Anti-LGBTIQ+ laws a threat to African tourism
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GUEST – Michael Gladwin - president of AfriGay and EqualAfrica
Africa could lose significant tourist revenue if the LGBTIQ+ community stops travelling to the continent for fear of their safety. This was evident from a report launched last week at the Africa Travel Market expo in Cape Town. Of the 64 countries in the world that criminalise homosexuality, almost half are in Africa. According to the Africa Travel Week Trend Report for 2023, travellers who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer had more than R3.8 trillion in spending power, specifically with regard to travel, before the Covid-19 pandemic. However, discriminatory legislation and perceptions of LGBTIQ+ people in Africa are making them think twice before visiting certain countries on the continent, as they fear being arrested or assaulted.
Africa could lose significant tourist revenue if the LGBTIQ+ community stops travelling to the continent for fear of their safety. This was evident from a report launched last week at the Africa Travel Market expo in Cape Town. Of the 64 countries in the world that criminalise homosexuality, almost half are in Africa. According to the Africa Travel Week Trend Report for 2023, travellers who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer had more than R3.8 trillion in spending power, specifically with regard to travel, before the Covid-19 pandemic. However, discriminatory legislation and perceptions of LGBTIQ+ people in Africa are making them think twice before visiting certain countries on the continent, as they fear being arrested or assaulted.
