Scheduled to be held at Fira de Barcelona’s Montjuic venue from 17-20 April 2008, the Catalonian International Tourism Fair (SITC) will be the first show in Spain to incorporate an area dedicated exclusively to gay tourism.
With the backing of the Gay-Lesbian Association, the Catalonian regional government’s LGTB programme, Barcelona City Council’s civil rights department, and the Catalonian Tourist Board, as well as the support of companies from all sectors, such as Axel Hotels, the magazines Zero, Nois, Lambda and Vanity Gay, Europcar, and the tourist boards of the Basque Country, Grand Canary, Ibiza and Formentera, Barcelona and Madrid, among others, around 50 companies and agencies will be showcasing LGTB and gay-friendly products and services at the Pink Corner.
The first of its kind in Spain, this initiative is keyed to address the growing demand from this sector. For this reason, the opportunities for LGTB tourism have multiplied and specific products have been created, such as honeymoons and gay hotels like the Axel chain, the first of its kind in the world.
According to the readership of the prestigious American magazine Out Traveler, Barcelona is the second most popular gay destination the world, after Amsterdam. Studies show that LGTB tourists spend 47% of their earnings on leisure and fashion, and due to the fact that most are childless they have more time and money for travelling.
Companies including Gay Circus, Derby Hotels, Touristgay and Scandinavian Airlines will be showcasing their products and services at the Pink Corner, as will the organisers of the events such as EuroGames 2008 Barcelona, the tourist boards of Catalonia, Basque Country, Grand Canary, Ibiza and Formentera, Barcelona, Madrid, Stockholm and Copenhagen, and more than 20 associations and organisations related to the LGTB collective.
The Pink Corner will also have a full programme of activities, including conferences, presentations and different performances.
