The benefits of an LGBT-inclusive tourist destination

This study investigates the links between a destination's gay-friendliness and the travel preferences of tourists with different levels of affiliation with the LGBT community. Overseas tourists to Tel Aviv (Israel) participated in two surveys: during LGBT Pride events (n = 168) and two months later (n = 117). Due to a terror attack, the before-and-after effects of safety perceptions and gay-friendliness were also tested. Analyzing responses of tourists with different levels of affiliation with the LGBT community revealed that the on-going inclusive policy of the city raises positive attitudes among all inbound tourists (regardless of their level of affiliation with the LGBT community) and that LGBT tourists do not spend more money than tourists who are not LGBT. Unexpected risk mitigation effects of gay-friendliness were observed, when all tourists linked gay-friendliness to safety perceptions, and perceived Tel Aviv as a safe place, even after a terror attack. This finding suggests that gay-friendliness is an asset in building resilience for urban destinations, even in unstable geo-political regions.