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San Francisco tops in gay poll
07/12/2006 10:54 - (SA)
Washington - Gay and lesbian American travellers consider San Francisco and Montreal the most "gay-friendly" tourist destinations in the United States and Canada, according to a poll released on Wednesday.
San Francisco was by far rated the friendliest destination for homosexuals in the United States, scoring 76%, followed by the Florida island of Key West with 57% and Fire Island, New York, with 48%.
In Canada, Montreal topped the list with 44%, followed by 39% for Toronto and 38% for the western city of Vancouver.
Gay men and lesbians say the main criteria for a destination to be considered gay-friendly is a place where homosexuals are safe from harassment, intimidation, threats or physical violence, the survey found.
In addition, the survey found that individual gay men spend $260 (about R1834) more than heterosexuals during a trip. While gay men spend $800 (R5640), the travel costs for heterosexuals are $540 (R3807) and for lesbians $570 (R4019).
The national online survey was conducted among about 2 020 US gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender travellers aged 21 and older who have taken at least one trip within the past 12 months. Also surveyed were 1 010 heterosexual travellers.
The poll was conducted by the Travel Industry Association in partnership with Harris Interactive, a market research firm, and Witeck-Combs Communications, a marketing communications firm specialising in reaching the gay and lesbian consumer market.
- SAPA
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South Africa
