Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI) the San Francisco–based LGBT market research and communications firm, completed its 13th annual LGBT Tourism Study this month, and  released the survey’s key findings. CMI has been studying and reporting on LGBT tourism demographics and trends since 1994.

"New York City maintained its enviable position as the #1 destination in the U.S. among LGBT American travelers," CMI said. "New York has just about everything that gay and lesbian travelers look for in an urban destination: Theatre, cuisine, shopping, night life, and some of the world’s best museums." New York has maintained the #1 position for many years.

San Francisco placed #3 for leisure travel and #5 for business travel, but its high rankings in both categories allowed the city to be the #2 overall most-visited destination. Chicago ranked as the #1 business travel destination. Las Vegas ranked as the #2 leisure destination. Other cities ranking in the top ten of either leisure or business travel include: Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Springs, Washington DC, San Diego, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta and Boston.

"Great Britain is the world’s #1 destination outside of North America." Paisley said, "The remarkable rise of Britain, and especially London as the international gay capital, over the past five years is a validation of their tourism offices' consistent outreach to our community. Britain bypassed the Netherlands (#1 in the ’90s and now #6) several years ago, and just kept going."

Top Canadian destinations include Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, with Vancouver being the top leisure destination, Toronto being the top business destination, and their combined scores being almost tied. Montreal also ranked very strong. Canada, with its freedom to marry, gay-welcoming cities, and the return of a favorable exchange rate, is increasingly loved and admired among LGBT American consumers,” said CMI.

Mexico/Caribbean destination leaders include Puerto Vallarta, #1 and in the lead among three other Mexican destinations in the top ten; Argentina is the leading South American destination; China is the top destination in the Asia/Pacific region, followed by Japan and Australia; and South Africa is the community's primary destination on the continent.



The Best of Gay New York and the New Gay Travel Guide