Wednesday, February 6, 2019
When Jair Bolsonaro was elected as the president of Brazil, it sent shockwaves through the country’s LGBTI community.
Same-sex couples decided to marry hastily before the openly homophobic far-right politician took office. Numerous rights groups also raised an alarm.
The LGBTI scene in Brazil has entered murky waters, both domestically, and for LGBTI people looking to visit the South American country.
Under this scenario, Argentina is looking to cash in on the ‘pink dollar’ by wooing LGBTI tourists who might have otherwise visited their northern neighbor.
More and more people are opting for Argentina as one of the top ten ‘gay-friendly’ destinations. Argentina remains one of the most progressive countries in South America with regard to LGBTI rights.
In 2018, 490,000 LGBTI tourists visited Argentina which accounted for an 11% year-on-year growth, according to Pablo De Luca, president of the Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of Argentina.
The most popular destination for LGBTI visitors was the capital city Buenos Aires, followed by Puerto Iguazú, Ushuaia, Mendoza, Córdoba and Rosario.
Buenos Aires’ Pride festival is also one of the biggest in the world.
However, LGBTI friendliness is more common in urban centers, and less in the rural areas.
Tags: argentina, LGBTI visitors
