Lonely Planet stands up for marriage equality
There’s less than a month to return your same-sex marriage postal vote, folks.
And with over half of the votes returned already, Lonely Planet is reminding us all that we’re so, so sooo far behind with a slew of newsletters in support of the LGBTQ community.
In their newsletter, the massive travel company spoke for basically the whole of Australia.
“At Lonely Planet, we value diversity and respect for others – it’s an essential part of who we are and what we do everyday.
“It’s reflected in all our products and manifests in the way we go about our day-to-day,” the company said.
So, they’ve researched the top travel trends of LGBTQ people – putting together a Top 10 gay wedding destinations list and figuring out where the most popular destination for LGBTQ travellers is. They’ve even rated the most gay-friendly countries!
And whilst Australia was no where near that list, New Zealand was ranked second overall – and it’s not surprising, given the number of same-sex marriages held there every year.
According to Lonely Plant, “In 1998 New Zealand was the first nation to adopt the label of ‘Gay/Lesbian Friendly’ when referring to businesses and accommodation – an initiative now recognised globally.”
The country passed same-sex marriage laws four years ago in 2013 and hasn’t looked back since – actively promoting same-sex marriage tourism to it’s neighbouring countries who’s laws are less progressive (like us, ugh).
Add spectacular scenery, adventurous landscapes and bustling cities to the mix and it’s no wonder New Zealand’s coming out on top.
According to Lonely Planet, the hard stats show that out of all the same-sex marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand over the last year, half were to couples living overseas. This is compared this to only 11 per cent of straight couples travelling to New Zealand to get married.
So whilst New Zealand may be a beautiful destination for all types of weddings, the fact that the country is one of the most gay-friendly in the world makes all the difference for same-sex couples.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Gay Marriage LGBTQ lonely planet new zealandLatest News
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