TUI Futureshapers Global: LGBTQIA+ Travel Innovators
LGBTQIA+ individuals and businesses face significant barriers to economic and social inclusion in emerging tourism destinations. Many of these regions lack the established infrastructure, government protections and community support that are essential for the growth of LGBTQIA+ tourism and supporting local livelihoods.
The TUI Futureshapers Global: LGBTQIA+ Travel Innovators programme directly addresses these challenges by empowering LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs with business training, mentorship and industry networks. Through skills development and capacity-building, the project fosters economic growth for LGBTQIA+ communities and promotes alliance within the tourism sector.
Emerging countries in regions like South America and Southeast Asia include popular destinations for LGBTQIA+ travellers with great weather and a strong culture of hospitality. LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs however often struggle to access resources, education and industry connections in these destinations, limiting their opportunities to contribute to and benefit from the tourism economy.
TUI Futureshapers Global: LGBTQIA+ Travel Innovators programme, in partnership with IGLTA Foundation, is structured around three core components: business skills training, mentorship and industry networking.
120 people representing 60 LBGTQIA+ owned or managed businesses in tourism have access to capacity building workshops focusing on essential business skills such as financial management, digital marketing and customer service tailored to tourism. Each participant receives six one-to-one mentorship sessions over the project’s six-month duration. The mentoring programme pairs them with experienced tourism industry professionals from across TUI Group who will offer consistent, personalised guidance tailored to their unique challenges and goals.
Participants in the programme also have access to structured events including thematic panels on topics such as access to capital or intercultural communication, mentorship roundtables and the Innovation Cohort Challenge. This group challenge transforms networking into solution-creating sessions for the most pressing obstacles to LGBTQ+ tourism. Online resources, industry contacts and continued guidance are also available to ensure these LGBTQIA+ can build a solid foundation for their businesses.
Through the TUI Futureshapers programme, two business pitching sessions are organised to help entrepreneurs secure funding and raise their visibility. The three top pitches receive cash grants to help grow their businesses. In total, it is expected that 360 livelihoods will be impacted by this support programme.
Project Partner
GLTA Foundation is a US-based non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing LGBTQIA+ tourism globally. It supports initiatives that promote safe, welcoming, and inclusive travel experiences for LGBTQIA+ individuals through education, research, and leadership development. Its programmes aim to foster positive social and economic impacts in tourism destinations worldwide, with a focus on empowering LGBTQIA+ communities, building cross-cultural understanding, and promoting sustainable, inclusive tourism practices. In collaboration with global partners and local stakeholders, IGLTA Foundation provides resources, training, and support to emerging LGBTQIA+ destinations, ensuring the creation of environments where all travellers feel respected and safe.
