A new two-year partnership between International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), Gay and Lesbian Tourism Australia and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is set to promote Australia as a gay and lesbian friendly tourist destination.
Capitalizing on the weaker Australian dollar, more than 240 IGLTA members in 75 countries will help in marketing Australia as a gay-friendly vacation destination and will earn commission on selling the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Speaking for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, CEO Michael Rolik said, “We are delighted to take our partnership from a presence at the IGLTA Annual Global Convention to a whole new level.
“Mardi Gras attracts over 30,000 visitors and with the lower Australian dollar we expect this number to increase in 2015. This partnership will provide opportunities for IGLTA members to tap into this growth in visitation and leverage our commissionable tickets scheme, added Rolik.
John Tanzella, president of the IGLTA, said that Australia offers lucrative opportunities for IGLTA members, adding that, “Australia is a key destination for LGBT travellers worldwide, but our outreach in the country didn’t appropriately reflect that.
“A formal partnership with these two important organizations will assist our members in promoting the great destinations and events there, and help GALTA and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras better connect with the global tourism market.
“We are proud to join with IGLTA in a strategic partnership that will allow us to showcase our growing Australia-wide membership of gay-welcoming tourism providers to the world, IGLTA president Rod Stringer said in the report.
“These are exciting times and while general tourism in Australia has somewhat stagnated, the potential to grow the LGBT inbound travellers to Australia is perfectly timed, especially with the lower Australian dollar making us a more attractive destination.
IMAGE: Parade goers march during the 2014 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney, Australia. The Sydney Mardi Gras parade began in 1978 as a march and commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riots of New York. It is an annual event promoting awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues and themes. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
