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Manager support would also play a key role, with close to six in 10 reporting having a supportive direct manager.
Business travel can open doors to new markets, professional connections, and career-defining opportunities. But as cross-border travel accelerates across APAC, LGBTQ+ professionals are looking closely at the support available to them on the road.
Booking.com’s 2026 Travel Proud Research and Report, which gathered insights from 13,300 LGBTQ+ travellers across 19 countries, found that 57% of LGBTQ+ travellers in APAC would factor strong LGBTQ+ travel protections into their decision to work for an employer.
Half (50%) of the respondents say they feel relaxed when travelling for work. However, the findings suggest that greater clarity around travel policies, local laws and available support could help more people feel prepared before they leave.
At present, 58% of respondents say they feel adequately briefed on local LGBTQ+ laws when travelling to a new destination. A further 55% say their company clearly communicates the relevant travel policies and resources. Making this information easy to find — both before departure and throughout a trip — could give travellers greater assurance when visiting unfamiliar places.
Manager support is another important part of the picture. More than half (56%) of LGBTQ+ travellers say their direct manager is supportive of their concerns. For employers, the next step is to make sure that support is backed by clear processes, so that conversations about travel needs can take place openly and consistently.
The report also highlighted that inclusive travel policies can be a meaningful differentiator for employers seeking to attract and retain talent. Nearly half (49%) of LGBTQ+ employees in APAC say they have turned down a lucrative business opportunity because of safety concerns or insufficient employer support.
Half (50%) have turned down, or avoided applying for, roles at companies without clear LGBTQ+ travel protections. Meanwhile, 56% say they would feel comfortable declining a business trip to a high-risk country without worrying about the impact on their career.
“Business travel is an integral part of professional growth, especially in APAC where cross-border opportunities continue to expand rapidly,” said Laura Houldsworth, Managing Director of Asia Pacific, Booking.com. “By providing clear, accessible information and resources tailored to their needs, we can help foster a more inclusive hospitality landscape where LGBTQ+ business travellers feel confident, supported, and empowered wherever their work takes them across the region.”
As business travel continues to grow across APAC, the research suggests that accessible information, supportive leadership and inclusive hospitality can help more LGBTQ+ professionals make the most of the opportunities that travel brings.
The report also revealed other key findings, including:
- LGBTQ+ travellers report far more positive experiences than negative ones, with 85% sharing at least one positive experience specific to their gender or sexual identity when travelling in the last year.
- 36% of travellers from Taiwan are out when travelling, and was the only nation surveyed to be most likely to be out when travelling than to close friends.
- Despite reporting some of the highest levels of travel anxiety, LGBTQ+ travellers in Thailand and India are also among the most likely to feel that acceptance has improved. This view is shared by 93% of respondents in Thailand and 74% in India, compared with 58% globally.
Methodology
Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 13,331 respondents across 19 Markets:
- 222 from Argentina,
- 1,041 from Australia,
- 1,021 from Brazil,
- 839 from Canada,
- 527 from Colombia,
- 1,031 from France,
- 1,035 from Germany,
- 1,010 from India,
- 1,044 from Italy,
- 521 from Japan,
- 525 from Mexico,
- 508 from Netherlands,
- 218 from New Zealand,
- 219 from Singapore,
- 1,088 from Spain,
- 216 from Taiwan,
- 208 from Thailand,
- 1,019 from UK, and
- 1,039 from US.
To participate respondents had to be 18 years old or older, must have taken a personal trip that included an overnight stay in the last 12 months, either be involved or the primary decision maker about booking and planning travel, and identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. The survey was carried out between February and March 2026.
READ MORE: Beyond Pride month: How managers can be better allies to their LGBTQ+ employees
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