LGBT tourists need more help to “travel safely”, says Stonewall

Stonewall has urged travel firms to take “more responsibility” and ensure that customers are advised whether or not their chosen holiday destinations are friendly towards the LGBT community, The Huffington Post reports.

The campaign group believes that it is important that holiday bookers have as much safety information as possible before confirming a trip.

Vicky Constance of Stonewall says: “We are really pleased to see travel companies like Kuoni take clear steps to recognise and act upon the needs of their diverse customer base. LGBT customers have an equal right to travel safely and enjoy their holiday, and we would welcome further action from the travel industry to take more responsibility in communicating these key messages to their staff and customers.”

These statements were inspired by holiday company Kuoni, who have announced the recruiting of 10 LGBT experts who are to give customers advice on tolerance levels and cultural attitudes. The experts have been recruited since Kuoni have seen a 76% increase in same-sex honeymoon bookings since March 2014.

Mark Duguid of Kuoni added: “There is a difference between exploring a sought-after destination where some discretion is required and a progressive destination where LGBT travellers are truly welcome. Increasingly parts of the world are embracing LGBT rights so the situation is evolving.”