38% of Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers may hide identity to visit dream destination: study

LGBTQ+ travellers are continuing to navigate a complex balance between self-expression and personal safety when exploring the world, according to new research released by Booking.com.

The company’s latest Travel Proud Research Report, described as its most comprehensive study of LGBTQ+ travel to date, surveyed 13,300 LGBTQ+ travellers across 19 countries, including 839 respondents in Canada.

The findings reveal that while many LGBTQ+ people want to travel openly as themselves, concerns about safety continue to shape their decisions and behaviour.

In Canada, only 38 per cent of LGBTQ+ travellers say they are “out” while travelling, despite 77 per cent being open about their identity with close friends, the study found.

Additionally, more than one-third (38 per cent) said they would conceal their identity in order to visit a bucket-list destination.

One of the report’s most striking findings highlights the relationship between visibility and safety.

Canadian travellers who identify as “not out” reported the fewest negative experiences related to their sexual orientation while travelling over the past 12 months.

They were also the only group in which a majority did not report feeling anxious when travelling.

Precautions becoming more common

The report found that many LGBTQ+ travellers are adopting additional precautions while on the road. Four in 10 Canadian respondents said they are taking more safety measures today than they did a few years ago.

Among the most common actions are sharing live locations with trusted contacts to ease anxiety (25 per cent), using VPNs to mask online activity or access restricted websites (20 per cent), deleting dating apps before crossing borders (18 per cent), and carrying burner phones (14 per cent).

Public displays of affection also remain a concern. Forty per cent of Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers said they regularly scan their surroundings before showing affection to a partner in public.

Trans travellers face heightened challenges

The research points to particularly acute concerns among transgender travellers.

Across North America, 42 per cent of trans travellers reported feeling more anxious about travel in recent years, compared with a global average of 34 per cent.

The use of gendered facilities, such as public washrooms and changing rooms, emerged as the leading source of anxiety, cited by 26 per cent of respondents.

Positive experiences outweigh negative ones

Despite ongoing concerns, the report found that positive travel experiences continue to outnumber negative ones for many LGBTQ+ travellers.

Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of Canadian respondents reported at least one positive experience related to their gender or sexual identity while travelling in the past year.

Examples included seeing visible signs of inclusivity such as Pride flags at accommodations (39%), access to gender-neutral washrooms (39 per cent), staff using correct pronouns (31 per cent), and interactions with LGBTQ+ staff members (29 per cent).

Overall, 46 per cent of Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers said they believe acceptance has improved over the past several years.

“This year’s research highlights exactly why our Travel Proud program, our inclusive hospitality training for partners, remains so important. The data reveals a real tension for LGBTQ+ travellers today, with many feeling the need to filter or hide their identity just to experience a bucket-list destination safely,” said Ian Ackland, managing director, Americas at Booking.com, in a statement.

AI helps inform decisions 

As LGBTQ+ travellers continue to weigh personal safety against the desire to travel authentically, many are increasingly relying on digital tools to help inform their decisions.

The growing use of artificial intelligence reflects a demand for accessible, personalized guidance on issues ranging from local attitudes and cultural norms to LGBTQ+ inclusivity and safety considerations, the company says. 

Booking.com’s research found that nearly half (46 per cent) of Canadian LGBTQ+ travellers used AI to help plan a trip over the past year.

More than four in 10 (44 per cent) said they trust AI to provide objective, non-judgmental advice related to their identity while travelling, while 40 per cent reported feeling more comfortable asking AI sensitive questions about a destination’s LGBTQ+ environment than asking another person.

AI is also proving valuable for discovery. Nearly four in 10 respondents (39 per cent) said the technology is effective at uncovering niche LGBTQ+-friendly venues and experiences that can be difficult to find through traditional search methods.

Meanwhile, one-third (33 per cent) said they would find dedicated inclusion-focused search tools useful when booking travel online, such as Booking.com’s Travel Proud badge and LGBTQ+-friendly accommodation filter.

The research was commissioned by Booking.com among a sample of 13,331 respondents across 19 Markets, including 839 people from Canada.

To participate, respondents had to be 18 years old or older, must have taken a personal trip that included an overnight stay in the last 12 months, either be involved or the primary decision maker about booking and planning travel, and must be part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The survey was carried out between February and March 2026.

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