“Kaixo” from Euskadi (the Spanish Basque region), the proud host of this year’s LGBT+ Travel Symposium – an international gathering powered by OutThere, dedicated to advancing inclusion in the global travel space. Over two dynamic days, this storied, fiercely independent region of northern Spain, better known to many as the Basque Country, announced the launch of its new LGBTQIA+ tourism product, laying down a bold marker for what queer inclusive tourism looks like in practice. Now that we’ve caught our breath, The Experientialist® revisits some of the key moments from the landmark event.
As queer globetrotters, we learn early to compile an internal shortlist of the places in this world that make us feel safe and accepted – strongholds that we can always count on for our spur-of-the-moment city breaks and rainbow-fuelled luxury getaways. Spain, to its credit, has long delivered on that front, with cities and towns like Barcelona, Sitges and Madrid, not to mention islands like Ibiza and Gran Canaria, consistently ranking among the most LGBTQ+ friendly destinations in Europe, and living up to that reputation with every joyful visit. But further north, on the country’s Atlantic edge near the French border, another destination has been quietly coming into its own, and the word is getting out.
The Basque Country may not dominate glossy gay travel guides – at least not yet – but for those who’ve been paying attention, it has long asserted itself as an appealing LGBTQ+-friendly destination, owing not only to its awe-inspiring natural landscapes and gastronomy (yes, the San Sebastian cheesecake lives up to the hype), but also to its open-mindedness, strong legal protections and a history of resistance to imposed conformity that bleeds into its culture.
Euskadi is more than just another region of Spain. It has its own distinct identity: its own customs, traditions, and language (Euskara, one of the oldest in Europe), all of which it has had to defend for centuries in the face of marginalisation and authoritarian rule imposed by both Spanish and, at times, French powers. Sound familiar? That same instinct – to resist, to assert identity, and to take up space, is something queer communities know intimately. For years, both have been told to shrink, to stay silent, to disappear. And both have pushed back with pride.
In modern times, that same spirit of resistance and self-definition can be felt across the entire region, from its coastlines and fertile hills to its city centres, encompassing all three historic territories: Alava (Álava), Biscay (Vizcaya) and Gipuzkoa (Guipúzcoa) – which, prior to the Symposium, we traversed on a number of FAM trips with over 35 other media representatives, travel agents and influencers from across the world. But this spirit arguably reaches its full expression in Bilbao, Euskadi’s de facto capital after Vitoria-Gasteiz and the creative engine for queer life and culture in the region.
Wandering through the city’s punchy Old Town (Casco Viejo), you’ll spot queer residents openly holding hands and smooching on benches, rainbow flags waving from wrought-iron balconies and tucked-away gay bars buzzing with conversation. In the San Francisco district, queer-owned cafés and venues give space to drag shows and a thriving underground art scene. The city plays host to Zinegoak, the Basque Country’s landmark LGBTQ+ film festival, and every June turns into a hotbed of unbridled queer joy with the arrival of Bilbao Pride. It also welcomed its first Axel Hotel in 2024, adding an exciting new pin to the map of global gaycations.
On May 8–9, the city became a stage for LGBTQ+ travel innovation, when some 100 industry professionals, comprising more than 50 local tourism providers descended upon the Bizkaia Aretoa for the LGBT+ Travel Symposium – Basque Country, proudly powered by OutThere, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Trade and Consumer Affairs of the Basque Government and the Basque Tourism Agency, Basquetour. Now in its sophomore year, the international forum, designed to shape the future of LGBTQ+ travel through the exchange of wisdom, experiences, and best industry practices, is one of the landmark initiatives in Euskadi’s ongoing mission to position itself as a benchmark for inclusive tourism.
“Our tourism code of ethics contains six principles to ensure the Basque Country remains the safe, welcoming, sustainable and respectable destination that we are.” Said Javier Hurtado Dominguez, Minister of Tourism, Trade & Consumer Affairs, Basque Government, as he inaugurated the Symposium, before shedding light on some of the active work Euskadi has been doing behind the scenes with Queer Destinations. Through this strategic collaboration, the organisation has assisted the region in developing a long-term tourism strategy that includes industry training, inclusive quality benchmarks, and tailored experiences for LGBTQ+ travellers. So far, more than 180 tourism businesses in the region have completed the programme and earned the Queer Destinations Committed accreditation. In fact, the Basque Country itself now holds the distinction of being the first officially certified Queer Destinations Committed region in Europe.
Founder and President of Queer Destinations Oriol Pamies chimed in with a timely opening address on the shifting state of LGBTQ+ rights worldwide, drawing attention to the alarming rollback of DEI efforts and trans protections in many regions. In contrast, he praised the Basque Country for standing firm in its values and actively strengthening its commitment to equality and inclusion: “The era of passive support is over… More than ever, given the evolving global state of LGBTQ+ rights, there is a need to move from talk and representation to commitment and action. We are encouraged by BasqueTour’s enduring dedication to this matter.” Oriol then put out an optimistic reminder of our spending power as queer travellers, and how by making intentional choices with our money we can change the tide.
While conversations around inclusion rightfully lean on ethics and moral responsibility, there’s this pragmatic reality that can’t be ignored: embracing LGBTQ+ travellers makes economic sense. Euskadi’s LGBTQIA+ tourism product is as much a reflection of the region’s deeply held values as it is an answer to a growing market. Globally, this segment generates over €200 billion each year and is expanding at a rate of 8% annually. But numbers alone don’t define its impact. These travellers gravitate toward destinations that offer more than token gestures – they’re drawn to places that welcome them wholeheartedly, and to brands that align with who they are.
“Beyond the Basque Country’s unique landscapes and experiences, its climate to suit all tastes, fantastic gastronomy and everything within easy reach… it has a hospitable people and a long history of acceptance, struggle and understanding of the diversity that exists in the world. It’s no wonder that we have a high retention rate, with 46% of repeat travellers.” Said BasqueTour’s Director General Daniel Solana Alonso, in a one of one conversation with Queer Destinations co-founder Edgar Weggelaar.
OutThere’s Experientialist®-in-Chief and LGBT+ Travel Symposium host Uwern Jong then invited Joseba Berzosa (Basque Destination) to the stage for a fireside chat offering an insider’s take on the destination. Joseba gushed over his home’s culinary scene and cultural offerings, and shared tips on the best ways visitors can connect with queer locals. The conversation was followed by a panel titled “Being influential: The power of LGBTQ+ media,” featuring Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir (@thequeernomads), Alfonso Llopart (Shangay), Allyssa Leaton (@thelesbianpassport), and Karl & Dan (@coupleofmen). Together, they reflected on the impact of queer storytelling and the best – and worst – practices they’ve encountered as content creators.
Uwern returned to the stage, this time joined by Bastiaan Ellen (Mr. Hudson Explores), Judith Guerra (Consolid), and Phil Hollister (Pink Globus), to offer a travel advisor’s take on how the Basque Country can better position itself to international audiences. The consensus was that with more and more queer travellers seeking meaningful experiences that go beyond the cookie-cutter Pride trappings, Euskadi is uniquely well-placed to deliver… if it works on its self-promotion (we all love a hidden gem, but a little PR never hurt anyone.)
Next up was the panel ‘LGBTQ+ travel: what’s next?’ featuring Meg Ten Eyck (EveryQueer), Elle Pinkard (Destination Rainbow), Lexie Shaibu-Lenoir (Queer Weddings), and Marley Conte (Trans&). The group tackled how the travel industry can do better when it comes to representing the full spectrum of queer identities. Lexie spoke about the need for better representation of Black queer travellers in tourism marketing – a point Marley echoed through the lens of their experience as a trans/non-binary person. Meg challenged brands to stop treating lesbian travellers as an afterthought, shaped by the experiences of gay men. And Elle made a compelling case for why the Basque Country is primed to welcome queer families, adding a pointed reminder to the industry at large: “If you’re LGBTQ+ inclusive, don’t just say it once, say it twice… our families don’t want to have to read between the lines.”
For the final panel of the LGBT+ Travel Symposium, three representatives from three Basque Country businesses (Bilbao River Company, Romotur, and Crusoe Treasure) that are currently undergoing the Queer Destinations training program, joined Rika Jean-François to detail some of the best inclusive practices they have picked up on their journey.
There’s no getting around it – it’s a precarious moment for LGBTQ+ rights worldwide, which makes it all the more important to celebrate our wins, nurture optimism, and shine a light on the people and places that are choosing to be on the right side of history. As Uwern Jong put it plainly, “We often talk about creating safe spaces in this industry, but now we need to take it literally.” It’s genuinely encouraging to see destinations like Euskadi doing more than just talking, but actively working to shape a tourism model that’s human-centred and in step with the values of a diverse, modern society.
In the shifting tides of global equality, the Basque Country isn’t just throwing down its anchor and staying put, but sailing forward at full speed, offering a warm “Ongi etorri” to queer travellers everywhere.
www.basquecountry.lgbttravelsymposium.com | www.turismo.euskadi.com | www.queerdestinations.com
Photography courtesy of Visit Euskadi / LGBT+ Travel Symposium
