World opening up to emboldened LGBTQ+ couples – Kuoni
The world has become more welcoming to LGBTQ+ couples over the past 10 years according to a landmark new report by Kuoni, with fewer travellers having to actively consider where the feel the can or can’t travel to.
Shared exclusively with TTG, the report reveals 44% of UK same-sex couples are now choosing their honeymoon destination based on personal preference, rather than falling back on countries known for being accepting of LGBTQ+ people or couples.
The report, in fact, finds LGBTQ+ couples have widened their choice of honeymoon destinations to countries destinations like the Maldives, Dubai and parts of East Africa, where same-sex marriage remains illegal.
“I haven’t let being gay stop me from travelling to destinations where it is illegal,” said Matt Clayden, manager of Kuoni’s Oxford Street store in London. “I always respect local views.”
The report, published on Monday (17 July), coincides with the 10th anniversary of the UK’s Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act.
Gay couples have also been emboldened by cultural shifts in destinations such as Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda, where homosexuality was decriminalised last year, and Singapore.
The three countries followed in the footsteps of Mozambique, the Seychelles, India and Botswana, which have variously made same-sex legal between 2015 and 2019.
Nevertheless, the appeal of LGBTQ+ friendly destinations hasn’t diminished, with 57% of respondents to a recent Kuoni poll of 1,013 people identifying as being part of the LGBTQ+ community continuing to proactively choose destinations like Greece, Italy, the US and Thailand.
According to Kuoni, Greece is the most sought-after honeymoon destination by gay couples, not only because of the country’s scenery but also its LGBT-friendly nightlife – particularly in places like Mykonos. Greece is followed by Italy and the US, where most couples choose to embark on a California road trip.
“I find the most requested destinations for LGBTQ+ honeymooners are either splashing out on luxurious and special [destinations] in Europe due to the level of openness and comfort,” said Faye Woodbridge from Kuoni’s Cambridge store. “Or, if they want somewhere further afield a little more tropical and exotic, the Maldives and Mauritius are popular options."
Kuoni’s research highlights several emerging destinations for LGBTQ+ honeymoons, including Thailand, South Africa and Bali. Honeymoons in Thailand have surged 243% compared with last year’s levels, followed by South Africa and Bali, which have gone up by 106% and 58% respectively.
In terms of accommodation, the report revealed most LGBTQ+ honeymooners prefer private villas, with 56% of respondents telling the operator it was either important or extremely important to have LGBTQ+ inclusive accommodation when travelling.
Kuoni managing director Mark Duguid said the business understood the importance of paying attention to detail and preferences when it came to booking travel for LGBTQ+ clients. “With LGBTQ+ travel, the talk can often turn reactive quite quickly – boycotting certain destinations and so on,” he said.
“In reality, the conversation is much more nuanced than that, so we give our customers the information to make educated choices and navigate those issues in a very individual way with our staff.”
To help customers make the best decision possible, Kuoni has introduced a new pledge – The Promise – to provide exceptional service for everyone.
It enshrines the business’s commitment to ensuring same-sex travellers are treated with the same respect as heterosexual couples and places particular emphasis on listening, being mindful of language used and offering the same benefits as other couples.
“We want to inspire confidence with LGBTQ+ honeymooners," added Duguid.
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