Gay and Lesbian Travel Industry Thrives in Economic Recession

When the economy takes a hit, international travel is one of the first luxuries to go. So far this year, airline traffic is down and tourism around the globe has tapered off. However, one particular demographic niche has refused to forgo the pleasure of a vacation: the “gay, gainfully employed, with no kids and a lifelong wanderlust,” reports the Chicago Tribune.

Bryan Herb, co-owner of Zoom Vacations, a Chicago travel agency that markets specifically to the gay and lesbian community, says that contrary to the current travel climate, his business is booming. “Gay people will give up a lot of things, but we won't give up our vacations. What else are we going to talk about?" he told the Tribune.

According to Herb, travel is a very important element of gay culture. He believes that gays and lesbians may be more passionate about travel than their straight counterparts. “I think the idea of newness and differences in general, it makes us even more curious than other people,” Herb said to the Tribune. “A lot of gay people have felt so different their whole life.”

The travel industry—including airlines, hotel chains, travel agents and destination cities—is responding by “digging in and chasing what’s known as ‘pink money,’” according to the Tribune.

Last year, for instance, Air New Zealand inaugurated a “pink flight” from San Francisco to Sydney, complete with gay-themed amenities on board and an exclusive “glamour gate” for passengers to relax in during the Auckland layover. The Washington Times reported that many flight booking engines and airlines have pages on their Web sites dedicated to gay travel. And in February, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism launched a Web site that aims to attract “gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender leisure travelers.”

According to Todd Evans, chief executive officer of Rivendell Media, the gay market is an easy one to target. Evans says gay people are “recession-resistant” and likely to continue spending their money even when times are tough. “Gay people are less likely to let changes in the economy affect their behaviors, they have fewer (or no) children, and they are less likely to be strapped for cash,” Evans told The Advocate. Furthermore, gay couples often are in the DINK (double income, no kids) category, making them ideal customers for the travel industry.

A study conducted in 2006 by the Travel Industry Association also revealed that gay men tend to spend more money on their trips than lesbians and heterosexuals. When traveling alone, for example, gay men reported that they spent an average of $800, while heterosexuals traveling alone reported an average of $540.

In spite of the gay and lesbian community’s sustained passion for travel, some traditionally gay-friendly vacation destinations have tried to expand their tourist base. In recent years, areas such as Provincetown, Key West, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware have made efforts to encourage the influx of straight visitors, generating mixed reactions. Alan Robertson, a regular Provincetown visitor, said, “It used to be that you could walk down the street holding hands with a man and you felt safe. Now you feel gawked at.”

Read more about GLBT resources for travel and other activities in the findingDulcinea Web Guide to GLBT.
Source: findingDulcinea