In May 2024, the Basque Country became the stage for a milestone in inclusive tourism: the first LGBT+ Travel Symposium ever held in Europe. Organized by Basquetour in collaboration with OutThere Magazine and supported by Queer Destinations, this international event positioned the Basque Country as an open, welcoming, and safe destination for the LGBTQ+ community.
Over the course of three days, Euskadi hosted more than 35 buyers, influencers, content creators, and tourism providers, with the aim of building a more inclusive and representative tourism industry. The packed programme included training sessions, roundtables, networking events, various fam trips to explore Euskadi’s cultural, natural and culinary offerings, as well as social gatherings.
The experiences shared during the event proved that inclusion, authenticity, and economic development can go hand in hand in a competitive tourism proposal. It was a logistical and organizational challenge that Lamarka met with professionalism and sensitivity, leaving a lasting impression and helping establish the Basque Country as a benchmark for diverse tourism.
