LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) is a community that annually represents 16 million euros worldwide. Taking this into account, the Regional Government is taking steps to attract ‘gay friendly’ tourism to Madeira.
The signing of a protocol with the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), an association that has more than 4,000 tourism business contacts in more than 75 countries, is one such measure. The objective, explained by the executive vice president, Pedro Calado, to the JM, is “to give greater visibility and notoriety of the Region”.
The action is in line with the intention of the Regional Government to “capture new tourism markets for Madeira and Porto Santo,” said the official.
The vice president highlighted the notoriety of IGLTA, which represents several hotels, travel agents, tour operators and is followed by the press that focuses on this community, as a great potential of this protocol, which will be mediated by Invest Madeira.
According to statistics released last year, Pedro Calado estimates that the LGBT segment represents more than 10% of the volume of tourists and moves more than 16 million euros worldwide. “This is an emerging market, which has grown a lot in recent years and which Madeira could not be indifferent,” he said.
Creation of LGBTI community center
But the news does not stop here. The Regional Government wants to see an LGBTI community center on the island of Madeira, to operate 24 hours a day and to contemplate varied valences. In order to fulfill this objective, the Executive will celebrate another protocol with two associations, which have about 900 members in Portugal: Opus Gay and Ex-Aequo.
The promotion of dissemination actions, debates and educational training are tasks foreseen in this agreement and that aim to foster a culture of tolerance regarding the sexual orientation of each one.
Portugal to host EuroPride 2022
The Executive Director of the institution ‘Variações – ACT-LGBT’ will visit the Region, regarding the mentioned protocols that will be signed in the Vice-Presidency of the Regional Government.
The entity is making the candidacy of Portugal to EuroPride 2022, an event that usually attracts between 500 thousand and one million people worldwide to the host country.
Porto and Lisbon, two Portuguese cities that offer trade and tourism dedicated to the LGBT community, are included in this application and Madeira may be considered, says the Regional Government.
The EuroPride is organized by the European Gay Pride Association and this year will take place in the Austrian capital Vienna in June.
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