Portugal wants to use the potential tourism For LGBTI+ communitywhich represents a tenth of the country’s visitors, and has opened its own space in Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL), the largest trade show in the industry.

This space brings together more than a dozen companies run by Variações, the LGBT Portuguese Trade and Tourism Association, which aims to “nationally and internationally promote these businesses, which are in most cases micro-enterprises.”

“A 10% belonging tourists who visit our country belong to the community LGBTI+“, explains EFE Vice-President of Variações Kiki Pais de Sousa, who points out that this is a public with “special needs”.

Looking for”safe directions” and Portugal is increasingly positioned among them: “It is known for having an excellent hospitality. We speak Portuguese, English, French…,” insists Pais de Souza.

Among the businesses that are housed in this BTL space are nightclubs, saunas, hotels or real estate consultants specializing in LGBTI+ communityand they all match: they haven’t stopped growing in recent years in Portugal.

MORE AND MORE FOREIGNERS

Eddie Van Wallendael has owned Bar 3 Lisboa since 2010 and assures EFE that the business has “doubled in” since then, so much so that in 2019 he decided to also open Villa 3 Caparica, a hotel aimed at gay men aged 25 and over, but “open to all”.

Between 80% and 90% clients foreignfrom USA, Australia and Europe, most of Spain.

“In Portugal LGBTI+ market will be presented fifty% from foreignIt’s very big,” Trumps director Marco Marcier told EFE.

Trumps started as a club and turned into a brand and also on BTL to present a project to promote queer artists and another to educate companies to speak better with customers. LGBTI+.

“It is essential that tourism recognize the reality of LGBTI+ people and the need specific products for your community“, says Mercier.

The fair also features the Trombeta Bath, where half of the customers are foreigners, especially from Spain, according to owner Joao Costa.

For Costa, who Portugal Be safe destination for the community is no longer in doubt: “We are a country of the European Union. We were one of the first countries where same-sex marriages were registered,” he recalls to EFE.

MORE THAN REST

The LGTBI+ market is not limited to leisure and even includes real estate, which is also present at the BTL fair.

JPVA agents specialize in this market, which makes up about 50% of their operations, according to one of their consultants, Hugo Fernandez.

“We know there is neighborhood more “LGTBI friendly” than others, and we advice. Since we have people from the community on our team, it is easier to understand where they are best accepted,” he explains to EFE.

clients originate from China, the US or Europe and the business has grown, especially due to changes in tax laws in Portugal to facilitate the arrival foreign investorsrefers.