LGBT travelers love Mexico. They have a well-defined way of traveling and a significant economic impact.
According to Mexico’s National LGBT Tourism Association (CANCOTUR), about 5.6% of Mexico’s tourism gross domestic product (GDP) comes from this segment, since an estimated 8.5 million people in the country belong to the LGBT community.
For CANCOTUR’s president, Mariano Osores, LGBT travelers are purchase decision-makers and spend more money than other travelers on a destination’s attractions. “We are talking about stays averaging three nights and four days, with spending of about 1,500 dollars, that is, 50% more than the traditional [Mexican] tourist,” Osores said.
“What the LGBT tourism segment looks for is a legal safety net, which in Mexico comes from the Federal Anti-Discrimination Law. That is why it is a gay-friendly destination,” he added.
Among LGBT travelers, only 3% of men and 13% of women have children, while 14% of men and 24% of women are legally married. Without children, travel frequency and spending at the destination go up.
Short trips, weekend getaways and business trips are twice as frequent in this segment as in conventional tourism.
Visitors from North America and Latin America focus more on fun and nightlife (bars, clubs, shows and restaurants). European travelers focus more on cultural visits and colonial cities. In both cases they travel 3 to 5 times a year.
“Up to 7.8 billion dollars could be generated in sales of consumer goods and services for this tourism market,” Osores concluded.
In Mexico City
According to Carlos Mackinlay, then Mexico City’s Secretary of Tourism, between 7% and 10% of all tourists who visit the city belong to the LGBT segment; 80% of them are domestic and the remaining 20% are international.
He noted that men look more for entertainment, fun and shopping, while women prefer culture and adventure, meaning they venture beyond the area where they are staying.
“Mexico City has the largest number of hotels, clubs, bars, cultural centers, sports centers and events aimed at the LGBT sector in the country,” Mackinlay said.
Around the world
- LGBT tourism across Latin America represents a potential market of 42 million consumers, who spend 65 billion dollars a year.
- It accounts for 9% of international travelers.
- The segment grows 10.4% a year, more than twice the rate of conventional tourism (4.7%).
Originally published in Spanish in June 2020: Viajero LGBT en México y su valor para los destinos. Figures and titles are as of that date.
