Gays Travel More Overseas

Gay and lesbian adults are more likely than heterosexual adults to say that they plan to spend their next vacations overseas according to a recent nationwide online survey of U.S. adults conducted by Harris Interactive® in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc.

Fourteen percent (14%) of gay and lesbian adults say that for their next vacation, they are planning to travel to an overseas destination, compared to seven percent of heterosexual adults. The study also revealed that gays and lesbians were more likely to plan personal travel to major cities in the United States, with 27 percent of those respondents choosing major cities for their next vacation compared with 21 percent of heterosexual adults.

These are several highlights of a nationwide online survey of 2,315 adults (ages 18 and over), of whom 678 are gay and lesbian adults. The survey was conducted online between Nov. 15 and 22, 2005, by Harris Interactive®, a worldwide market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) market.

The study also demonstrates the appeal that gay and lesbian cruises can have with this market. More than one in four heterosexual adults (27 percent) say they’ve taken a cruise on a mainstream cruise line such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, etc., compared to fewer than one in five gay and lesbian adults (18 percent). Yet 10 percent of gay/lesbian adults say they have taken a specialty cruise aimed specifically at gay/lesbian travelers.

“For several years, we have tracked the strong affinity of the gay/lesbian market for travel, particularly for popular destinations at home and overseas,” said Bob Witeck, CEO of Witeck Combs Communications. ”With fewer children, and somewhat higher discretionary income, lesbian and gay adults consistently index higher than their heterosexual counterparts,” added Witeck.

James Quilty, vice president, Travel and Tourism Research at Harris Interactive, states, "Travel suppliers and intermediaries have become increasingly aware of the importance in tailoring their products and services to meet the needs of gays and lesbians, a significant travel segment."