At WTM Africa, IGLTA Foundation highlighted LGBTQ+ travel opportunities at Equal Africa session, where tourism executives from all over the world spoke of potential and challenges of LGBTQ+ travel in Africa.

At the ongoing World Travel Market Africa (WTM) in Cape Town, LoAnn Halden, Vice President of communications at the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA), hosted a global panel to put the spotlight on the opportunities and challenges that await LGBTQ+ travel in Africa. 

According to a press statement issued by the organisers, South Africa, the USA, Spain, Kenya, and other countries were represented on the Equal Africa panel. They explored how the travel industry should improve its support of LGBTQ+ travellers and reevaluate its marketing strategies to attract them to particular locations as well as the particular difficulties that LGBTQ+ travellers experience.

“When you are talking to an LGBTQ+ traveller, you are not talking to one person. And like all travellers, they want to feel safe, appreciated and welcome at a destination,” Halden said in her remarks.

The statement adds that the creator of Afrigay Travel, Michael Gladwin, shed light on the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, covering a wide range of people with different identities, experiences, and backgrounds. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and many other gender and sexual identities are all included under this umbrella, he said. Although every person has different experiences and difficulties, they all come under one general category, he added.

“It is important to recognise and celebrate this diversity, as it helps to create a more inclusive and supportive community for all LGBTQ+ individuals,” said Gladwin.

The organisers add that the IGLTA has now recognised a diversity standard for tourism that encourages inclusivity, marking a world first. The IGLTA Accredited gives LGBQT+ tourists the reassurance that recognised establishments have taken measures to guarantee complete inclusiveness. The statement adds that it is a terrific next step for businesses and this independent auditing procedure gives customers a seal of approval for welcoming, secure environments. According to Gladwin, accreditation provides customers with the peace of mind that the organisation they are patronising has gone above and beyond to guarantee that they are truly inclusive.

“Although we are making cultural advancements, our legal system is regressing. It is important to ensure that your policies are inclusive and that your staff receive proper diversity training to assist with this,” said Rodney Otieno, the co-founder of the Queer & Allied Chamber of Commerce Africa (QACC Africa). He added that the past decade has seen progress towards diversity in Africa. However, Uganda’s recent decision to criminalise LGBTQ+ individuals is a step backwards. He continued that for those African countries that have inclusive policies this is an opportunity to promote their country as a safe and comfortable place for LGBTQ+ travellers.

“Having a voice or an opportunity to collaborate can be a challenge for queer Black women. They may not have a large online presence but make significant contributions to their communities,” said Mandima Qunta, a social entrepreneur.

“Pronouns matter because they are a form of welcome. When someone asks my pronoun it feels like they are trying to get to know me, and it is showing some form of respect. The language that we use can be an important part of making a traveller feel safe in a space,” said Qunta. She also highlighted that a very positive starting point for those addressing transformation is to introduce gender neutral bathrooms. “It is the small changes that we make that can have the biggest impact,” Qunta said.