How safe do LGBTQ+ people feel when travelling? Where is social acceptance most noticeable? For the first time, together with Diversity Tourism and A3M Global Monitoring, ITB Berlin has conducted a survey among queer travellers. While Canada and Spain are consistently perceived as safe, social acceptance in Germany remains rather cautious, despite equal legal rights. The USA on the other hand reflects a deep divide – where regional differences are evident. A3M has now published its latest LGBTQ+ Risk Map 2025 documenting developments worldwide.
ITB Berlin, the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show, has long set standards when it comes to highlighting and documenting diversity in tourism. As a trailblazer in this field, together with Diversity Tourism, consultants for LGBTQ+ tourism and diversity marketing, and the security analysts A3M Global Monitoring, it was first to undertake a comprehensive survey of queer travellers’ experiences. The survey, titled Perceptions and Experiences of LGBTQ+ Travellers, was conducted between December 2024 and April 2025. Its findings will also be incorporated into topics at the upcoming ITB Berlin from 3 to 5 March 2026.
The survey specifically targeted queer travellers from the ITB and LGBTQ+ community (via newsletter, social media, the website and the LGBTQ+ travel portal Tomontour.de) and contained 16 questions – about subjective perceptions of social acceptance, equal legal rights, safety in dealing with authorities, experiences with the police, healthcare systems and use of social networks. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with LGBTQ+ tourism experts and frequent travellers. The aim was not only to look at the overall legal situation, but above all to capture individual perceptions of safety and the actual experiences of queer people on their regular travels – reflecting a broader scope and offering more detail.
The survey for the first time offers a deeper insight into the personal experiences of queer travellers worldwide – an important step towards putting objective safety ratings into the context of personal perspectives. Irrespective of not being statistically representative it provides a robust qualitative basis. We take the findings very seriously and will incorporate them into further developing our LGBTQ+ segment at ITB Berlin. We are fully committed to promoting LGBTQ+ travel not just during the trade show but 365 days a year. Ramona Zaun, LGBTQ+ commissioner at ITB Berlin
Initial findings: Strong signals – but not without challenges
Canada and Spain top the list of countries perceived as safe for travel. In both countries, 100 % of respondents confirm that LGBTQ+ people are treated with respect. Showing affection in public is also considered unproblematic in Spain (90 %) and Canada (71 %). The majority experience the police as supportive in both countries.
In contrast, the verdict on the USA is mixed: only around one-third agree that queer couples can openly show affection and that the police are LGBTQ+ friendly. What is particularly striking is the widely divergent ratings – an indication of significant regional differences between progressive cities and more conservative regions.
The views on Germany are ambivalent. Despite progressive legislation, social acceptance is seen as half-hearted. Only around half of respondents feel at ease as LGBTQ+ people in public or say they are treated equally by the authorities.
One key finding is that not all groups within the LGBTQ+ community feel equally safe. In almost all countries, differences were noted between gay men and transgender or intersex people – the latter group experiencing discrimination much more often.
Note: the overall feedback (123) for the survey was high. However, in the case of 18 of the 36 countries examined only one rating was given. To provide a minimum valid basis for subjective views only countries with at least four ratings were assessed.
A closer look at the findings
The one-hour expert interviews confirmed many of the survey’s findings and provided further context:
- In South America, for example in Brazil, Chile and Peru, queer travellers generally experience a high level of tolerance in tourist regions – despite some restrictive legislation.
- In China and Dubai too the authorities are often pragmatic as long as queer travellers behave “discreetly“.
- Transgender and intersex people face particular challenges worldwide, for example unrecognised gender entries in passports or untrained staff at security checks
- Obstacles are mounting particularly in the USA, where recognition of non-binary identities has been reversed.
- In Spain on the other hand social acceptance is described as being firmly established – cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and areas on the Mediterranean as well as the Canary Islands are considered particularly LGBTQ+ friendly.
- One interesting observation is that younger queer travellers from Western societies react more sensitively to restrictions on public behaviour, whereas members of the older generation, having grown up with discrimination, are more willing to adapt on their travels.
Right now the safety situation for queer travellers is changing rapidly in some parts – not just in legal terms but in society as well. Many LGBTQ+ people now live more confidently and openly – and with that there is a growing need for safety guidance. Legal frameworks on their own are frequently not enough. What matters is how safe people actually feel at a destination. That is precisely where our joint survey comes in. Thomas Bömkes, managing director of Diversity Tourism und LGBTQ+, and tourism adviser to ITB Berlin
The survey is to be conducted annually in future in order to systematically track developments.
Positive developments in 2024/2025
- Dominica: Decriminalisation of homosexual acts by the Supreme Court (April 2024).
- Namibia: The High Court declared the criminalisation of same-sex acts unconstitutional and repealed the relevant laws. (June 2024).
- Germany: Since November 2024 the new Self-Determination Act has strengthened the rights of transgender, intersex and non-binary people.
- Thailand: Legalisation of same-sex marriages in January 2025.
Setbacks in human rights
- Iraq: Introduction of harsh criminal laws against homosexuality in April 2024.
- Mali: New laws criminalising same-sex relationships in December 2024.
- Trinidad and Tobago: Repeal of an earlier liberal ruling in March 2025 – homosexuality is now a criminal offence again.
- Georgia: Wide-ranging anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced in September 2024.
Outlook: A network for queer travellers’ safety
A3M plans to set up an international network for LGBTQ+ travellers’ safety which will collect and provide access to experiences, data and recommendations – to ensure better visibility, safety, and respect worldwide.
Safety is more than a right – it is about perceptions and experiences
is the survey author’s conclusion. Only by collecting detailed information and collaborating at global level can queer travel be made truly safe and inclusive in the long term.
