Cuba & Caribbean: Success of the LGBT tourism in spite of prejudice and obstacles

The LGBT tourism industry, makes its way around the world, also in the Caribbean, thanks to the defense of human rights in spite of old prejudice and obstacles.

The progress is backed by its huge global income, estimated from some sources in nearly US 70 billion annually. Although the gay behavior is no longer “politically incorrect” in a great part of the world, the combination of the need of many countries to show a kindly face to LGBT tourists and the opportunity to obtain more profit, generate sometimes ambiguous attitudes towards the sector. However, laws and social education can mitigate the problems without attacking or offend the principles of certain communities.

In some Caribbean states the local gays and lesbian face a severe discrimination, while are more doors opened to foreign gay tourists. The contradictions are often attributed to local religious beliefs and cultural issues unresolved.

Carol Hay, the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s director of marketing for the UK and Europe, said recently in a regional conference about the subject, that while homosexuality was still illegal in some countries, attitudes were gradually changing.

However admitted that the laws in some Caribbean islands “prevented tourist boards from actively promoting to the LGBT sector”, but insisted the problem no mean LGBT holidaymakers would not be welcomed.

Hay added the Caribbean should not look to segment its tourism offering to suit the LGBT market, but instead ensure its product “is inclusive for all, no matter what your sexuality, race or physical ability”.

Other experts believe that “the respect of differences” it is crucial in this topic. They reject the “preconceived ideas” about the LGBT population and   has Invited the Caribbean tourist capitals to “really come out the closet” annulling the laws against the LGBT population, if still have it , and include those people in their tourism programs without considering them “an exception”.

The most friendly destinations for Gay and Lesbian in the Caribbean are the tiny island of Saba, that was the first place in the Caribbean where same-sex couples could legally wed, St. Martin/St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, a mecca for LBGT travelers, Curacao, Aruba and the Mexican Caribbean.