SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (1 November 2023)—The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association Foundation (IGLTAF), in partnership with Airbnb, presented new survey results during the IGLTA 40th Anniversary Global Convention held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The survey provides a detailed view of emerging travel trends within the LGBTQ+ community across Latin America.

 

Key findings from the survey include:

  • Over 60% of LGBTQ+ community members expressed intent to travel two or more times in 2024, with Latin America ranking as their second-most anticipated destination after Europe.

  • Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil emerged as the top six preferred countries for LGBTQ+ travelers, recognized for their inclusivity.

  • Among the preferred cities, respondents showed keen interest in destinations like Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City (Mexico), San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Bogotá and Medellin (Colombia).

 

“Feeling safe, accepted, and valued as members of the community is of utmost importance for LGBTQ+ travelers. Destinations that prioritize inclusivity not only create positive experiences but also benefit from the significant economic contributions of our community,” said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella (he/him).

 

Carlos Olivos (he/him), Head of Corporate Communications for Airbnb Latin America, highlighted the pivotal role of the Airbnb community in promoting inclusivity, saying, "Thanks to the Airbnb community's embrace of inclusion and warm welcome to guests, positive change for the LGBTQ+ community is occurring in every city and town where Airbnb is present. We anticipate this ethos will extend to all communities."

 

Furthermore, over 50% of respondents credited Airbnb for enabling them to explore destinations they hadn't previously considered, while an equivalent percentage affirmed that Airbnb listings reduced the risk of discrimination. The growth of LGBTQ+-inclusive language in Airbnb profiles globally further underscores this commitment to inclusivity, with an approximately 90% increase reported since 2017.

 

Airbnb has partnered with IGLTA for the last five years working to empower LGBTQ+ welcoming travel businesses globally through leadership, research and education. Airbnb also has sponsored the IGLTA Foundation Fellowship program, which supports LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs in the tourism industry.

 

About IGLTA & the IGLTA Foundation

The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is the global leader in advancing LGBTQ+ travel and a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. IGLTA’s mission is to provide information and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers and expand LGBTQ+ tourism globally by demonstrating its significant social and economic impact. IGLTA's global network includes 13,000+ LGBTQ+ welcoming accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events, and travel media in 80 countries. The philanthropic IGLTA Foundation empowers LGBTQ+ welcoming travel businesses globally through leadership, research, and education. For more information: iglta.org, igltaconvention.org or iglta.org/foundation and follow us on Facebook at @IGLTA, @IGLTABusiness and @IGLTAFoundation, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn at @IGLTA and @IGLTAFoundation, and Instagram @IGLTA.

 

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed over 1.5 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.