A prize that does not celebrate only a holiday destination, but a model of tourism development based on social sustainability and inclusion. Spain received the QPRIize 2025 for the best international destination for its commitment to the LGBTQ+community, a recognition assigned by the magazine Quiiky Magazine to those realities in the sector who have distinguished themselves for having created a truly welcoming and respectful tourist offer of all diversity.
The prize, collected in Milan by the director of the Spanish Tourism Body, Blanca Pérez-Sauquillo, is not a point of arrival, but the photograph of a structured path. Spain, in fact, positioned itself permanently at the top of international rankings such as the Spartacus Gay Travel Index not only for its lively cultural life or for the beauty of its landscapes, but above all for a solid legislative framework that protects the rights of all, from the egalitarian marriage to the rules against discrimination.
But the laws, alone, are not enough to create a truly inclusive environment. The Spanish strategy rests on a commitment that starts from the inside and extends to the entire tourist supply chain. The Spanish Tourism Body (Turespaña) has started specific training courses for its staff and, in parallel, develops programs intended for companies in the sector to strengthen skills on welcome and adapt services to the needs of the LGBTQ+community.
This approach translates into concrete and measurable actions. The collaboration with Booking.com are an example for the “Travel Proud” project, which certifies truly inclusive hotel structures, or adhesion, as the first country in the world, to the “Proud Destinations” program of the Iglta, the global organization for LGBTQ+ tourism+ affiliated to the UN. A commitment that also manifests itself in marketing, with support for worldwide events such as Valencia’s Gays 2026.
The result is a widespread offer that goes beyond the commonly known places. If Madrid, with the Chueca district, and Barcelona, with its Circuit Festival, have long been reference points, today the “network of destinations for diversity” actively promotes safe and open spaces across the country. By Sitges, with its atmosphere Boémien, to the liveliness of Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol; From the tradition of Seville, which hosts the pride of the South, to the inclusive beaches of Gran Canaria, home of the Maspalomas Gay Pride.
This model shows how social sustainability is a strategic asset that generates value. Through the “Spain Talks” forums, aimed at professionals in the sector, Turespaña continues to promote a constructive dialogue to share the best practices and consolidate tourism that does not limit itself to hosting, but that welcomes, protects and enhances each individual.
