Abstract
Studies of gay tourists predominantly focus on gay men. On the basis of an exploratory qualitative study, this article offers knowledge on lesbian tourists and how they differ from more traditional conceptions of gay tourists. Although a very heterogeneous group, the lesbian tourists partaking in the study are less likely than gay men to visit gay destinations and gay spaces and have in many ways more in common with other female tourists than with gay male tourists. ‘Reasons to go’ for the studied lesbian tourists are constituted by a diversity of cultural, nature-based and hedonistic experiences, and lesbian bars, events and communities appear only to be a supplement to the other more central holiday experiences. This contributes with new knowledge to the existing literature. The article discusses these issues and how the multiple identities of these lesbian tourists, for example, being a woman; a mother; a partner; a particular type of tourist; and gay, are all important for their holidaying.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
