Virgin Atlantic finds LGBT+ discrimination prices Caribbean tourism US$700m a yr | Information

Virgin Atlantic has partnered with Open for Business to conduct new research on the economic costs of discrimination against LGBT + in 12 English-speaking Caribbean countries.

The Economic Case for LGBT + Inclusion in the Caribbean includes data from the largest survey to date of Caribbean LGBT + people (currently living in the region plus diaspora) as well as potential Caribbean tourists.

This also includes interviews with business leaders and employees of Caribbean companies.

Research shows that the challenges that LGBT + people in the Caribbean face on a daily basis are great: Government-sponsored homophobia and transphobia are widespread, as is significant social stigma.

For example, nine of the twelve countries still criminalize same-sex intimacy, while for transsexuals, none of the twelve countries allow gender change or gender marking on state identifications.

The evidence shows that tourism, the key industry in the Caribbean, is being affected by the perceived anti-LGBT + environment in the area.

Survey data from potential LGBT + and heterosexual tourists shows that the main reason for not visiting a country in the region is the negative image they have of the treatment of LGBT + people.

Similarly, 60 percent of LGBT + and straight people would visit a country (Barbados), but only after the government passed a law allowing same-sex partnerships.

This is associated with considerable financial costs for the region.

The study estimates that $ 689 million of potential tourism revenue is lost each year due to persistent beliefs about treating LGBT + people in the area.

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic. said, “We are proud to partner with Open for Business on this incredibly powerful research.

“The Caribbean is – understandably – one of the biggest vacation destinations we fly to and one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world.

“But unfortunately it is also one of the least integrative.

“Tourism plays an important role in the economies of many Caribbean countries, which are particularly hard hit by the global slowdown in travel caused by Covid-19.

“To support the region’s economic recovery going forward, it is vital for travel destinations to attract the widest possible population of travelers, including those who identify as LGBTQ + and community allies.

“At Virgin Atlantic, we want every single person who travels with us to feel like they are themselves on vacation, and we will continue to use the power of our brand to drive change around the world.”

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