June 2018,
the European Travel Commission (ETC), the Flemish tourist board
VISITFLANDERS and the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association
(IGLTA) will host the Educational Forum on LGBTQ Tourism. The
event aims at advancing knowledge on LGBTQ tourism in Europe, discussing
the status quo of Europe as a safe and welcoming destination for LGBTQ
tourists, investigating new ways to strengthen the region’s
attractiveness as a LGBTQ-friendly destination, and understanding the future evolution of LGBTQ travel.
By recognizing the economic and social significance of LGBTQ tourism,
tourism businesses and destinations can become a catalyst of change in
advancing and tackling social and civil issues of the LGBTQ community
and improving the lives of LGBTQ residents and travellers in Europe. The forum will create a space to share knowledge and best practices and to
increase social responsibility in the sector; it will provide
destinations and businesses with insights and tools to understand and
cater for LGBTQ travellers, to build inclusive offers that respond to
the true diversity of the segment, and to become ambassadors for human
rights and promoters of inclusive policy development.
The discussion will be supported by the new ETC and IGLTA Foundation
joint research project on LGBTQ tourism in Europe, which focuses on the
current state, prospects and opportunities of LGBTQ
tourism in Europe, in view of worldwide trends and expected evolution.
Findings from the report will be presented during the conference by its
author, Peter Jordan. The report results will provide a framework and
support for the forum conversation.
The Forum will take place at the Hilton Brussels Grand Place and will be
hosted by Robert Davershot. The event will gather tourism businesses,
destination tourism boards on national, regional and local levels,
leading global organisations, human rights NGOs and EU policy makers. Speakers include Piet De Bruyn, the Council of Europe; Peter De Wilde, President ETC and
CEO VISITFLANDERS; Thomas Bachinger, Vienna Tourism Board; Mattej
Valencic, Pink Week Slovenia; and Mateo Asensio, Turisme de Barcelona,
among others.