Greece bets on queer tourism

DW (English)

Greece is welcoming queer tourists with open arms, marketing itself as a summer hotspot and wedding destination. The government even signed a contract with a specialized travel provider to establish itself in the market.

Transcript

00:00They're arriving in droves on Mykonos and crowds could get even larger as the Greek

00:05island makes a play for queer tourists.

00:08At least in Mykonos it's been very safe and very welcoming.

00:12There are countries where you can't be yourself, being gay is a crime.

00:18So here everyone is friendly and we feel safe all the time.

00:24The island has always been popular in the LGBTQ plus community, known to be open-minded

00:30and not judgmental.

00:32But tourists here better bring some cash, not last to spend in some of the luxury brand

00:37stores along their promenade.

00:39It's super overcrowded and super expensive.

00:46The prices are insane.

00:47Gay people have a lot of money.

00:53The queer community contributes around 177 billion euros to the global tourism business,

00:59says specialized travel agent Queer Destinations.

01:02The Greek government would like to grow its market share in the segment, they've just

01:06signed a contract with the provider.

01:10Domenikos Koukas is renting out suites, almost half of his customers are queer.

01:15He'd be happy to welcome even more guests, but he also fears the downside of over-tourism.

01:21Over-tourism is very delicate, doesn't need to have super, super tourism, because it destroys

01:34everything, destroys the nature, destroys the atmosphere.

01:39And the gay community is very sensitive on the changes, could realize how is changing

01:46and why.

01:47Gabriela Fati is a wedding planner on the island of Lesbos, particularly popular with

01:52lesbian couples.

01:54She's currently working with a Turkish bride and sees a lot of demand since Greece has

01:59officially started recognizing gay marriage.

02:03I have had requests from Turkey and from America, from the U.S., and I am now in the process

02:09of telling them what papers they need.

02:13And then of course we will go into the details, which is the most fun thing to do, where they're

02:19getting married, what photographer they will choose, which DJ, what music.

02:27Gabriela Fati has found a lucrative niche market.

02:30Conservative Greeks and the church might still have reservations, but she's optimistic that

02:35ever more queer tourists will make their way to Greece, and not just to Lesbos and Mykonos.

02:43For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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