Speaking at this week’s TTG LGBT conference, Auston Matta, co-founder of Outfluential and co-author of gay travel blog Two Bad Tourists, said there were three key concerns for the LGBT travel market: safety, comfort and acceptance.

He said agents should address these issues, even if booking holidays to anti-LGBT destinations.
 
While 76 countries worldwide outlaw homosexual acts - with  the risk of the death penalty in at least 10 of these - Matta stressed that these destinations did not have to be off limits to LGBT travellers, as long as they have access to the correct resources on safety, laws and customs.
 
He said: “LGBT people want to go to many of these destinations, and it’s the responsibility of the travel industry to help inform them. If they want to go, send them there, but make sure they have the right resources and tools to make sure that they have not only an enjoyable opportunity but also a safe one.”
 
Matta suggested that agents conduct in-depth research about a country’s laws and LGBT rights to fully inform their clients.

For example, each Caribbean island has its own laws regarding homosexuality, while in certain destinations there are discrepancies between the laws on male homosexual activity versus female.
 
He also recommended that agents ensure travellers always have the details of their country’s embassy to hand, and that they know the local laws and cultural norms before arriving at a destination. Thailand is the most LGBT-friendly destination in Asia, he pointed out, and yet a public display of affection by couples of any sexual orientation is deemed to be offensive.
 
For a list of destinations and hotels invested in the LGBT market, visit IGLTA.org