New research reveals LGBTQ+ people are going back in the closet while on holiday
Booking.com’s Travel Proud Report offers insights into how LGBTQ+ people are travelling in 2026
New data from the 2026 Travel Proud Report reveals some insights into the travel habits of LGBTQ+ travellers, indicating the need for more support.
The report created by Booking.com is its most expansive to date, with the travel platform surveying 13,300 LGBTQ+ travellers across 19 countries to calibrate their findings.
Its report also investigates the trends with family, polyamorous, business and trans travel, though the main focus is ‘Closet-cations’, a trend identified in the report. Findings from the data include:
- Only 31 per cent of LGBTQ+ travellers globally say they are ‘out’ when they travel
- 40 per cent are willing to hide their identity to experience a bucket list destination
- Closeted LGBTQ+ travellers are the only segment of the community where a majority (53 per cent) don’t report feeling anxious when traveling
- 37 per cent feel safer asking AI sensitive questions about the local LGBTQ+ scene than asking a human.
These stark results may feel like a step backward, but the data offers a glimmer of hope: 82 per cent of LGBTQ+ travellers reported at least one identity-specific positive experience in the last year.
On the flip side, 58 per cent still faced negative treatment. This research isn’t what we want to hear, but it is exactly what we need to help hospitality allies make travel safer and more welcoming for all.
Booking.com’s Travel Proud Program provides free inclusivity hospitality training for accommodations so they can better understand the specific challenges facing LGBTQ+ travellers. It says training has been completed by more than 142,000 properties worldwide in 162 countries and more than 20,000 cities and destinations, with a “Travel Proud” filter available when organising a stay on the platform.
Read the full report here [PDF].