Tourism industry courts LGBT travellers

Berlin

FROM gay-friendly honeymoon destinations to party escapes, tourism has long catered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) travellers. But as acceptance grows, so do calls for the industry to broaden its offers, and avoid cliches.

All too often, travel professionals remain stuck on stereotypical views of LGBT guests as hedonistic holidaymakers, Thomas Boemkes of the consulting agency Diversity Tourism said at Berlin's ITB fair, the world's largest travel trade show.