They stare, laugh and verbally abuse — 92% of LGBTQ+ travellers face discrimination

• 41% of LGBTQ+ travellers are subjected to stereotyping, 27% of them are stared at, laughed at or even verbally abused by other travellers or even locals.
• LGBTQ+ travellers face the added complexity of navigating a trip from selecting a destination, a Booking.com report said.
• Mexico and Denmark are some of the other countries where they are treated badly.
  

Almost all — a staggering 92% of LGBTQ+ travellers in India face discrimination. While 41% are subjected to stereotyping, 27% of them are stared at, laughed at or even verbally abused by other travellers or even locals, according to a report by Booking.com.

It’s not surprising that LGBTQ+ travellers face the added complexity of navigating a trip from selecting a destination all the way through to the activities they take part in, the report said.

Mexico and Denmark are some of the other countries where they are treated badly.

“As a gay traveller myself, I’ve faced barriers to travel and discrimination but have also witnessed progressive change over the years. By taking action to pave the way for a more inclusive industry, we hope to set the stage for wider change that will up the standard of travel for everyone,” said Arjan Dijk, CMO and Sr VP at Booking.com

The study was conducted across 25 countries which shines light on attitudes, concerns and travel preferences, as well as past stay experiences, current realities and hopes for a more inclusive travel future.

LGBTQ+ people don’t feel safe enough to travel

People of the community also do not find it safe enough to travel without proper planning. And, 67% of them are a part of communities which impacts the decisions they make while planning.

Seven out of ten travellers report that they have to consider their safety and well-being as an LGBTQ+ traveller while selecting a destination. So much so they are unable to travel to the destinations on their bucket lists.

“From taking the time to unwind to experiencing different cultures, travellers from the LGBTQ+ community ultimately want the same as everyone else when it comes to travelling and the industry needs to make welcoming experiences the norm for everyone – no matter who they love, how they identify or where they come from,” he further added.

According to the latest data by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has 2.5 million people in LGBTQ+ community. However, activists have estimated the population of LGBTQ people in India to be at least 10% of the entire population, which comes to 135 million.

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