New research from Booking.com’s Travel Proud Report suggests that many LGBTQ+ people feel the need to go back into the closet while travelling.
The report surveyed 13,300 LGBTQ+ travellers across 19 countries and found that only 31% of respondents globally said they were “out” while travelling.
It also found that 40% of LGBTQ+ travellers would be willing to hide their queer identity in order to experience a bucket-list destination.
The findings highlight the ongoing safety concerns many queer and trans people face when travelling, particularly in places where LGBTQ+ visibility may carry social, legal or personal risks.
More than half of closeted LGBTQ+ travellers surveyed said they did not feel anxious while travelling.
That compares with 30% of LGBTQ+ travellers overall and 20% of polyamorous travellers.
The figures also suggest that hiding one’s identity may feel safer for some LGBTQ+ travellers. Just 34% of closeted travellers said they had experienced negative treatment related to their queer identity while travelling.
That compares with 62% of LGBTQ+ travellers globally and 73% of trans travellers.
However, the report also recorded positive experiences. Overall, 82% of LGBTQ+ travellers said they had experienced at least one identity-specific positive moment while on holiday in the past year.
At the same time, 58% said they had faced negative treatment.
The findings paint a complicated picture of queer travel today: one where LGBTQ+ people continue to seek joy, adventure and connection, while still navigating questions of safety, visibility and acceptance.
For many travellers, being “out” on holiday is not just a personal choice, but a calculation shaped by destination, culture, laws and the behaviour of those around them.
