Booking.com has released its latest Travel Proud Research Report, the company’s most expansive and cross-cutting survey to date, focused exclusively on the attitudes, actions and perceptions of LGBTQ+ travellers. With insights from 13,300 LGBTQ+ travellers across 19 countries, including over 1,000 Australian LGBTQ+ travellers, the research highlights the broad range of experiences across different parts of the community.
Trade-offs LGBTQ+ travellers make to experience the world safely
The LGBTQ+ travellers who report the fewest negative experiences and who appear to be the most confident are those who identify as ‘not out’. Travellers who are ‘not out’ are the least likely to have had a negative experience related to their sexuality on a trip in the last twelve months (34% compared to 62% of all LGBTQ+ travellers globally, rising to 73% for LGBTQ+ travellers who identify as trans). They are also the only group where a majority (53%) do not report feeling anxious when travelling. It’s a stark reminder that the “safest” LGBTQ+ travellers are often the ones who are most effectively able to hide parts of who they are.
In Australia, only 36% of LGBTQ+ travellers are ‘out’ while travelling compared to the majority (69%) who are out with close friends at home and nearly half (44%) say they would hide their identity to visit a bucket list destination, highlighting that deciding between exploring the world and being fully themselves still involves profound trade-offs.
Precautions and anxiety on the rise, particularly for trans travellers
More than half (51%) of Aussie LGBTQ+ travellers say they are taking more precautions when travelling compared to previous years. Common safety behaviours include: sharing live locations with trusted contacts (24%), using VPNs to mask online activity (21%), carrying burner phones (16%) and deleting dating apps before crossing borders (15%). Additionally, 57% of Aussie LGBTQ+ travellers say they consciously assess their surroundings before showing affection to their partner in public.
The data also highlights the particular challenges faced by trans travellers. They are the only group where the percentage who have become more anxious about travel outpaces their peers. With 43% of LGBTQ+ travellers globally feeling more anxious in the last few years compared to an average of 29% in Australia. For trans travellers, using gendered facilities (21%) is the leading source of anxiety compared to the broader community, where being out in public at night (23%) ranks highest.
How are the industry and AI tools boosting LGBTQ+ traveller confidence?
Despite these trends, LGBTQ+ travellers report far more positive experiences than negative ones. A strong majority (84%) of Aussie LGBTQ+ travellers report at least one positive experience linked to their identity when travelling in the past year. These range from LGBTQ+ representation among staff (38%), visible inclusion signals such as Pride flags (35%), gender-neutral bathrooms (35%), and staff using correct pronouns (32%). Overall, 68% of LGBTQ+ travelling Aussies believe that acceptance has improved in the last few years.
Interestingly, the same digital tools that Aussie LGBTQ+ travellers are taking precautions with, are increasingly seen as ways to search for impartial information, connect with members of the community in destinations, and find reassurance about a hotel or attraction. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Aussie LGBTQ+ travellers used AI to plan a trip in the last year and 43% felt safer asking AI sensitive questions about the local scene than asking a human. Nearly half (44%) believe AI is efficient at finding niche LGBTQ+ friendly spots and 35% say that they would find an inclusion or ‘LGBTQ+ friendly’ filter useful when booking travel online.
Todd Lacey, Regional Manager, Oceania and Korea at Booking.com, says “This year’s research shows why our Travel Proud programme continues to be as important as ever. Nearly half of LGBTQ+ Aussie travellers (44%) are willing to hide their identity in order to experience a bucket list destination, suggesting that safety concerns continue to influence how LGBTQ+ travellers experience the world.
At Booking.com, our Travel Proud programme continues to play a key role in driving that change. Training has been completed by almost 7,000 Australian properties – and over 142,000 worldwide – allowing travellers to filter for LGBTQ+ friendly properties in over 20,000 cities and destinations across the globe.
Despite the challenges, and the increased precautions LGBTQ+ travellers are taking in order to feel safe, we are inspired by the 66% globally who prioritize trips where they can be 100% authentically themselves; and who continue to fiercely and authentically Travel Proud.”
Read the full Travel Proud Research Report for Australia here for an in-depth exploration of LGBTQ+ travel experiences in 2026. The Travel Proud Destination Guide 2026 can be found here.
With the Travel Proud filter and badge on Booking.com, LGBTQ+ friendly properties are easier to find for millions of travellers looking for inclusive stays. Simply select the ‘Travel Proud (LGBTQ+ friendly)’ filter or keep an eye out for the rainbow suitcase on property pages.
