New research has highlighted the difficult choices many LGBTQ+ New Zealanders continue to face when travelling abroad
The findings come from Booking.com’s latest Travel Proud Research Report, the company’s most comprehensive LGBTQ+ travel survey so far. The research surveyed 13,300 LGBTQ+ travellers across 19 countries, including New Zealand, and examined the attitudes, behaviours and safety concerns influencing queer travel experiences worldwide.
According to the report, more than half of Kiwi LGBTQ+ travellers would be willing to hide their identity in order to visit a bucket-list destination. While 57% say they are out to close friends, only 22% feel comfortable being out while travelling, revealing a significant gap between how Rainbow Kiwis live at home and how safe they feel expressing themselves overseas.
The research found that LGBTQ+ Kiwi travellers who reported the fewest negative travel experiences were those who identified as “not out”. This group was also the only one where a substantial proportion, 48%, said they did not feel anxious when travelling. Booking.com says the finding is a clear reminder that the queer travellers who appear to be “safest” are often those who feel most able, or most pressured, to conceal parts of themselves.
Safety concerns are also affecting how LGBTQ+ New Zealanders prepare for travel. Almost half, 46%, say they are taking more precautions than they did a few years ago. These measures include sharing live locations with trusted contacts, deleting dating apps before crossing borders and using VPNs to disguise online activity or access blocked sites.
Half of Kiwi LGBTQ+ travellers also said they check their surroundings before showing affection to a partner in public.
The report also highlights particular challenges for trans travellers, who are more likely to report increased anxiety around travel. Nearly half, 48%, said they feel more anxious about travelling than they did a few years ago, compared with the New Zealand average of 26%. Among trans Aussie and Kiwi travellers, using gendered facilities such as bathrooms and changing rooms was identified as the top anxiety trigger, while 22% said they felt anxious about going through customs.
Despite these concerns, the research also points to positive signs of progress. A strong 88% of Kiwi LGBTQ+ travellers said they had experienced at least one positive moment linked to their identity while travelling in the past year. These included accommodation staff using correct pronouns, visible signs of inclusion such as pride flags, and access to gender-neutral bathrooms.
Overall, 68% of LGBTQ+ Kiwi travellers believe acceptance has improved in recent years.
Digital tools are also becoming increasingly important in queer travel planning. Two-thirds of Kiwi LGBTQ+ travellers said they had used AI to help plan a trip in the past year. More than a third, 39%, said they believe AI is helpful for finding niche LGBTQ+ friendly spaces, while the same proportion said they feel safer asking AI sensitive questions about the local LGBTQ+ scene than asking another person.
A further 31% said an inclusion or “LGBTQ+ friendly” filter would be useful when booking travel online.
Todd Lacey, Regional Manager, Oceania and Korea at Booking.com, says the findings show why the company’s Travel Proud programme remains important.
“This year’s research shows why our Travel Proud programme continues to be as important as ever,” Lacey says. “Over half of LGBTQ+ Kiwi travellers are willing to hide their identity in order to experience a bucket-list destination, suggesting that safety concerns continue to influence how LGBTQ+ travellers experience the world.
“Our Rainbow Kiwis and international visitors deserve to feel safe and supported when abroad, and we’re delighted that over 1,100 properties across Aotearoa are committed Travel Proud partners to provide them a judgement-free stay.
“Despite the challenges, and the increased precautions our LGBTQ+ Kiwis and Takatāpui travellers are taking in order to feel safe, we are inspired by the 61% of them who prioritise trips where they can be 100% themselves; and who continue to be fiercely and authentically Travel Proud.”
