Categories: Stories

Gay tourism to generate US$200 billion this year

It’s illegal in Zimbabwe but it’s big business. The gay community is expected to spend more than US$200 billion on tourism this year according to FDI Intelligence and the world’s leading hotels are clamouring to lure them.

FDI Intelligence says in 2012, Hilton Hotels and Resorts started targeting gays with its advertising tagline ‘Stay Hilton. Go out‘. Its close rival, Marriott International, responded with its ‘Be you with us‘ campaign, topped with ‘Pride and joy’ and ‘Out and about’ packages. Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the owner of W Hotels and Sheraton, began offering ‘Pride packages’.

It says global spend by gays is set to exceed US$200bn this year with the United States the largest market (US$56.5bn) followed by Brazil (US$25.3bn).

But Zimbabwe can rejoice in the fact that gay tourism seems to be flourishing only in the Western countries and Latin America and not at all in Africa, though homosexuality is legal in some African countries.

(26 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Will Mnangagwa go against the trend in the region?

Plans by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to…

October 22, 2024

The Zimbabwe government and not saboteurs sabotaging ZiG

The Zimbabwe government’s insatiable demand for money to satisfy its own needs, which has exceeded…

October 20, 2024

The Zimbabwe Gold will regain its value if the government does this…

Economist Eddie Cross says the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) will regain its value if the government…

October 16, 2024

Is Harare the least democratic province in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, which is a metropolitan province, is the least democratic province in the…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabweans against extension of presidential term in office

Nearly 80% of Zimbabweans are against the extension of the president’s term in office, according…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabwe government biggest loser when there is a discrepancy in the exchange rate

The government is the biggest loser when there is a discrepancy between the official exchange…

October 10, 2024