Top Destinations for LGBT Travel: Move Over New York and Berlin

Move over New York, London and Berlin, there are some new, and slightly unexpected, rising stars on the LGBT travel scene.

A recently released list of 2016's emerging LGBT destinations, from Gogobot, reveals that many traditionally second-tier cities are becoming increasingly popular.

Taking the top spot on this year's list is Atlanta, followed by Minneapolis, Boston and Austin. Also among the top ranked cities are Dallas, Washington D.C., Hong Kong, Toronto and Dubai (more on that later). Tampa, Fla. rounds out the 2016 LGBT Rising Stars list, which is developed based on data from Gogobot's more than 10 million travelers.

"I've gone to all of these cities," says Harold Smith-Franzen, an LGBT tribe member on Gogobot. "As I look at this list, there is definitely a contrast with previous years. What you see here now is a lot of second-tier cities, which is different...People have really started to embrace local, versus needing to go to a foreign destination all the time."

Some of the rising stars on the list may also be attributed to the fact that cities are increasingly marketing specifically to the LGBT community, letting them know that they are welcomed and wanted.  All of which stands in stark contrast to the recent news from North Carolina, which passed a Republican-backed law curtailing protections for LGBT people and limiting public bathroom access for transgender individuals.

Cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, and Minneapolis are just a few examples of destinations engaged in campaigns designed to attract LGBT travelers, says Tanya Churchmuch, past chair of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association.

"What we've seen over the years, especially with tier two cities, is that they are recognizing the value of the LGBT tourist dollar, so they are becoming more active with their marketing," says Churchmuch. "Austin is for sure growing right now with its attractions for LGBT travelers. But Dallas and Houston for years have worked to show themselves to the LGBT community, even when people wouldn't consider Texas a state that is super LGBT welcoming."

It's also important to note that while Dubai managed to earn the number nine slot on the list, Gogobot subsequently removed the city, pointing to concerns about homosexuality being illegal there.

Krista Canfield, Gogobot's Getaway Expert, said Gogobot was surprised to see data showing an increase in LGBT travel to the Middle East destination.

"LGBT travelers, like many travelers, clearly want to see and experience the world in places where traditions and cultures are different from their own," said Canfield. "As a company, we can't in good conscience recommend Dubai as a great destination for LGBT travelers, since the punishment for homosexuality in Dubai can include prison, fines, deportation and even the death penalty."

In spite of those sorts of punishments, Smith-Franzen chose Dubai, over all other destinations in the world, as the location for his honeymoon.

Puzzling as that may seem, the 44-year-old New York City resident described the trip as one of his most outstanding travel experiences to date.

"I was nervous before I went, especially being on a honeymoon," he says. "But as long as you're not overt, whether you're hetero or homo, it's fine. We were accepted at hotels, we shared a bed, we behaved as we normally would."

Yes, but the question remains, why Dubai, right?

As Smith-Franzen explains, it's a destination that has a great deal to offer, no matter who you are.

There's indulgent, one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, fine dining, the desert and the opportunity to go glamping, as well as the chance to experience traditional Middle Eastern culture.

¿

"I think it's an interesting city. People write it off as a faux Las Vegas experience, but it has surged in popularity among my friends," continues Smith-Franzen, who travels internationally once or twice each month and has visited 117 countries. "Even though you don't have LGBT bars and specific nightlife venues, you do have LGBT-friendly parties and gatherings behind the scenes."

But he also offers another layer of explanation, one far less expected, and  exposing a fascinating dichotomy.

Those in the gay community have historically felt like outsiders or perhaps unwanted, even in the United States, Smith-Franzen points out. And in the current political climate, Muslims often experience the same sorts of feelings. Visiting destinations like Dubai, provide an opportunity to learn about another community that has experienced similar rejection or hostility.

"In some senses, there's this interest in exploring and engaging this other group that is also viewed as outsiders," he says.

On the other end of the spectrum is Toronto, Canada - a city increasingly regarded by many as a global leader in LGBT issues.

Toronto hosted WorldPride in 2014, and has some of the most advanced LGBT rights in the Americas and the world. In 2005, Canada became the first country outside of Europe and the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.

All of that translates into a vacation or travel experience that allows members of the LGBT community to be themselves freely.

"Toronto is Canada's downtown and Canada is well-known for its inclusiveness and progressiveness and nowhere is that more true then Toronto," says Andrew Weir, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Tourism Toronto. "Gay and trans travelers can move throughout Toronto and enjoy all of the things everyone else does."

Further driving home that point, Weir explains that when Toronto markets itself to the LGBT community, it promotes all that the city has to offer, not just gay neighborhoods or gay events.

Because Toronto is such an inclusive place, the gay community is not limited to one community or one area, Weir says.

It's commentary that touches upon a very important point when it comes to another emerging LGBT travel trend.

Smith-Franzen says he's noticed a shift in behavior among LGBT travelers when they're visiting a particular destination. No longer is it about merely confining a visit or vacation to the traditionally gay bars, neighborhoods and events.

Instead, LGBT travelers are feeling more and more free to enjoy a destination in much the same way any other traveler would.

"As we become more accepted, going to LGBT bars is not as essential," he says. "It's no longer so LGBT-specific. People blend; we go to the same restaurants as everyone else. And I think that's a global trend."

In addition to its rising stars rankings, Gogobot also recently issued its 2016 list of Declining LGBT Destinations Worth a Second Look. The cities showing up on this list included many of the usually popular LGBT destinations - Amsterdam, Berlin, Bangkok and Barcelona, to name a few.

Although these cities may be viewed as declining in popularity by some, Brandon Schultz, a Brooklyn-based freelance travel and lifestyle writer who specializes in LGBT travel and contributes to Out magazine, says both Berlin and Bangkok remain great destinations that have not lost any of their luster.

"For LGBT heritage, a pilgrimage to Berlin is a must," says Schultz. "The Schöneberg neighborhood is credited as the world's first gayborhood, and Berlin also opened the world's first gay museum -- Schwules Museum -- and first gay magazine, all the way back in the 19th century. It's still a force in the LGBT realm, recently opening a shelter for LGBT refugees mistreated in mainstream centers."

Having just returned from a trip to Thailand earlier this month, one sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, specifically for LGBT media to experience the inclusivity of the nation firsthand, Schultz had equal praise for this destination.

He described Thailand as Southeast Asia's most gay-friendly nation and Bangkok as the hub of the LGBT action there.

The Silom neighborhood in particular is overflowing with bars, clubs, massage parlors, saunas, and live shows of every imaginable LGBT persuasion.

"While Thailand may not have the most desirable legal protections for its LGBT citizens -- marriage equality is not yet granted here, though Thailand did make news this week for granting child custody to a gay father, showing signs of legal progress -- the nation has always been accepting of LGBT people culturally," Schultz said. "More than accepting, really: enthusiastically embracing."

As for the developments in North Carolina, with so many other options available to LGBT travelers, the state may simply be left behind, concludes Schultz.

"I think you'll find a lot of LGBT tourists unwilling to travel there now. The community has become aware of how powerful its dollar is, and they're suddenly very conscious of how supportive a destination is, both culturally and legally," he adds. "They're making travel plans accordingly - they want to be comfortable on vacation, and they don't want to support discrimination financially," he says. "Why spend money on a location that doesn't embrace you when there are so many other attractive options clamoring for LGBT tourists and going out of their way to welcome them?"