The IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association has been a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization since 2010, the first, and to date, only LGBTQ+ organization included in this program. We collaborated with UNWTO on the 1st Global Report on LGBT Tourism in 2012 and are pleased to continue that partnership on the 2nd edition of the report this year.

Given the support and respect afforded IGLTA and the LGBTQ+ tourism community through this relationship, the upcoming election for the next UNWTO Secretary General is particularly important. We want to see our industry keep moving forward in the march toward equality. We need to see a leader elected who will stand up for all members of our global community, regardless of race, gender, identity, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

As a member-based association, with business members in approximately 70 countries, we cannot make an endorsement; however, we do call for all of the candidates to take a stand in support of the LGBTQ+ communities in their home countries and around the world. There is no room for discrimination in the tourism industry.

John Tanzella

IGLTA President/CEO