Straight Friendly
Now…this is nice…this is really cool…if it’s real…
Straight-friendly destinations – the new trend in gay travel
Travel experts at the Gay & Lesbian Travel Pavilion at the world’s largest tourism fair have said the a new niche market for heterosexuals has emerged.
"Apart from gay and lesbian cruises, we have noticed a clear rise in hotels and resorts that are not only gay-friendly but targeted mainly towards gay men.
"Straight people are, in most cases, allowed to stay, too. The magic word is straight-friendly," said Robert Kastl, Managing Director of Publicom GmbH, the organisers of the Pavilion.
ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism fair, is being held in Berlin from March 5th to 9th.
He claims that destinations that have already established a gay-friendly image are increasingly putting their bets on explicitly gay and lesbian events, which are open to heterosexuals too.
"The range of special travel products has increased and even within the gay and lesbian travel market we are noticing more and more diverse sub-niches," says Kastl.
The reason I prefer to go to gay friendly places while on vacation is because it’s nice to be able to actually relax and let my hair down and enjoy myself and not have to worry that some asswipe is going to bash my skull in to prove how manly he is and/or much he loves god. But what I would really like is to be able to enjoy a mixed and diverse crowd of folks who all get along and just want to have a good time wherever we all happen to be.
You have to figure that a heterosexual who goes to a gay friendly resort goes knowing that they’re going to be in the company of gay people and will likely find themselves witnessing PDAs between same sex couples, if not being the recipient of a cruising glance or two themselves. If they’re the sort that doesn’t faze then far as I’m concerned I’d love to share a vacation space with them. Be really nice to, at least for a few brief vacation days, imagine you’re living in a world where being gay (and for that matter, the color of your skin, or the country you’re from or the specifics of your religion) is no more an issue then the color of your eyes or your hair. It’s hard to believe in that world if everyone around you is the same…even if that sameness is something you need to make you more comfortable. Especially if, actually.
February 28th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Sad to say, the simple reason "Straight Friendly" works is that (as in the gay cruises my partner and I have enjoyed), gays are the majority – meaning "We’re in charge, but if you enjoy our company and the way we do things, you’re welcome to share our experience. But oh, BTW, remember that you’re on our turf, so don’t try to change or criticise it – take it or leave it".
Altruism aside, just as in some straight venues where the other 90% are in charge, it’s not so much that our gay community is suddenly tolerant of straight people, only that like straight businessmen, gay entrepreneurs appreciate money of all sexual orientations.
March 14th, 2008 at 3:56 am
I’m glad to know that there are "straight friendly" destinations now. Because one of these days when I have enough money to take a cruise or visit a resort, I’d much rather be around gay people than straights. It’s like FUN vs. BORING! Plus the gay boys are very easy on the eyes. :-)