Tanzania is one of the many African countries missing out on the so-called ‘pink dollar’ from LGBTI travellers, as it has yet to decriminalise same-sex relationships.
Last month the US State Department released a statement urging travellers to exercise extreme caution should they travel to Tanzania. The department said this was due to crime, terrorism, and targeting of LGBTI people.
The travel advisory said: “Members of the LGBTI community have been arrested, targeted, harassed, and/or charged with unrelated offenses” and urged all LGBTQI travellers to carry a copy of their US passports and avoid public displays of affection.
World Rainbow Hotel’s LGBT Market Info says: “There are more than 7 million US online lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) leisure travellers. LGBT travellers spend more than $41 billion per year on their personal and leisure travel.”
Travel influencers Asher and Lyric Fergusson created an ‘LGBTQ+ Danger Index’ from a variety of trusted international sources and Tanzania came in as the fifth most dangerous country for LGBTQI travel.
South Africa was placed 15th as one of the safest countries for LGBTQI travellers – the only African country in the top 20. In 2019, SA Tourism hosted social media influencers to showcase the country as an LGBTQI-friendly destination.
