Canada And Sweden Most LGBT-Friendly Travel Destinations

The recent introduction of marriage equality has improved Germany’s position in the SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index, ranking the most LGBT-friendly destination countries. Germany now shares third place with eleven other countries. Canada and Sweden find themselves at the top of the list. The SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index is updated annually and informs travelers on the situation of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgeCabnders (LGBT) in 197 Countries and Territories.

For the first time this year, the SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index also takes into account the legal situation of transgender individuals. Canada gets full marks in this criterion and thus manages to secure joint top spot in the Index for the first time, along with Sweden. The top ten LGBT-friendly countries further consist of mostly European Union countries that have already introduced marriage equality legislation, such as The Netherlands, France, Spain and Belgium. The SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index also sees improvements in Israel, Colombia, Cuba and Botswana. On the other hand, due to numerous killings of gays, lesbians and transsexuals in 2017, Brazil has been rated down markedly compared to previous years. The USA are also on the losing side, now being ranked on 39th rather than their previous 34th place. This is mostly due to attempts by the Trump administration to curtail transgender rights in the military as well as repealing anti-discrimination legislation that had been introduced under the previous government.

Overall, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Malawi garnered particularly negative scores, with Russian Federal Republic Chechnya coming dead last in the index, due to the the state-organised persecution and killings of homosexuals in 2017 taking place there.

The SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index is assembled using 14 criteria in three categories. The first category is civil rights. Among other things it assesses whether gays and lesbians are allowed to marry, whether there are antidiscrimination laws in place, or whether the same age of consent applies to both heterosexual and homosexual couples. Any discrimination is recorded in the second category. This includes, for example, travel restrictions for HIV positive people and the ban on pride parades or other demonstrations. In the third category, threats to individuals by persecution, prison sentences or capital punishment are assessed. Evaluated sources include the human rights organization “Human Rights Watch”, the UN “Free & Equal” campaign, and year-round information on human rights violations against members of the LGBT community.

Latest Travel News From Israel

THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS FROM ISRAEL  www.goisrael.com #VisitIsrael

THE AKRA, EPIPHANES' LOST CHANUKAH STRONGHOLD IN JERUSALEM, IS FOUND AFTER 2,000-YEAR SEARCH One of Jerusalem's greatest archeological mysteries has been solved through the discovery of the Greek Akra, Epiphanes' lost stronghold in Jerusalem. The finding, after a 100-year search, reveals the location of city boundaries, main streets and monumental buildings at different times throughout history. Akra was a famous stronghold built more than 2,000 years ago by the Syrian-Greek King Antiochus IV in order to control Jerusalem and monitor activity in the Temple. Its eventual liberation by the Hasmoneans more than two millennia ago is commemorated in the annual festival of Chanukah, celebrated by Jews every December.        ARCHEOLOGICAL FIND IN JERUSALEM BRINGS BIBLE TO LIFE  Archeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archaeology recently unearthed a discovery imprinted with the rare seal of King Hezekiah of Judea near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The discovery is an impression of the royal seal of the Biblical King Hezekiah, who reigned between 727-698 BCE. The seal, which is imprinted on a soft bulla (piece of inscribed clay), bears an inscription in ancient Hebrew script reading: "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah." The script is accompanied by a two-winged sun, with wings turned downward, surrounded by two symbols meaning "life." The discovery of King Hezekiah's Royal Seal impression vividly brings to life the Biblical narratives about King Hezekiah and the activity conducted during his lifetime in Jerusalem's Royal Quarter. MOSAIC UNCOVERED IN LOD While excavating in the Neve Yerek neighborhood of Lod to prepare the ground for construction of a visitors' center, a new colorful mosaic was found. The mosaic is believed to have been used as the courtyard pavement for the villa that once stood on this space. Some 1,700 years ago, another mosaic was found in this same area, which once served as the villa's living room floor. In the current excavations, the southern part of the complex was exposed, which included the magnificent courtyard and mosaic. The scenes in this mosaic depict imagery of hunting, fish, baskets with flowers, vases and birds. In light of the new discoveries, this part of the villa will also be incorporated in the visitor center.      TEL AVIV RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST GAY-FRIENDLY CITY IN THE WORLD Travel website WowTravel.me has recognized Tel Aviv as the top gay-friendly city in the world. Tel Aviv topped 11 other major international destinations on the list, including London, Berlin, Miami, San Francisco and New York. A number of factors were taken into consideration to create the list, such as economic growth, legal protection, social acceptance, LGBT nightlife and economic opportunities. Tel Aviv is described as "a bubble of sanity in an otherwise difficult and tense area." Commended for being one of the most liberal cities in the world, WowTravel describes Tel Aviv as the "undisputed queer capital of the Middle East," highlighting its 24/7 scene, year-round warm weather, incredible cuisine, gay beaches and nightlife. In June, Gay Pride takes over the city with a week of celebrations and events, including an LGBT Theater festival, LGBT Film Festival and the famous Pride Parade.    Find the full article here.    HIGH OCCUPANCY ON FLIGHTS INTO EILAT FROM EUROPE THIS WINTER Europe's largest low-cost airline Ryanair has recently launched six weekly flights to Eilat from Kaunas, Budapest and Krakow. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin commented, "Thanks to the Tourism Ministry incentive to airline companies, about 4,000 tourists flew into Eilat in the last three weeks. This is a vote of confidence for tourism into Israel in general and Eilat in particular." The city is currently planning for the construction of an international congress and convention center adjacent to the casino, an international sports complex, a camping area, a golf course and thousands of additional hotel rooms. The Minister also remarked that "the arrival of Ryanair in Israel proves to us all that it is possible to bring the largest airlines into Israel and, with them, many tourists."   AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE TOWER OF DAVID MUSEUM The Tower of David Museum received a bronze medal for its Virtual Tour as part of the closing ceremony of the International AVICOM Conference. The 360-degree audiovisual tour highlights the breathtaking views of Jerusalem, the magnificently restored citadel as well as a tour inside the guard rooms that shows the permanent exhibition of the history of Jerusalem. The virtual tour can be found on the Tower of David Museum website here as well as an explanatory video in English about the tour.  CLASSICAL MUSIC COMES TO EILAT IN EARLY 2016 Eilat, Israel's southernmost resort destination on the Red Sea, promises a year of festivals and entertainment for 2016. The first festival of the new year will be the 18th annual ClassiCameri Festival from January 7-9, bringing in top soloists from Israel and abroad to celebrate 50 years of the Cameri orchestra. From February 1-6, the 11th annual Eilat Chamber Music Festival will take place, which is one of the leading international festivals in Israel and attracts audiences from around the world. The 2016 performances will include flamenco dancing, a baroque orchestra from Germany, Jewish music from Spain and Morocco, and much more. Other upcoming festivals include the Eilat International Bellydance Festival from February 10-13, and the Red Sea Winter Jazz Festival at the end of February.         Concerto Koeln; photo credit: Harald Hoffmann Find more information here.                            EILAT BIRDS FESTIVAL: MARCH 20-27, 2016 The 10th annual Eilat Birds Festival will take place March 20-27, 2016. The festival, the most significant international event in the Western Palearctic birding scene, is designed to bring together birders from all over the world for an unforgettable week during the peak of spring migration. The festival includes day and night birding tours of all the best sites in southern Israel, as well as bird-related activities, presentations, talks and more. In 2015, some significant birds made an appearance over the week, including rare breeds such as the Caspian Plover, Cyprus and Pied Wheatears, and Black Bush Robin.  Photo Credit: Dov Greenblat, SPNI Find more information here. MOUNTAIN TO VALLEY RELAY RACE: MAY 18-20,2016 The Mountain to Valley Relay Race is an annual sporting event that has taken place for the last eight years in the North of Israel and organized by the Mountain to Valley (M2V) Association. Close to 10,000 people are expected to participate in this year's race, taking place from May 18-20, 2016. Following the success of last year's race, the relay will for the second time be open to tourists visiting from abroad. The route starts in Tel-Hai, continues along the Northern Jordan River Valley, passes the Hula Valley Nature Reserve and meets the north section of the Sea of Galilee. The route then climbs and crosses the Lower Galilee Mountain Range, crossing the Jezreel Valley into the Mountains of Menashe, and finally ends at Timrat, just west of Nazareth.   Find more information here.

Miami Beach Is Buzzing With Deals And Activities For Gay Travelers

MIAMI BEACH, FL - Long the fun, high-end destination for gay travelers around the country and all over the world, this fall Miami Beach has lots of events, activities and deals for stimulating and exciting fall travel. From unique packages at several hotels to the one-of-a-kind White Party, one of the largest fundraisers in the country for HIV/AIDS, Miami Beach is buzzing with a calendar stuffed with experiences and happenings.

Global LGBT spending on travel is estimated to be more than $200 billion per year with millions of those dollars spent in South Florida. "Miami Beach has always been a haven for the LGBT community," notes Peggy Benua, Chair, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA). "With each passing year, however, our hotels, cultural and social venues really turn up the heat on the quality of offerings available to this community. That's what makes our city so exciting to visit, the unpredictable but endless variety of lodging and entertainment that's accessible here."

The Gaythering, Miami Beach's only hotel exclusively built to accommodate the LGBT traveler, is a 3-minute walk from Lincoln Road and one mile from the beach. Gay travelers are treated to a steam room, a cedar sauna, a hot tub and a hammam and mud lounge. A low-key bar offers craft beers and cocktails made with locally sourced ingredients. There's also a library lounge and a coffee shop.

The Dream Hotel-South Beach on Miami Beach's Collins Avenue, directly behind the former Versace Mansion and two blocks from the beach, is offering a Same Sex in City package which includes complimentary "his & his" or "hers & hers" monogrammed beach towels, bottle of sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival. VIP entry and premium bottle service for one evening at Twist LGBT lounge; custom-curated itinerary of recommended cultural events, activities and experiences as well as personal concierge services; early check in/late check out and a waived resort fee.

"Miami Beach competes with Madrid, Prague and Amsterdam for the gay travel dollar, among other top-notch international destinations, and that's why our lodging, activity and event options are so superb and exceptional," says Grisette Roque, Executive Director, MBVCA. "Miami Beach strives to be a world-class LGBT city of choice at all times."

The city tries to make visitors feel comfortable in every way starting with the LGBT Visitor Center on Miami Beach, at 1130 Washington Avenue. Opening its doors to thousands of tourists from around the globe each year, the center is located in the historic Old City Hall building and provides information and resources as well as weekly support groups. The Gay & Lesbian Walking Tour of Miami Beach is offered by the Miami Design Preservation League. The tours, start at the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive and take place the second Saturday of each month. The tour highlights the contributions of gays and lesbians to the history of Miami Beach.

One of the largest LGBT events of the year is White Party Week. It's an unparalleled week of fundraising parties and events culminating with the legendary White Party. Now more than 25 years old, White Party is the preeminent LGBT event of the season. More than 15,000 party-goers enjoy six days and nights of nonstop entertainment, all while raising awareness and money for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Can't make White Party week? Then there's a host of LGBT focused and friendly places to hang out during a Miami Beach visit including the Palace Bar with its infamous Brunchic on Sundays. Each week this Drag Brunch showcases performances and bottomless mimosas for $39.95 per person. You can also enjoy their Saturday brunch, Sabado Gigantes. Twist lounge and bar is the longest running gay nightlife venue in South Florida. A South Beach "must-do", it has continuously redefined itself in the past 18 years. Visitors can also check out Score nightclub and relax and soak up some sun in the daytime at 12th Street Beach or Haulover Beach Park.

Tourism Ireland Invites Same-Sex Couples To Tie The Knot On The Island

DUBLIN, Ireland - It may be September before same-sex marriage can take place in Ireland, but tourism chiefs have lost little time inviting LGBT couples to celebrate their weddings in the country.

Tourism Ireland unveiled its new campaign – “Ireland says I do” – just a day after the historic marriage referendum was carried.

On Saturday, Ireland became the first country in the world to introduce same sex marriage by popular vote, with 62.1% of people voting Yes.

A day later, Tourism Ireland's campaign began highlighting “dreamily romantic locations to tie the knot” and honeymoon on the island.

The campaign is being targeted at members of the LGBT community in nine overseas markets including Britain, the United States, Canada, the Nordic region, Australia, France, Spain, Italy and Germany.

It focuses on Facebook, Ireland.com and a new video showcasing The Outing, the world’s first-ever LGBT matchmaking festival, an offshoot of the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival, which takes place in October.

"The Yes vote absolutely will have a positive impact on tourism," Brian Finnegan, Editor of Gay Community News magazine, told Independent.ie Travel.

"In cities like San Francisco, Sydney or Berlin there is a sense of equality. People feel safe to be openly gay and express affection in public. The vote de-stigmatises... and that is bound to have a strong effect."

Many gay couples from Ireland have travel#Irelanded to Spain, Canada and New York City to get married, he adds.

"So why shouldn't LGBT visitors come to Ireland for the same reason?"

Research unveiled at World Travel Market 2014 showed the annual spend on travel by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people exceeded USD$200 billion (€181bn) for the first time in 2014.

The fact that Ireland has become the first place in the world to introduce same sex marriage by popular vote could also be a reason in itself to visit, Finnegan adds.

"This sends a message that Ireland is a leader in terms of equality, respect and human dignity. The photos from the day of celebration portray Ireland as a wonderfully colorful and exciting country.

"Why shouldn't that attract people to visit?"

St.Petersburg, Russia: LGBT Is Ok

Gay is ok. This was the surprise message today in St. Petersburg at a large Gay Pride Parade attended by 90,000 people, including tourists.

Police in St. Petersburg wouldn't allow controversial legislator Vitaly Milonov, best known for his anti-gay stance, to interfere with a gay pride march on May Day. He tried to stop the march on the grounds of a 'gay propaganda' law he himself sponsored.

An LGBT activists' column was part of Friday's massive rally, which marched along Nevsky Prospect, the city's main street. People from all ranges of the political spectrum participated, from the ruling United Russia party to Communists and various small opposition groups.

Milonov along with a group of about a dozen of supporters tried to block the gay pride column, which was carrying rainbow flags and banners calling for tolerance, including one depiction of the politician himself.

He wanted to stop the activists, saying they were violating a controversial law he sponsored a few years ago, which bans propaganda of gay lifestyle to minors, and brought some minors among his supporters to make his case, the Fontanka newspaper reported.

His other complaint was about Ukrainian and American flags being carried by another part of the marching column allied with the LGBT activists.

Police officers guarding the rally were not impressed with the argument. They asked the lawmaker and his group to move aside and not provoke a conflict.

The discouraged MP and his group let the column pass and went after them, with police keeping the two separated. They went their separate eventually.

Milonov is a controversial figure in St. Petersburg due to his often heated anti-gay campaigning. Critics call him homophobic and sometimes target him with LGBT-themed pranks. In February, a couple of lesbian girls met the politician on a plane and took photos of them kissing with Milonov in the background. The set quickly went viral in Russia.

VisitScotland: "Room for improvement" when making gay tourists feel welcome

EDINBURGH, Scotland - Same sex marriage law could bring a boost to tourism in Scotland but new research has found there is "room for improvement" when making gay holidaymakers feel welcome.

Research by tourism body VisitScotland found 84 percent lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people planning to wed in another country would choose Scotland as their top destination.

However two thirds of the 930 respondents to the online survey sent to individuals on the Equality Network's mailing list, Twitter and Facebook pages said there could be improvements on making people feel welcome while on holiday in Scotland.

The research showed 60 percent of respondents had taken a holiday or short break in Scotland in the last year.

With the first same sex weddings due to take place from December 31, the national tourism organisation said it believes that the new legislation could see Scotland become a destination of choice for couples looking to get married, boosting tourism and presenting a new opportunity for the industry.

The Top 10 Destinations For Gay Travel Around The World

Highlights Destinations That Are Rolling Out the Rainbow Carpet

With June just around the corner, many cities across the globe are gearing up for Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. Celebrations will abound celebrating the history, culture, diversity of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities. Thanks in large part to the Pride movement, more and more vacation destinations are now catering to the gay community, opening up a host of new travel hot spots. So, while typical gay-friendly cities such as San Francisco, Toronto and Amsterdam (to name just a few), are always great destinations, the editors at Cheapflights.com have come out with some new options in their list of Top 10 New Gay Travel Hot Spots.

Each and every year, more and more cities across the world embrace the LGBT community. You can see it right here with these six destinations, from Canada and the U.S. to Asia and the Middle East, that are rolling out the rainbow carpet for LGBT travelers:

·         Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States – San Francisco may be the West Coast’s most popular gay-friendly city, but travel farther south to New Mexico and you’ll find the up-and-coming destination, Santa Fe. A relatively small city by comparison, Santa Fe is known for its rich history, culture, beauty and charm. Most visitors venture to Santa Fe for its abundance of art and exquisite dining. While there is no district or region specific to gay visitors, travelers of all backgrounds will be welcomed in New Mexico’s capital.

·         Berlin, Germany – Perhaps overlooked in comparison to Paris or Amsterdam, Berlin is one of Europe’s most interesting destinations. Because of the city’s tumultuous history, the juxtaposition of old and new adds to its uniqueness and provides the perfect backdrop for a vacation. While Berlin has been known as one of Germany’s most gay-friendly cities, it’s rapidly growing as a hot spot for all visitors thanks to its array of museums, art, restaurants, live music and late-night scene.

·         Hong Kong, China – While there is still a mildly conservative attitude among Hong Kong culture with regard to marriage, the people of Hong Kong are big supporters of personal freedoms, and this continues to grow as Hong Kong becomes a hot spot for gay and lesbian travel. This truly international city is rampant with shopping, museums, festivals and restaurants. Most of the gay districts are in the more westernized restaurant and bar areas, like Soho and Lan Kwai Fong, but the entirety of the city is considered gay friendly.

·         Sao Paulo, Brazil - While Rio de Janeiro might seem like the obvious destination for travelers looking for a gay-friendly city, there’s much to do and see in Brazil’s largest and most populous city, Sao Paulo. As residents of one of the most diverse cities in South America, Paulistanos (as the locals are called) hail from all walks of life, but they are known to share one thing: a love of partying. While the city in its entirety is gay and lesbian friendly, Jardins is known as the popular restaurant and bar area for gay travelers.

·         Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada – What was once the destination for honeymooners and families has become a popular spot for travelers young, old, single, married, gay or straight. While Niagara Falls doesn’t have a particularly thriving district or regions specific to the gay and lesbian population, gay-friendly hotels and accommodations are abundant. And of course, the breathtaking falls make it a top vacation site for any traveler.

·         Tel Aviv, Israel – What was once the destination for honeymooners and families has become a popular spot for travelers young, old, single, married, gay or straight. While Niagara Falls doesn’t have a particularly thriving district or regions specific to the gay and lesbian population, gay-friendly hotels and accommodations are abundant. And of course, the breathtaking falls make it a top vacation site for any traveler.

The destinations rounding our list of gay travel hot spots are: Cancun, Mexico; Cape Town, South Africa; Barcelona, Spain; and Brussels, Belgium. To read the details on these and Cheapflights.com’s complete list of Top 10 New Gay Travel Hot Spots, visitwww.cheapflights.com/news/top-10-new-gay-travel-hot-spots.