An Exploration of the Travel Motives of Gay Tourists

Abstract

This dissertation sets out to explore the motivations of gay tourists and the impacts upon destination hosts. In this dissertation, gay tourists specifically refer to gay men and their motivations, with a mixture of samples who have and have not travelled to a gay destination. The decision to focus on gay men is of personal interest to the researcher due to being a part of the LGBT community. To form the outset of this study, a detailed literature review was carried out, leading into the methodological processes whereby research techniques were discussed and justified. Moreover, a discussion and comparative analysis of results was established to meet the aim and objectives. Results were discovered through eight semi-structured interviews and proceeded to be transcribed, for the ability of thematic analysis to be performed. Results and discussion of research allowed for the identification of key findings in relation to gay tourist motivations, and can contribute to the realisation of the troubles gay men face and feel when travelling to certain destinations. It has also identified similar and opposing feelings, opinions and experiences, aiding the researcher in finding what was set out to find. The research has also found what impacts gay tourists have on host destinations but was deemed difficult to relate external impacts of gay tourism to gay men and gay destinations. To conclude, the motivation and impacts of gay tourists go hand-in-hand and can be found to be discussed within this study, creating a rapport of why gay destinations are wanted and sought.