Shaken, Not Stirred: Why LGBTQ+ Travelers are Ditching the US for More Welcoming Shores

A Licence to Travel (Elsewhere)

Well this is a fine state of affairs. It seems Uncle Sam's charm offensive has gone a bit pear shaped hasn't it? Word on the street—or rather from reliable sources like Robert Sharp a Canadian chap with a penchant for fabulous vacations—is that LGBTQ+ travellers are giving the U.S. the cold shoulder. And can you blame them? As I always say 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.' And this my friends is looking like a full blown SPECTRE operation against tourism.

The Name's Dollar Rainbow Dollar

Apparently Mr. Sharp and his comrades decided against sunning themselves in Provincetown for a pal's birthday bash. Instead they're off to Montreal. A pity really. I've always had a soft spot for a good American martini. But patriotism it seems is the new black—or perhaps the new rainbow? Sharp and his partner rerouted a trip to Chicago or Florida to a Canadian road trip. It seems my Canadian counterparts are not keen to spend their hard earned loonies south of the border.

Nobody Does It Better (Than Canada Apparently)

The numbers don't lie. Foreign visitors arriving by air in the U.S. have plummeted by 10% in March darling. Oxford Economics estimates a staggering $8.5 billion dip in spending this year. Even misterb&b the LGBTQ+ housing platform reports a 66% drop in bookings from Canadian users and a 32% decline from European users. It seems even the most discerning travellers prefer to keep their stilettos far away from certain states.

For Your Eyes Only (But Keep Them Off the US)

The LGBTQ+ advocacy group Egale Canada isn't sending its people to the U.S. either. Safety my dear friends is paramount. And let's not forget the economic angle. Why fund a nation engaged in shall we say 'robust trade discussions'? As Helen Kennedy of Egale Canada so eloquently put it 'Why would I go there?' Indeed. Why indeed?

The World Is Not Enough (For a Single Destination)

Consider this: the LGBTQ+ consumer market is worth $1.4 trillion. And the global LGBTQ+ tourism market is expected to more than double in a decade. These are not insignificant sums gentlemen. John Tanzella CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association has heard concerns about attending a convention in Palm Springs. 'They don't feel welcome here so why come and spend their money here?' he said. It's a valid point. Money talks and it seems it's saying 'Adieu America!'.

Live and Let Travel

Fear not though some Pride celebrations are still going strong. New York City and Phoenix are holding their own. But the overall message is clear: travellers are voting with their wallets. And until the political climate becomes more… agreeable it seems many will continue to seek solace and sunshine elsewhere. After all the world is a big place and as I've always said 'Never say never again.' But for now perhaps a Canadian tuxedo is more fashionable than a trip to the States.