DEPARTURE LOUNGE // WINTER 2018
Whether you ’ re dining with a family or being shown the hot springs where locals like to dip their toes , bespoke tours for pink travellers are becoming all the rage .
“ We believe we help our guests find their happy place by immersing them deeply in their holidays , offering a connection to the soul of the destination unlike any other .”
resource website to reach LGBTQI consumers . That ’ s an increase of about 27 % since 2011 . But just as no two heterosexual travellers are identical , LGBTQI travellers are not all alike – many shy away from pink-themed travel or trips to destinations during pride festivals , adds Janse van Rensburg . Van Niekerk agrees : “ Gay men tend to be sociable , adventurous and love indulging in all the hedonistic aspects of travel . Mainstream travel , on the other hand , usually focusses on tight budget restrictions and a one-size-fits-all approach . Gay women are more likely to attempt mainstream travel , but gay men often lose their appetite for it after 30 .” Pink travellers are , in general , all about the experience – from local culture to the finer things in life . Which is why Trafalgar has found strong demand from the pink travel market for its recently introduced travel style , “ Our Hidden Journeys ”, which offers smaller group sizes and greater immersion in the destination . “ We believe we help our guests find their happy place by immersing them deeply in
© SHUTTERSTOCK their holidays , offering a connection to the soul of the destination unlike any other ,” explains Theresa Szejwallo , Trafalgar ’ s managing director . “ For example , on our Secrets of Greece including Corfu tour , our guests will discover the warmth of the Greek countryside . We offer an intimate ‘ Be My Guest ’ dinner , which takes place in Olympia with the Karambellas family on their 30-acre olive and wine farm , complete with dancing . And if that ’ s not enough of the good life , we also introduce our guests to the red-winemaking traditions of the Nemea region .” Van Niekerk points out that bespoke tours and upmarket places “ tend to be less biased in their marketing approach , and consequently pink travellers find it easier to blend in at such places .” For Van Niekerk , the most meaningful and memorable travel experiences have come from hiring a local gay tour guide in the destination he ’ s visiting – and splashing out on a little luxury . “ The latest trend in pink travel is to find a one-on-one gay tour guide internationally . Having experienced this in both Buenos Aires and Berlin , I can vouch for the marvellous benefits of this kind of travel experience ,” he explains . “ Backpacking , long distance driving and Venter trailers are out . Flying , yachting , boat cruises , car rentals and tailor-made trips with dishy hosts are in .” You read it here first .
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