Exclusive: IGLTA chief picks what’s next for gay & lesbian travelers

IGLTA's John Tanzella

The world in general is becoming a more welcoming place for gay and lesbian travelers, says the executive director of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, and that’s leading to greater exploration beyond the well-worn gay travel “circuit.”

In an exclusive interview with travelgaygent.com, John Tanzella said Asia is “just exploding” as a destination for gay travelers, with Taiwan and Thailand atop the list of welcoming countries. And in the wake of this summer’s Olympic Games, “China is opening up to everyone, and gay and lesbian travelers feel included in that, I think.”

Closer to home, said Tanzella, “Latin America in general is becoming a big gay destination.” He attributed the continent’s newfound popularity to its broad range of attractions — cosmopolitan cities, ancient ruins, natural wonders, and spectacular beaches. “We’re seeing more gay group trips to the Amazon, Machu Picchu, the Galapagos,” he said.

Asked to pick one specific city or point of interest, Tanzella responded with a name most Americans have never heard of: Florianopolis, an island city in southern Brazil known for its 42 pristine beaches.

“It’s a burgeoning gay hot spot on the beach, and they’re encouraging that with a lot of gay marketing,” he explained. Despite a population of only 400,000, Florianopolis is “aiming to be the next Rio. Gay and lesbian travelers will find a lot going on there.”

Tanzella said travel agents need to keep up with the latest trends and destinations in order to keep their clients coming back for more. “This is a market that’s constantly seeking out what’s new, what’s fresh,” he said. Besides travelgaygent.com (of course!), Tanzella suggested checking in regularly at www.iglta.org for updated travel blogs and weekly newsletters.

Add another country to South America’s gay-friendly list

Nearly two-thirds of voters in Ecuador have voted to ratify a new constitution that guarantees gay rights, including civil unions with all the privileges of marriage. That means Americans cruisers might one day exchange officially sanctioned vows in the Galapagos Islands, one of the most ecologically diverse spots on the planet.

Charles Darwin, who wrote his Origin of Species shortly after visiting the remote islands, would surely appreciate the “evolution” of gay rights on a continent once viewed as hide-bound and conservative.

Marriages put tiny Greek island on gay travel map

If you have clients headed to the Greek Isles, don’t recommend just the obvious stops like Mykonos and Lesbos. For a getaway that’s charming and significant, suggest they consider Tilos, the tiny island at the center of Greece’s political firstorm over gay marriage.

A Greek court this week is due to hear arguments for the annulment of two same-sex marriages performed on the island on June 3. The public prosecutor on nearby Rhodes has also filed a complaint against Mayor Anastasios Aliferis, who officiated at the sunrise ceremony.

What better way to show support for the embattled mayor than to promote tourism to Tilos, one of the most undiscovered of all the Greek Isles. Just an hour from Rhodes via high-speed ferry, Tilos boasts 19 beaches, 12 medieval castles, hundreds of churches, and miles of trails through the mountains. Not a party destination, to be sure, but something different and authentic for clients already burned out on Ibiza and Mykonos. (Oh, and lesbian history buffs will appreciate Tilos as the birthplace of Erinna, Sappho’s lover and a famous poet in her own right.)

More travel details on Tilos.

Kissing lesbians get prison term in Dubai

Dubai is a country of superlatives: World’s tallest building, largest man-made islands, most expensive hotel suite, etc. But here’s one superlative that’s definitely not on the list: most gay-friendly tourist destination.

Homosexuality is just one of many forbidden practices in Dubai, and despite official efforts to attract 15 million tourists annually, the government appears unwilling to bend the rules for foreign visitors. Police have arrested more than 100 tourists in a recent crackdown, their offenses ranging from cross-dressing to topless sunbathing. A lesbian couple arrested for kissing on the beach reportedly got a month in jail.

Traveling anywhere in the Gulf can be tricky for Westerners. While staying at a very luxurious resort in Qatar not too long ago, a pool attendant asked me to change my swimsuit. The issue wasn’t modesty. I had purposely left my Speedos at home in favor of knee-length board shorts I thought would be more appropriate in this particular setting. Turns out I should have worried about logos rather than length. My shorts were made by Victorinox, the brand behind the Swiss army knife, and they sported the company’s big white Swiss cross right on the thigh. Since I didn’t have any swimwear featuring a crescent moon, I didn’t do any more sunbathing on that particular trip.

The point is, traveling in Dubai — like the Gulf in general — can be fraught with dangers for even the most well-meaning tourist. Be sure to warn your clients not to be lulled into a false sense of security by the Vegas-like glitz. Dubai’s expensive hotels may pay high commissions to travel agents, but local prisons don’t.

Honeymoon package in Honolulu from $198

Aqua Hotels and Resorts is offering a Rainbow Honeymoon package, available at eight Waikiki properties through Dec. 31. With room rates starting at $198, the package includes continental breakfast, free Internet access, a convertible rental car, and a 50-minute couples massage (normally charged at $190). Valid for stays of 3 to 30 days, commissionable at 10%.

Full details on the Aqua Rainbow Honeymoon.

New web service helps travelers connect with locals

To me, the greatest thing about travel is meeting locals. I love to pick their brains, see how they live, find out what they think of us, and so forth. I never leave my house without spending hours on the Internet, trying to find interesting people to meet for a drink, a tour, or whatever.

A new website, www.localyte.com, aims to make that process easier. It’s still in its infancy, but definitely worth keeping an eye on.

It works like this: You click on the region you want to visit and up pops a list of local experts. Each Localyte has an email contact, so you’re free to simply chat them up, ask for travel ideas, and so forth. But each of them is also offering various types of services — private tours, babysitting, transportation, personal shopping, etc.

For a travel agent, it might make sense to develop relationships with Localytes in various areas, then put your clients in touch with them as a value-added service. I don’t see it as a big revenue stream, but rather the kind of personal touch that keeps your clients coming back to you.

The big problem with Localyte at this point is that gay local experts are few and far between. Out of nearly 300 Localyts in Europe, only one — a 30-something guy in Norway — identified as gay in his profile. The same goes for South America: about 100 Localytes, but only one gay listing. (Direct links to both those profiles appear at the bottom of this post, for anyone who wants to follow up.)

For now, Localyte.com strikes me as a good idea that needs to be fleshed out before it’s terribly useful. Still, the infrastructure is in place, and more experts are signing on all the time. I definitely think this is one worth watching.

For Argentina’s gay Localyte, click here.

For Norway’s gay Localyte, click here.

What makes a cruise line gay-friendly?

So, I’m recently back from a Mediterranean cruise on the Azamara Journey, and right from Day One I decided the company was extremely gay-friendly. What was my sole criteria for this snap judgment? Their selection of pay-per-view “adult” movies included about a dozen gay titles. How very W of them, right?

Granted, it’s a small detail, but it does say to me that they know we exist, and that we have different priorities and preferences than some of their other customers.

But, like the immortal Carrie Bradshaw, I couldn’t help wondering: What, exactly, makes a cruise line gay-friendly? Erotica aside, what other esoterica makes gay and lesbian cruisers feel at home on a “mainstream” itinerary?

Oh, and Mom, if you’re reading this, I did not order any of those movies.

Turkish delight: Same-sex honeymoon in a Muslim country?

Do you book gay honeymoons for your clients? If so, have you ever considered a Muslim country for a romantic, same-sex getaway?

Here’s a fresh account from two guys who just returned to Belgium after honeymooning in Bodrum, Turkey. I can vouch for the Turkish coast–the water is beautiful and the prices are often much lower than anything you’d find in a euro-denominated country. If I were booking the  trip for clients, I’d definitely combine the beach holiday with a few days in Istanbul, which I think is one of the most fascinating, historic cities in Europe.

Still, I have to admit I never really thought of Turkey for a gay honeymoon, until I read this blog posting. Now I’m thinking about it for my own ten-year anniversary. Not sure how the bf will react, though…

Tourist hospitalized in Bosnian anti-gay violence

Hooded thugs shouting “Allah akbar” attacked a crowd emerging from the opening night of the Queer Sarajevo Festival, sending at least eight people to the hospital. The most severe injuries were sustained by a Danish tourist.

Festival organizers said the attackers were football hooligans and “Wahhabis” — members of the conservative Muslim sect that dominates Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Growing vitriol against gays and lesbians in the days leading up to the festival had led Amnesty International to call for greater government protections.

“In the run-up to the festival, certain parts of the media are unleashing a homophobic campaign which further cultivates deeply entrenched prejudices and may incite violence around the event,” an Amnesty official warned. Death threats against gay rights leaders were posted on the Internet, and popular publications said they should be stoned, lynched, or doused with gasoline.

Svetlana Durkovic, a spokesperson for festival sponsor Organization Q, noted that the attacks came in the holy month of Ramadan. “[Visitors] were being spit on by someone doing everything in the name of Allah,” she said. “What kind of religion is that?”

Thugs attack gay arts fest in Sarajevo – xtra.ca 

Sarajevo gay, lesbian festival must be protected, says Amnesty International – gaywired.com

Not ALL of China is homophobic

Since 500 marchers first took to the streets of Taipei in 2002, Taiwan’s Gay Carnival has grown to become one of the largest such events in Asia. This year’s Carnival, which concludes on Saturday with a Pride march, is expected to attract 20,000 people. While the gay scene in mainland China is still very much underground, the island of Taiwan “is fast becoming the spot for gays and lesbians in Asia,” according to an editorial in China Daily, the nation’s leading English-language newspaper. While it lacks the mystery, history, and allure of the mainland, Taiwan could make an interesting layover or side-trip for gay and lesbian travelers.