The 11th edition of NoFrills (Bergamo, September 23-24, 2011), will allot ample space to the Gay Tourism Expo, the first event of its kind dedicated to the segment GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender). This was revealed recently at a press conference in Rome.
Paolo Bertagni, CEO of NoFrills, highlighted the economic importance of the GLBT segment, which in Italy has a turnover of 3.2 billion euro a year and, also, a cultural “clearance:” a recent survey unveiled that 83% of travel agents in central Italy are prepared to become gay-friendly.
“Gay Tourism,” he added, “often is the same time as festivals and events dedicated to the gay film festival, gay pride, etc. In Italy, it is still a niche tourism, but is attracting increasing interest, considering the fact that this target has a high propensity to spend more than a heterosexual tourist and affords at least three trips a year.