TUI Futureshapers Global: LGBTQIA+ Travel Innovators Program
Empowering LGBTQIA+ Tourism Entrepreneurs in Emerging Destinations
About the Program
The TUI Futureshapers Global: LGBTQIA+ Travel Innovators Program is a first-of-its-kind initiative that invests in LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs shaping the future of tourism. A collaboration between the IGLTA Foundation and TUI Care Foundation, this program provides business training, mentorship, and access to global tourism networks to support sustainable, LGBTQIA+ inclusive tourism businesses.
We believe that LGBTQIA+ tourism is more than just a market—it’s a movement. By supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in emerging destinations, we help build a more inclusive and equitable tourism industry.
Now Available: TUI Futureshapers Global Cohort 1 Impact Report
From June to November 2025, Cohort 1 brought together LGBTQIA+ tourism entrepreneurs from emerging and underserved destinations around the world for a six-month journey of learning, mentorship, and growth.
Participants strengthened their businesses through structured training, one-on-one mentorship, and access to a global network of tourism leaders.
Key Highlights
- The first TUI Care Foundation program focused specifically on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in tourism
- 100% of participants matched with an industry mentor
- Interactive workshops and global networking sessions
- Case studies showcasing real entrepreneurial impact across destinations
👉 Explore the full insights, stories, and outcomes in the Cohort 1 Impact Report
Why This Matters
🌍 LGBTQIA+ tourism is growing, but in many parts of the world, LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs lack access to business support, funding, and industry connections.
💡 Economic empowerment leads to social change—by strengthening LGBTQIA+ businesses, we create safe, welcoming spaces for LGBTQIA+ travelers and foster local acceptance.
🤝 Tourism should be for everyone—yet many destinations lack the infrastructure, government protections, or cultural support to sustain LGBTQIA+ tourism businesses.
This program is about real, lasting impact—not just visibility, but investment in businesses, people, and communities.
What the Program Offers
We provide a three-pronged approach to support LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs in tourism:
1. Business Training & Mentorship
📚 Virtual Capacity-Building Workshops – covering financial management, digital marketing, customer engagement, and business growth strategies.
👥 Mentorship Program – one-on-one coaching from industry leaders and successful LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs.
💡 Ongoing Technical Support – access to expert insights, online resources, and a collaborative support network.
2. Funding & Investment
🏆 Business Pitching Competition – selected entrepreneurs will pitch their businesses to a panel of investors and tourism leaders for the chance to win funding grants.
💰 Direct Financial Support – competitive grants will be awarded to businesses with the most innovative, scalable ideas.
3. Global Networking & Exposure
🌎 Connections to Global Markets – entrepreneurs will be introduced to key players in LGBTQIA+ tourism, from investors to travel brands.
🎤 Opportunities to Showcase Their Business – at major international tourism events like ITB Berlin and the IGLTA Global Convention.
🔗 Access to the IGLTA Network – participants will gain membership in IGLTA, joining a global community of over 13,000 LGBTQIA+ tourism businesses.
Who Can Apply?
The TUI Futureshapers Global: LGBTQIA+ Travel Innovators Program is open to:
✅ LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs in emerging tourism destinations – businesses located in regions where LGBTQ+ tourism is developing.
✅ Trans-owned businesses worldwide – ensuring representation and inclusion across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
✅ Small businesses in the tourism sector – including hotels, tour operators, travel agencies, event organizers, and creative services.
Priority Destinations
While the program has a global reach, we focus on emerging destinations—countries where LGBTQ+ tourism is growing but faces challenges such as lack of legal protections, community acceptance, or industry support.
Examples of priority destinations can be found here
💡 Not sure if your country qualifies? If you’re an LGBTQIA+ entrepreneur in a region where LGBTQ+ tourism is still developing, you’re encouraged to apply!
The Bigger Picture:
This program goes beyond business—it’s about economic inclusion and social impact.
✨ Driving Economic Growth – Strengthening LGBTQIA+ businesses means more jobs, more opportunities, and stronger local economies.
🌍 Building a More Inclusive Tourism Industry – Representation matters. When LGBTQIA+ businesses thrive, travelers benefit from safe, welcoming experiences.
🤝 Creating Lasting Change – LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurship helps shift cultural attitudes, paving the way for policy change and greater social acceptance.
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Cohort 1 Particpants:
Arbër Kodra (he/him) | South Albania Resort, Albania
Founder & Executive Director of Open Mind Spectrum Albania (OMSA), Arbër has been a leading LGBTI activist in Albania for over a decade. He is co-organizer of Tirana Pride and founder of the Queer Film Marathon Tirana (QFMT), and works to empower families, advance civic engagement, and promote inclusive tourism as a tool for social change.
Baltazar De Almeida (he/him) | TTour, Brazil
Tourism graduate, cultural coordinator, and social entrepreneur, Baltazar has worked extensively in heritage, tourism, and LGBTI rights. He co-founded TTour, a Brazilian startup using technology and cultural tourism to promote diversity, Afrotourism, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
Dale Taylor (she/her) | North Coast Retreat, Barbados
An international education leader and world traveler, Dale has worked in over 15 countries. Originally from Barbados, she dreams of making her homeland a truly safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travelers. With a background in teaching, social work, and inclusion advocacy, Dale continues to build communities through education and hospitality.
Janice Tjon Sien Kie (she/her) | Outcaribbean, Curaçao
A trailblazer in queer advocacy and entrepreneurship, she initiated and led Curaçao’s landmark marriage equality case and has been at the forefront of local queer advocacy for more than two decades. Janice is the founder of Outcaribbean, the first travel media platform dedicated to safe, community-driven LGBTQ+ experiences in the Caribbean.
Edgar Marroquin (he/him) | Ipan Noya, El Salvador
A U.S.-born entrepreneur and interior designer with 22 years of experience, Edgar is the founder of Ipan Noya, a boutique hotel in El Salvador. His project blends contemporary design with soulful hospitality, offering a fresh take on one of Central America’s most exciting destinations.
Dinesh-Gratian Perera (he/him) | Foozoo Travel, Sri Lanka
After a career in advertising, Dinesh became a full-time entrepreneur driven by social impact. He founded Foozoo, an LGBTIQ+ welcoming travel brand, and later launched Goodfolks, a social enterprise promoting ethical trade. His work centers on building fair, inclusive systems that empower marginalized communities.
Jesus Romero (he/him) | Guaya Ecotours, Colombia
An environmental engineer from Colombia, now based in Toronto, Jesús is the founder of Guaya Ecotours, promoting community-led tourism in La Macarena, home to Caño Cristales—the “Rainbow River.”
Combining sustainability, inclusion, and local empowerment, his work positions tourism as a catalyst for biodiversity protection and social equity.
Joel Simpson (they/them) | SASOD Guyana, Guyana
A human rights activist and social entrepreneur, Joel is the Managing Director of SASOD Guyana, the country’s leading LGBTQIA+ advocacy group, which they founded in 2003. They also serve on the Board of the Black Entrepreneurs Association in Guyana and on the steering committee of CariFLAGS, CariFLAGS, the Caribbean’s regional LGBTQIA+ advocacy network.
Johana Rivadeneira (she/her) | No Limits Reisen, Ecuador
A passionate traveler from Ecuador, Johana has spent over a decade exploring the country’s landscapes through hiking, trekking, and climbing. She founded No Limits Reisen to create sustainable, off-the-beaten-path experiences that respect nature, honor local cultures, and support communities. Her mission is to ensure travel is safe, inclusive, and welcoming for everyone.
Kabir Singh Tomar (he/him) | Queer Travelogue, India
A digital marketer specializing in performance marketing, Kabir is the founder of Queer Travelogue, a queer-led travel community in India. He curates transformative group trips that blend nature, community, and queer joy, from the trails of the Himalayas to the widespread Thar Desert. Passionate about building safe, inclusive spaces, Kabir is scaling Queer Travelogue as both a business and a heartfelt movement.
Joanna Cifredo (she/her) | Trans Across Borders, Puerto Rico
A Puerto Rican transgender activist, writer, and beauty queen, Joanna has over a decade of experience advancing trans rights across Latin America and the Caribbean. She is the Policy & Community Engagement Associate at the TransLatin@ Coalition in Puerto Rico and is developing a travel series that celebrates transgender pageant queens worldwide, promoting inclusive tourism and global solidarity.
Jose Gomez (he/him) | TripGuru World, Peru
Jose is the Founder & CEO of TripGuru World, with over two decades of global experience in the travel industry.
A certified Amadeus expert and airlines trainer, he has led projects across South Korea, Australia, Thailand, Colombia, and Argentina. Jose builds high impact teams and travel solutions that connect people and cultures.
Mikhail Sterlikov (he/him) | Irene Plus Travel LLC, Uzbekistan
Mikhail Sterlikov is the founder of Irene Plus Travel, creating tailor-made cultural journeys across Central Asia rooted in Silk Road heritage and community-based tourism. A strong advocate for inclusion, he is the first IGLTA member in Uzbekistan, pioneering LGBTIQ+ friendly travel and promoting safety and respect for all travelers.
Nakshatra Bagwe (he/him) | The BackPack Travels, India
Nakshatra Bagwe is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, and India’s first gay brand ambassador. He’s a key voice for LGBTQ+ visibility and empowerment in India. He has created 30+ films and web projects that spotlight queer lives and expand authentic representation. As an activist and queer entrepreneur, he has led pride initiatives, mentored LGBTQ+ youth, and founded travel and events companies dedicated to the community.
Nandita Gupta (she/her) | Mango Souffle Productions, India
Nandita is a queer entrepreneur from Jaipur and the Founder of Mango Soufflé Productions, creating inclusive cultural and community-focused events. She also leads Jaipur Queer Women, supporting queer women and LGBTQIA+ youth through safe spaces and grassroots initiatives. Her work strengthens queer visibility in Rajasthan and builds connections between local culture and global queer communities.
Njeri Gachuhi (she/her) | The Travelling Wakili, Kenya
Njeri Gachuhi is a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur, social justice advocate, and founder of The Travelling Wakili — a pioneering company creating safe, inclusive, and empowering travel experiences for women and queer people in Africa. Her work blends human rights expertise with travel, curating journeys that celebrate identity, community, and joy while challenging traditional industry norms.
Numa Limbu (Chanchala) (she/her) | Numaj Bed and Breakfast, Nepal
Numa Limbu (Chanchala) is a transgender entrepreneur from Damak, Nepal, and the founder of Numa’s Homestay — a safe, inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ travelers and allies. With 15+ years in community health, HIV prevention, and human rights through the Blue Diamond Society and Indigenous networks, she blends cultural hospitality with empowerment, creating opportunities for marginalized communities in eastern Nepal.
Prajeet Budhathoki (he/him) | Queermandu, Nepal
Born in Dharan, Nepal in 1997, Prajeet is driven by fitness, adventure, and nature. A licensed trekking guide, former teacher, and contributor to Project Nature Nepal, he is passionate about conservation. Currently completing a Master’s in Business Studies, he blends business, education, and the outdoors as he prepares for new adventures.
Prasenjit Chaudhuri (he/him) | Out and About, India
Prasenjit Ghosh is the founder of Out and About, India’s first queer-inclusive travel collective, creating community-rooted journeys for LGBTQIA+ travelers since 2015. An engineer turned community leader, he has guided 3,000+ travelers and now works on sustainable livelihood and inclusive tourism models for queer and trans communities.
Tashi Tsheten (he/him) | QVoB Tours and Travels, Bhutan
Tashi Tsheten is an LGBTQIA+ advocate from Bhutan and Co-Founder of Queer Voices of Bhutan, supporting rights and inclusion for gender and sexually diverse communities. Focused on reducing stigma and expanding legal and economic opportunities, he advises QVoB and engages regionally with Youth Voices Count and ILGA Asia.
Sam Castañeda Holdren (he/him) | Queer Scout, Colombia
Sam Castañeda Holdren is a gay Mexican-American entrepreneur advancing LGBTQ+ visibility through sustainable tourism. A longtime advocate for queer and trans rights, he launched OUT in Colombia in 2015 and is now developing Queer Scout, connecting LGBTQ+ travelers with affirming, community-led experiences worldwide.
Sulique Venus Waqa (she/her) | South Pacific LGBTQ+ Travel, LLC, Fiji
Born and raised in Fiji, Sulique is a longtime LGBTQ+ advocate whose work spans 18 years across the Pacific and beyond. Based in San Francisco since 2020, she bridges global queer movements, champions joy as resistance, and views travel as a powerful tool for cultural exchange, visibility, and celebration.
The Do (he/him) | Maverick Journeys, Vietnam
Born and raised in Hanoi, The Do is the owner and managing director of Maverick Journeys. With over a decade in Indochina tourism, he founded his company in 2023 to create personalized journeys, including LGBTQ+ travel. Passionate about inclusive tourism, he promotes Vietnam and the region as safe, welcoming destinations for queer travelers.
Vikas Tembhare (he/him) | Amberr Holidays By DTORR, India
Vikas Tembhare is a tourism professional with 20+ years of experience across business development, MICE, destination management, and sustainable tourism. Founder of DTORR, he is also a trainer, academic, and PhD researcher. An active global tourism member, he supports LGBTQ+ inclusion through mentoring and business exchange in and out of India.