this colorful celebration.
