The Mainstream Goes Gay: Travel Wholesalers Start Offering “Comprehensive” GLBT Programs
Even as lots of folks are cutting back on travel during these tougher economic times, there’s one group that has done so notably less: fags ’n’ dykes — for whatever reason, whether it’s because they’ve got more of the travel bug or just fewer family responsibilities. And increasingly, “mainstream” travel sellers are not only taking notice but jumping into the gay tourism market with downright gusto, finally graduating from token offerings to some real substance.
Just over a week ago, a venerable travel wholesaler called Happy Vacations became the first to roll out an elaborate, comprehensive line of trips n tours designed just for us – and they even put it front and center on their Web site home page, unlike other travel vendors who discreetly tuck their gay/lesbian sections away so as to not scare the horses. Then lo and behold, this week another longtime mainstream outfit called Certified Vacations announced that it’s teaming up with the Damron Guides to launch its own GLBT brand.
Happy’s brand, called Life Journeys Vacations, seems to be concentrating for now on the Pacific and Latin America, with programs to Australia, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand, and Tahiti. Nifty extras include a honeymoon (homomoon?) registry and donating part of your booking fee to a foundation they’ve set up to help queer causes. Meanwhile, the starting lineup at Damron Vacations includes select spots in Europe (Barcelona, London, Paris), Mexico (Cancun, Puerto Vallarta), the Pacific (Hawaii), and the U.S./Canada (Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Las Vegas, Miami, Montreal, New York, San Francisco – what, no Branson??).
Who knows, if this trend continues, the second decade of the 21st century could turn into a Golden Age of Gay Travel…or would it be a Lavender Age…?
Yours truly,
Dave