A majority of LGBTQ+ travelers in Asia Pacific conceal their identity while traveling, according to Booking.com’s Travel Proud Research Report, which found only 30% of LGBTQ+ travelers in the region say they are “out” when they travel.
The report, described as the company’s most expansive and cross-cutting survey to date, drew on insights from 13,300 LGBTQ+ travelers across 19 countries and examined the attitudes, actions, and perceptions of LGBTQ+ travelers.
Study Highlights
- Only 30% of LGBTQ+ travelers in Asia Pacific say they are ‘out’ when they travel
- 47% are willing to hide their identity to experience a bucket list destination
- Closeted LGBTQ+ travelers are the only segment of the community in the Asia Pacific where a majority (48%) don’t report feeling anxious when traveling
- 43% feel safer asking AI sensitive questions about the local LGBTQ+ scene than asking a human
Trade-offs LGBTQ+ Travelers Make to Experience the World Safely
The report found that LGBTQ+ travelers who identify as “not out” reported the fewest negative experiences and were also the least likely to report feeling anxious while traveling.
61% of this group did not report any LGBTQ+ specific negative experiences, compared to 34% of all Asia Pacific LGBTQ+ travelers and 26% of LGBTQ+ travelers who identify as trans. They are also the only group where a majority did not report feeling anxious when traveling, at 48%, compared to 25% across LGBTQ+ travelers in APAC and 19% of polyamorous travelers.
Only 30% of respondents in APAC are out when traveling, compared to 59% who are out to close friends. This figure rises further when travelers are asked about destinations they want to visit, with 47% willing to hide their identity in exchange for experiencing a bucket-list destination.
Precautions and Anxiety on the Rise, Particularly for Trans Travelers
According to the findings, 52% of APAC LGBTQ+ travelers say they are taking more precautions than they were a few years ago. These include sharing live locations with trusted contacts to manage anxiety (28%), deleting dating apps before border crossings (20%), using VPNs to disguise activity or access blocked sites (24%) and carrying burner phones (23%). 55% of APAC LGBTQ+ travelers constantly scan their surroundings before showing affection to their partner in public.
The report said that trans travelers are the only group where more travelers have become anxious about travel than have become more relaxed in recent years, with 45% feeling more anxious in the last few years compared to an average of 30% across LGBTQ+ travelers in APAC. For most demographic groups, being “out in public late at night or after dark” is the most frequently cited anxiety moment, at 23% in APAC. For trans travelers, using gendered facilities such as bathrooms and changing rooms is the number one anxiety trigger, at 24%.
How the Industry and AI Tools Are Boosting LGBTQ+ Traveler Confidence
Despite these concerns, 85% of LGBTQ+ travelers in APAC reported at least one positive experience related to their gender or sexual identity while traveling in the past year. These include staff using correct pronouns (37%), signs of inclusivity at a property such as pride flags (35%) or gender-neutral bathrooms (35%), and LGBTQ+ staff members (36%). 66% of LGBTQ+ travelers in APAC believe that acceptance has improved in the last few years.
73% of APAC LGBTQ+ travelers used AI to plan a trip in the last year, with 44% trusting AI to provide objective, non-judgmental travel advice regarding their identity. 43% believe AI is efficient at finding niche LGBTQ+ friendly spots which are hard to find via standard search. 43% of APAC LGBTQ+ travelers feel safer asking AI sensitive questions about the local LGBTQ+ scene than asking a human, and 33% say they would find an inclusion or “LGBTQ+ friendly” filter useful when booking travel online.
Travel Proud Program
Booking.com’s Travel Proud training program was created by independent third-party experts in inclusive hospitality and has been completed by more than 142,000 Travel Proud partners globally. The Travel Proud filter and badge on Booking.com allow users to search for LGBTQ+ friendly properties by selecting the “Travel Proud (LGBTQ+ friendly)” filter or looking for the rainbow suitcase icon on property pages.
“This year’s research highlights why our Travel Proud program continues to be as important as ever. Since its launch in 2021, the programme has grown significantly, and we are encouraged by the strong support it has received from partners in APAC and around the world,” said Laura Houldsworth, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Booking.com.
“Training is now available in 11 languages and has been completed by more than 142,000 properties, enabling travellers to filter for LGBTQ+ friendly stays in over 20,000 cities and destinations worldwide, including many across Asia Pacific.”
The research was commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among 13,331 respondents across 19 markets between February and March 2026. Respondents were 18 years or older, had taken a personal overnight trip in the last 12 months, were involved in or the primary decision maker for booking and planning travel, and were part of the LGBTQ+ community.
You can access the full report here.
