Experience Fayetteville first in Arkansas to join gay and lesbian tourism group

Experience Fayetteville, the city’s tourism bureau, has joined the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), an organization that provides a network of free tourism resources and information for the LGBTQ community worldwide. The Clinton House Museum, operated by Experience Fayetteville, also joined the organization. According to a news release, they are the first organizations in Arkansas to become IGLTA members.

“Fayetteville is an inclusive city that is proud of its diverse culture,” Experience Fayetteville executive director Molly Rawn said in a statement. “We welcome all guests to experience what we offer here.”

IGLTA has members in 41 states and 75 countries, promoting LGBTQ-friendly accommodations, transportation, destinations, service providers and more, with the goal of “expanding LGBTQ tourism globally,” according to the release.

Fayetteville supports a “diverse and inclusive community” through a number of events including the upcoming NWA Pride Parade and Festival, presented by the Northwest Arkansas Center for Equality. The 12^th annual event, held in conjunction with Pride Month, will feature daily events June 14-17. It is the largest pride parade and festival in Arkansas, according to the release.

In addition, the Human Rights Campaign, a national initiative that advocates for LGBTQ equality, evaluated and granted the city of Fayetteville a perfect score on its 2017 Municipal Equality Index in the areas of having non-discrimination laws and a positive relationship with the LGBTQ community.

A report by Travel Industry Wire in 2016 estimated global tourism spending among the LGBTQ community at $211 billion annually.

In 2017, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce estimated that the organization’s members certified as an LGBTQ-owned business contributed to the creation of more than 33,000 jobs in the United States, and contributed more than $1.1 billion to the economy.