Spain Remains Top Destination for LGBT Travelers

The diverse continent of Europe draws travelers from all over the world to its laidback beaches, bumping nightclubs and eclectic cities. In particular, Spain has historically been a hot spot for LGBT travelers thanks to its warm climate and endearing hospitality. As towns like Sitges and islands like Ibiza continue to grow in popularity, the gay community has continued to thrive in these relaxing and invigorating locales.

Tourism in Spain has grown tremendously in the past few years, with a numeric visitor increase of 12 percent. Visitors from the LGBT community, however, have grown by more than 28 percent according to numbers produced by various LGBT tourism resources (i.e., hotels, nightclubs, travel agents).

Gay tourists from Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States flock to Spain to spend their disposable income in an incredibly affordable country where luxury is more accessible than in other countries. Thanks to these rising numbers in visitors, Spain’s struggling economy receives nearly €9 billion per year from this particular subset of travelers.

The most popular destination in Spain for LGBT travelers is the seaside town of Sitges. Approximately 30 minutes by train from Barcelona, the quiet, historic town welcomes the gay community with open arms and delivers a colorful and vibrant parade during Gay Pride week each year.