Lonely Planet is set to release its first dedicated LGBTQ+ travel guide, highlighting the top 50 most Queer-friendly destinations across the globe. Olivia Palamountain reports

Lonely Planet is gearing up to publish its first-ever LGBTQ+ travel guide, featuring 50 Queer-friendly destinations worldwide.

The guide, written by Queer, neurodivergent travel writer Alicia Valenski, aims to help LGBTQ+ travellers explore the world with confidence and pride, addressing a significant gap in the travel market.

Beyond traditional tourist information, the coffee table book features personal stories and recommendations from LGBTQ+ locals, offering authentic insights into vibrant communities from São Paulo's thriving gayborhoods to the literary scene of Edinburgh and the seaside sanctuary of Brighton.Chris Zeiher, Lonely Planet's senior director of trade sales & marketing, explains the motivation behind the guide: "We recognised the Queer community was looking for a guide that understands them, especially given the challenges they continue to face when travelling. By example Booking.com recently revealed 59% of LGBTQ+ travellers have experienced discrimination when on holiday."

He adds: "Creating a guide that is community-led, inclusive and a little bit surprising in terms of destinations featured felt absolutely essential."

The publication comes at a time when the Queer travel market is experiencing significant growth. Before the pandemic, travel spending from Queer people reached $218 billion worldwide, with experts predicting this could increase to $568.5 billion by 2030.

This growth is partly attributed to the increasing number of people identifying as LGBTQ+, with the 2021 UK census finding that 6.9% of Gen Zs identified as part of the community.

Despite this expanding market, a Gay Times survey of 15,000 LGBTQ+ people found that 65% struggled to find relevant travel information when researching destinations, highlighting the need for specialised resources.

The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide addresses these challenges by providing essential information on local rights, safety precautions, and emergency resources alongside destination recommendations. Each location features "Know Before You Go" boxes with details on local languages, currency, and Pride celebrations.

The guide also includes specialised hit lists for travellers with specific interests, covering everything from adventure and art to family-friendly festivities and island escapes.

The Lonely Planet LGBTQ+ Travel Guide is priced at £22.99 and available to purchase at WH Smiths amongst other retailers.