New Gay & Lesbian Travel Program Launched

“As the first wholesaler to introduce a comprehensive product targeting this niche market,” said Robert Veeder, National Sales Director of LifeJourneys, “we are excited to make this portfolio available through our extensive industry network.”

Happy Vacations has introduced LifeJourneys Vacations, a premier LGBT (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender) travel program.

LifeJourneys Vacations is a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), the world’s leading travel trade association, committed to growing and enhancing its member’s gay and lesbian tourism business through education, promotion and networking.

A new, 20-page, four-color brochure and website has been produced for travel agents, incorporating select packages, resorts, Windstar Cruises as well as recommended and exclusive LifeJourneys Vacations events.

Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti are among the destinations featured. For details and brochures, travel agents may visit: www.lifejourneysvacations.com.

Cuba Isn’t Gay Mecca Yet, But Change is Afoot

Cuba is trying to attract gay tourists, the blog Lez Get Real said in an article posted yesterday.

The Cuban tourism folks seemed have also figured out that gays and lesbians love to travel… Active promotions for Gay Cuban travels in both Canada and Britain are currently underway and I am sure that Cuba’s new LGBT rights measures are aimed at least in part with an eye at attracting even gayer Euros and Canadian Dollars to that country.

To be sure, Cuba is not a gay Mecca yet, but the attitudes of people inside and out of this country’s government are undergoing a dramatic change when it comes to gays and lesbians.

It’s true gay rights have gotten more attention in Cuba since Raul Castro became president. His daughter, Mariela, heads Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education in Vedado.

Read the rest at alongthemalecon.blogspot.com.

Top and Bottom - Most & Least Improved Places

The Independent recently ran a post listing the top 5 most improved places for the GLBT community, and the top 5 worst. May not be a huge surprise, but informative nevertheless. However, this is a great reminder of how important it is to check ahead before making travel or vacation plans. Let’s not forget about the lesbian couple who were sent to jail in Dubai for kissing on the beach.

First, the 5 most improved;

Delhi

The Indian capital has a flourishing scene and this year celebrated its first gay pride march. Homosexuality remains illegal under a British law from 1860, but this now faces a constitutional challenge in the High Court.

Shanghai

Homosexuality is legal in China and a fast growing scene exists in its most Westernized city.

Tel Aviv

Israel is the only Middle-Eastern country to support gay rights legislation, and the country attracts gay people from Palestine and Lebanon. Tel Aviv has a growing scene and is tolerant and gay-friendly for both men and women.

Cape Town

Homosexuality was legalized in South Africa in 1994 and in 2006 it became the first African country to legalize gay marriage. Cape Town is proud of its expanding gay scene.

Havana

It is nearly 50 years since Castro declared homosexuality “a bourgeois perversion” and all laws against it have now been overturned. Cuba is a popular destination for gay men and women and there is a busy scene.

And now, the 5 worst;

Saudi Arabia

Homosexuality is punished with the death penalty or, occasionally, a severe whipping.

Iran

In 2007 President Ahmadinejad declared that homosexuality did not exist in his country. Should the need arise, however, there is a law against it carrying a punishment of anything from jail to public lashing to death.

Jamaica

The worst place in all the Americas to be gay. Male homosexuality is against the law and the punishment is 10 years hard labor.

Afghanistan

The death penalty introduced under the Taliban is no longer officially enforced, but it depends who catches you.

Nigeria

Homosexuality is illegal and punishment can be anything from four years to the death penalty. Even writing or talking about support for gay people can land you in prison.

Also, remember when making those travel plans, check with pinkchoice.com. A site that provides new for gay travelers looking for the best in gay accommodations, with reviews written by people like you for you.

Peru: New Gay Tourism Power in Latin America?

Submitted by Antonio Capurro
Journalist
capurroantonio@hotmail.com

*See the Spanish Version at the end of article!  *Vea la versión española en el extremo de este artículo!

Up to this time, I have seen with pleasure how TV and the serious Peruvian press take interest in subjects related to gay issues, but not in a controversial form if not as a normal thing. In Peru, my country is very common when you are walking by the streets and stop close to a gazebo take a look in the headlines and to find a front page full of scandals mainly when you watch yellow press but luckily we have good press too.  I do not buy gossip press, except for when I had to make my practices of journalism and need to analyze them according to my teachers. I like to check out the digital edition of Peruvian newspaper not only to gain time if not to save money in times when you need to do that, smart thing huh? In addition, you can accumulate less paper at home, but sometimes I am a very old fashionable man and I do enjoy buying my newspaper. A friend used to tell me “hey buddy you are papeluchero*, don’t you? Well, “I am” I said.  I am a good journalist and I can use print newspapers to keep them order in files and use when I need to write about something.

Today I opened the 30th of August El Comercio (one of the main Peruvian newspapers) and I found with interesting in section B (Economy and Business) a very attractive articles titled Tourism specialized in segment gay grows 30% every year in Peru, what a pleasing surprise. I have seen how much El Comercio and Peru 21 approaches to the gay subject with responsibility and seriousness projecting very open mind to the future. But for sure Luis Felipe Gamarra, the author of the reviewed article lines above, need a little update in some details because no longer and Ayllu Bed Breakfast and Domeyer Hostel exists, but I value his opinion and I agree when he affirms that our country could be a power in tourism gay taking advantage over countries like Argentina or Brazil. Why are they a few steps in front of us? Very simple because their governments are less prejudiced, they have anti discrimination law, they have regulated civil unions and they see the tourist gay like a potential client who can spend thousand of dollars in a day and that mean currencies for the countries.

There is more, in Brazil the Association of Agencies of Tourism projecting gains decided to promote the Brazilian Gay Pride that only the past year meets 3, 5 million people. So they decided create a special gay package. Nevertheless in Peru the office managed for Minister of International Commerce and Tourism Mercedes Aráoz, don’t have official numbers. What? How this can be possible if the tourist segment gay displays a tendency of 30% of annual growth as indicates the article of El Comercio. Hello? Go to make business minister! I ask why don’t make mother country with gay tourism also? We have more to show to the world that Brazil, Colombia and Argentina together. Were not we chosen one of The New Seven Modern Wonders? Take note, a 80% percent of gays, according to Peru Rainbow Tours (tourist division for the segment gay of Domiruth Travel Services operator) and Gay Peru Travel, come to Peru to see Macchu Picchu and they want to feel its magic. Google PERU GAY?

Gay foreigners want to amuse our beautiful sights, to enjoy their honeymoon in exotic places, to eat our rich gastronomy, to discover our ancient history, culture and besides to meet handsome boys in our gay discos. In fact when they arrive to Jorge Chávez Airport, they know about Miraflores, the gayest friendly district located in Lima, capital of Perú. Now they can find hotels with a nice atmosphere adapted to their sexual preference because sixteen got their membership to ILGA (International Association Gay and Lesbians Association). Tourist can choose by A1 hotels or gay friendly according to their budget, the unique difference is that when requesting a matrimony bedroom no one will feel embarrassed.

Our minister needs to reload batteries and hire a gay professional people because they know the market. There is not one in Alan Garcia´s government can take the risk and be ready to assume it? The tourist gay who come to Peru chooses a package of 15 days or a month, would not be great that can spend more time? To make that a reality we need to make an improvement. We have wealthy gay tourist spending till 800 dollars (huge, eh?) in one day hotel, according to Ylan Chrem, sales manager of Lima Tours in the United States. One thing is clear tourism gay could be a big business and make us the first and favorite gay Latin America destiny. We can be a leadership in this part of the Andean region when Asia and European community is trying to trade more with us and our potential benefits. I think that should be one of the main goals wanted in the government. Time to left behind old times and show a new face. The next time that a couple of American man comes to Perú by vacations I hope my dear country was a little gayer. Buddies, welcome to Perú and salud! Cheers!

Antonio Capurro
Journalist
capurroantonio@hotmail.com

De un tiempo a esta parte he visto con agrado que la tevé y la prensa peruana seria toman interés en asuntos relacionados con la temática gay, pero ya no de una forma controversial o polémica sino como si fuera parte de lo cotidiano. Lo normal es leer o ver notas relacionados, la mayoría de veces con algún tipo de escándalo por que cuando caminas por las calles, y aunque no lo quisieras, tus pupilas quedan fijas en la sarta de bochornosos titulares donde incluso se hace uso de un lenguaje que no se distingue por su corrección. Yo no los compro, salvo cuando tuve que hacer mis prácticas de periodismo y analizarlos.

Trato de actualizarme el día a día no solo con la edición digital de los principales diarios peruanos, de esa forma gano tiempo y ahorro dinero, además que hay menos papel acumulado en mi casa, pero soy de los que posee la vieja y sana costumbre de comprar un diario. Alguna vez un amigo de los tiempos de la universidad me dijo “eres papeluchero” y vaya que lo soy como buen comunicador que guarda archivos para usarlos cuando escribo. Así que hoy abrí El Comercio (uno de los diarios peruanos de mayor tiraje y más leídos a nivel nacional) del día sábado 30 de agosto, siento decir que no tuve tiempo de leer el diario el mismo día que lo compré, y el titular de la sección B (Economía y Negocios) rezaba Turismo especializado en segmento gay crece al 30 % cada año en el Perú, una grata sorpresa.

He visto la forma en que tanto El Comercio como Peru 21 abordan el tema gay, me parece que son periódicos que van en consonancia con los tiempos proyectándose al futuro, no solo porque lo gay haga noticia y deban de informarlo sino por el enfoque de vanguardia con el que analizan el tema. A Luis Felipe Gamarra, el autor del artículo reseñado líneas arriba, le faltó un poco de actualización en algunos detalles como que ya no existen los hoteles gay Ayllu Bed and Breakfast y Domeyer, aunque lo valioso de su opinión es que podríamos ser una potencia en turismo gay superando a países como Argentina o Brasil que en América Latina nos llevan de encuentro, ¿por qué? muy simple son menos prejuiciosos, tienen leyes anti discriminación, han reglamentado las uniones civiles y ven al turista gay como un cliente potencial que puede gastar miles de dólares en un día generando divisas para el país.

Es más, en Brasil la Asociación de Agencias de Turismo proyectando ganancias en sus arcas decidió promover el Día del Orgullo Gay Brasileño que el año pasado convocó a 3.5 millones de personas y lanzar su paquete especial dirigido a este perfil. Sin embargo en el Perú el ente encargado de promover el turismo, de lo que tanto se vanagloria la ministra Araoz, ni siquiera tiene cifras oficiales. What??? Si el segmento turístico gay presenta una tendencia del 30 % de crecimiento anual tal y como lo señala el artículo de El Comercio, ¿por qué no hacer patria con lo gay también? Tenemos más que Brasil, Colombia y Argentina juntos. ¿No fuimos acaso elegidos una de las siete nuevas maravillas modernas? El 80 % por ciento de gays, según cifras de Perú Rainbow Tours (división turística para el segmento gay del operador Domiruth Travel Services) y Gay Perú Travel, que llegan al Perú a hacer turismo viene por Macchu Picchu quieren ser parte de esa magia y exotismo del que se habla cuando tipean en Google PERU GAY.

Ellos quieren venir a divertirse, a pasar su luna de miel, a conocer de la gastronomía, de la historia, de la cultura y de paso a conocer chicos guapos en las discotecas de ambiente. Cuando arriban al Perú de hecho saben que el Miraflores pueden hallar un ambiente muy friendly así como hoteles que se adaptan a su preferencia como los que pertenecen a la ILGA (Asociación de viajes gay y lésbica) que registra dieciséis operadores turísticos. Allí el turista puede escoger por hoteles A1 o los gay friendly dependiendo de su presupuesto, la única diferencia es que cuando pidan una cama matrimonial ya sea en el Libertador o cualquier otro no habrá paltas ni roches porque todos entienden.

A ponerse las pilas ministra o quizá debería contratar gente profesional gay que si entiende del mercado, pero creo que en el gobierno de Alan no hay muchos que deseen abandonar el closet. Si en promedio el turista gay escoge un paquete de 15 días o un mes a lo mucho, sería fenomenal que pueda quedarse más tiempo ofreciéndole un espectro más grande por parte de los operadores turísticos. ¿Por qué el gay es un cliente potencial? Se dice que su poder adquisitivo es mayor porque no tienen hijos, gastan más en ropas exclusivas gastando un aproximado de hasta 800 dólares en un día tan solo en hotel y estadía, cifra de Ylan Chrem, representante de ventas de Lima Tours en Estados Unidos, que fue la pionera en el segmento cuando Eduardo Arrarte en los años setenta diseño el primer paquete turístico rosa, aunque en la actualidad al navegar en su web encontremos el link Turismo Gay and Lesbian todavía bajo construcción. Opps!!!

Lo cierto es que el turismo gay parece ser un negocio todavía por explotar aunque un negocio redondo que puede generar dividendos en potencia. Ver a este mercado como lo que es reconociendo que nos puede colocar en el primer destino gay a nivel latino debería ser uno de los objetivos y esa es una ambición que hasta el gobierno de turno quisiera.

La próxima vez que alguna pareja de gringos quiera tomarse un viajecito y relajarse no lo dudarán, porque habrá un Perú más gay. Welcome to my beautiful country buddies and Cheers!! Salud!!!

The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Gay Plain

According to rainbownetork.com;

Spain delivers “blistering temptation” from a thriving gay scene in Barcelona to the “open-minded and progressive” attitude of Granada.  And writer Darren Cooper says the Canaries should be on your list too, not least Gran Canaria with its famous Yumbo Centre and Maspalomas, home to Europe’s largest gay beach, The Dunes.

Looking for gay friendly places to travel, think about spain.  And when making your travel arrangements, always consult pinkchoice.com.

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