Portugal invests in LGBTI tourism with support of 200 thousand euros for gay events

Turismo de Portugal is investing in the LGBTI tourism niche and supporting, with public money, tourism promotion initiatives aimed at this community.

In this context, Turismo de Portugal agreed with Variações – Associação de Comércio e Turismo LGBTI a support of almost R$200 thousand (199,975 euros) for the development of the campaign “Proudly Portugal” to promote our country as an “LGBTI-Friendly” destination (that is, friendly to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Intersex people).

The information is revealed by the magazine, which notes that “a source knowledgeable about the process and even associates contest the way in which the allocated funds have been spentapparently contrary to the signed contract.

Lisbon will host European gay event in 2025

The “” campaign comes before the EuroPride 2025a European gay event that will take place, for the first time, in Lisbon next year.

The objective of support from Turismo de Portugal is attract more LGBTI travelers to our country, offering the “warmth” of the “sun” and the “welcoming embrace of our people” as business cards.

“In Portugal, we feel proud to share the colorful scenery of our country while reference LGBTI destination“, it is also highlighted on the website.

“We want feel proud to be who you arethat you feel at ease, that you explore the diversity and romance in our country”, he adds.

Founded in 2018, it brings together “more than 60 companies and entrepreneurs” and aims to support “the economic empowerment of the LGBTI community in Portugal”. But it also wants to establish our country “as one of the main destinations to live, travel and invest”, it is also noted on the association’s website.

LGBTI tourism is worth 64 billion euros

Data from the (UNWTO) indicate that LGBTI tourists represent around 10% of world tourists.

One carried out by a Dutch state agency – the Center for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries – concluded that LGBTI tourism has a lot of potential, with a market value in Europe estimated at 64 billion euros and one annual growth of 1.4%.

LGBTI people continue to be targets of great discrimination in different countries around the world and Portugal thus seeks to attract them to our territory, asserting itself as one and welcoming.

The platform placed Portugal, in June 2024, at 10 of the safest travel destinations for LGBTI touristsalong with Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

The most unsafe countries for LGBTI people are Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Chechnya, Yemen and Iran, according to the platform.