June is celebrated globally as Pride Month, a month that recognises the LGBTQ+ community’s ongoing fight for equal rights, inclusion and social acceptance. As Pride Month gets underway, Booking.com’s Travel Proud Report shines a light on an often-overlooked aspect of travel—the experiences of LGBTQ+ travellers. Drawing insights from 13,300 LGBTQ+ travellers across 19 countries, the report highlights the diverse experiences, challenges and perspectives within the community while travelling.
LGBTQ+ Indians Hide Their Identity To Travel Better!
The findings stood out. According to the report, Indian LGBTQ+ travellers who report the fewest negative experiences while travelling are largely those who identify as ‘not out’. In fact, only 31% of LGBTQ+ travellers in India say they are open about their identity when they travel.
The report suggests that being open about one’s identity while travelling can sometimes be linked to a higher likelihood of facing negative experiences. Among Indian LGBTQ+ travellers who are not out, 34% reported having a negative experience related to their sexuality while travelling in the past 12 months. In comparison, 62% of LGBTQ+ travellers globally who are out reported such experiences. The figure rises to 73% among Indian transgender travellers.
This is the sad reality of how the ‘safest’ LGBTQ+ travellers are often the ones who are most effectively able to hide parts of who they are. In fact, 46% of LGBTQ+ travellers in India are willing to conceal their identity in exchange for the chance to visit a bucket-list destination. The finding highlights a difficult choice many still face: choosing between exploring the world and being fully themselves.
Also Read: From Turin To Sydney, Booking.com Lists Best LGBTQ+ Friendly Destinations Across The Globe
It’s AI Over Humans For Them While Travelling!
Booking.com’s Travel Proud Report also showed that almost 9 out of 10 of Indian LGBTQ+ travellers used AI to plan a trip in the last year, with 48% trusting AI to provide objective, non-judgmental travel advice regarding their identity. Moreover, 47% believe AI is efficient at finding niche LGBTQ+ friendly spots which are hard to find via standard search.
Interestingly, 49% feel safer asking AI sensitive questions about the local LGBTQ+ scene than asking a human and 35% say that they would find an inclusion or ‘LGBTQ+ friendly’ filter useful when booking travel online.
Despite these challenges, there is still hope! The report highlights that 94% of Indian LGBTQ+ travellers said they had at least one positive experience related to their gender or sexual identity while travelling in the past year.
Some of the most commonly reported positive experiences included staff using the correct pronouns, the presence of LGBTQ+ staff members, and visible signs of inclusivity such as Pride flags, and gender-neutral bathrooms. Overall, 74% of Indian LGBTQ+ travellers believe acceptance has improved over the past few years.
Also Read: What Makes A Restaurant Or Bar LGBTQ+ Friendly? Expert Tips Inside!
Travel has always been about feeling free but looks like for a lot of us out there, there is still a long way to go!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/South_agency (Representative Image)
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FAQs
Why can travel be different for LGBTQ+ travellers?
LGBTQ+ travellers may face unique challenges related to safety, social acceptance, local laws and cultural attitudes in different destinations.
Why do some LGBTQ+ travellers choose not to be ‘out’ while travelling?
Some travellers may choose to keep their identity private due to concerns about safety, discrimination, cultural norms or personal comfort.
How can travellers identify LGBTQ+-friendly accommodations?
Many travellers look for inclusive policies, diversity training, gender-neutral facilities, positive reviews and visible signs of support such as Pride symbols or LGBTQ+-inclusive messaging.