Beirut and Tel Aviv: a battle for gay tourism and pink money

Oct. 28 2013

by Marc Dedonder

For a long time, Tel Aviv and Beirut are not the best of friends. Anyone who has been to Beirut is automatically refused entry to Tel Aviv.

The Mediterranean has been of interest for some time to gay customers who are looking for new ideas and gay friendly destinations. Tel Aviv has entered the gay tourism market in a big way. Beirut has always been more discreet. Now the capital of Lebanon wants to do otherwise!

"Gay travelers from the West come to us to feel the Arab spirit," says Bertho Makso, ambassador to Lebanon of the International Gay & Lesbian Tourism Association (IGLTA) in Beirut. According to Makso, some Arab societies are more comfortable with homosexuality.

The global gay tourism industry has been booming for 20 years now. With the disposable income of gay couples, their culture as well as the living environment, all is conducive for the tourism market.

Last year, the economic impact of lesbian and gay people brought $63 billion to the United States. Both Israel and Lebanon know the importance of such a strong industry.

Less than 200 kilometers separates the two capitals. The fact that the two countries are officially at war does not help the tourist market. It is impossible to have an "Israel/Lebanon" package. You have to choose!

Tel Aviv has the advantage of the terrain with laws favorable to homosexuals. In the city center, 20% of the population is estimated to be homosexual. The exodus of homosexuals from the regions to the capital contributes to the diverse cultural wealth. In Lebanon, homosexuality is still considered illegal, yet laws concerning homosexuals are rarely enforced.

Rasha Moumneh, Middle East researcher, refuses to say that Lebanon is a homophobic country. He is reassuring that the competent authorities will not arrest gay men because of their homosexuality. As a proof, Beirut has the biggest gay discotheque in the Middle East.

In view of this wave of gay tourists, Makso, 29 years old, launched in 2005 a tourist agency named LebTour. This one serves a lot of gay tourists from all over the world. According to him, there are five times more gay tourists than five years ago.

Beirut and Tel Aviv are very popular with gay tourists from Europe. The market is increasingly expanding to the United States. Long-time friends, Americans will be increasingly solicited by Israel.

The two cities offer two different atmospheres. Tel Aviv is world famous for its hot and very gay friendly nights. This image attracts gay tourists and its affluence pays off.

On another point, Tel Aviv takes the long lead with many tourist campaigns strictly dedicated to gays. Every year, the Tel Aviv Tourist Office prepares an original campaign focusing on new aspects of gay-friendly Tel Aviv. This year, the city is proposing a campaign called "Tel Aviv Gay Vibe". Its name is quite evocative of what the city can offer to a changing clientele.

Not only does Tel Aviv attract gays to its city for the gay nightclubs and discos, but also for the beaches and its history. Israel offers a real gold mine for tourists: both from the point of view of the gay community, but also for a heterosexual couple with two children. You just have to be a little more open-minded, because homosexuality is very present.

Beirut or Tel Aviv?
Both cities are worth discovering. Tel Aviv offers real places and a well established market. Beirut has yet to make itself known and to discover the gay tourist market. However, this city has everything to share its richness and culture with gays. Many gays are willing to listen and discover new cultures that are less traditional to Westerners.

Guide:
● Gay Guide to Tel Aviv