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Industry unprepared for boom in gay honeymoons
WTM Special Report: The travel industry is failing to take the potential of gay honeymoons – despite more than 250,000 couples expected to get married.
A new Civil Partnership Bill for gays and lesbians becomes law on December 5, prompting the expecting boom in weddings and honeymoons.
But a report released at World Travel Market suggests that the travel trade is not taking the sector seriously.
WTM group exhibition director Fiona Jeffery said: “Travel companies need to recognise that this is a big step forward for the gay community in this country and is a fast growing, unstoppable development.
“Unlike the big banks and the technology companies, for example, the travel industry simply has not planned ahead for the implementation of this bill. There’s no doubt that this will trigger a new and completely different demand for tour operators and despite famous partnerships planning to take the plunge such as Elton John and David Furnish, the industry has not even got off the starting blocks.”
Research amongst more than 1,000 readers of Diva and Gay Times was used to compile the report by marketing agency Out Now Consulting.
Director Ian Johnson said: “There are nearly three million lesbians and gays in the UK and more than half of them are in committed relationships, with a large number intending to register their Civil Partnerships with municipal authorities.
“A total of 274,000 couples in the UK are expected to quickly get hitched which means that gay honeymoons are going to be booming.
“The honeymoon market for hetrosexuals is huge but, based on these results, my gut instinct is that the travel industry has to do much more if it is to capitalise on the new development with new products, new targeted marketing campaigns and more training for their staff.”
France and Spain and favourate short haul destinations while Australia and South Africa seen as potential long haul honeymoon destinations.
The average age of respondants from Gay Time was between 25-44 with an average income of £28,481. Eighteen per cent of those questioned earnt more than £40,000. The average age of lesbians taking part in the research was 34 with an average income of £24,783. Nine per cent earnt more than £40,000.
Report by Phil Davies
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