“Tips for serving LGBTQIA+ tourists well” is available online and has a more accessible format for reading
The initiative is part of Responsible Tourism actions to comply with the General Tourism Law (Law 11,771, of 2008) which aims to democratize access to tourism. With the review of content, the publications provide guidance to help professionals in the sector on offering safer and more pleasurable tourist experiences to travelers, as well as practical tips to better serve each audience.
The Minister of Tourism, Daniela Carneiro, states that this update is part of the strategy for the government’s first 100 days, with prioritization of inclusion and accessibility. “Our actions aimed to ensure that tourism, in fact, is for everyone. We are happy to launch two more guides that seek to guide professionals in the sector on how to properly serve elderly people and the LGBTQIA public.”
The Ministry of Tourism explains that the guide “Tips to serve LGBTQIA tourists well” provides updated content on legality and basic concepts of gender identity, biological sex and sexual orientation. The booklet also warns that, in Brazil, discrimination against LGBT people is a crime and can be equated to crimes of racism, according to the decision of the plenary session of the Federal Supreme Court.
One tip from the guide is to treat the person according to the gender they identify with and not the sex they were born with. The material also teaches that trans and homosexuality are not diseases; that respect and politeness are the basis of any relationship and that expressions, slang and jokes that may sound pejorative should be avoided.
According to the World Tourism Organization, the LGBT community accounts for 10% of total trips made every year and is responsible for 15% of the income generated by the sector.
A survey carried out in 2017 by Out Leadership, an international association of companies focused on the gay public, shows that the purchasing potential of the LGBTQ public in Brazil is R$419 million per year. And worldwide, the segment is responsible for US$ 3 trillion per year. It’s called pink money, an expression to refer to the purchasing power of the LGBT public.
Source: Maxima
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