Gay and Lesbian Tourism Australia (GALTA) has endorsed Welcome With Pride as its training and accreditation program for LGBTQIA+ inclusive tourism.
The move gives tourism businesses across Australia a clear pathway to strengthen their commitment to welcoming and inclusive visitor experiences.
As Australia’s peak body for LGBTQIA+ tourism for more than 30 years, GALTA aims to advance best practice across the tourism sector and support businesses to meet the evolving expectations of LGBTQIA+ travellers.
Through this partnership, GALTA members will have greater access to industry-specific training and independent accreditation that recognises businesses whose teams have been trained to deliver inclusive experiences.
Welcome With Pride provides tourism-focused LGBTQIA+ inclusivity training and independent accreditation, equipping businesses with the knowledge, confidence and practical tools to create genuinely welcoming environments.
The program supports operators to implement inclusive policies and practices while providing travellers with trusted, recognised accreditation they can identify when making travel decisions.
The pathway is simple. A business enrols its team in Welcome With Pride’s 45-minute LGBTQIA+ inclusion e-learning, giving staff the confidence to create welcoming guest experiences.
The business can then apply for accreditation, a best-practice standard that is independently assessed and verified annually.
Accredited GALTA members are then promoted directly to LGBTQIA+ travellers across GALTA’s channels and recognised on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW).
Welcome With Pride has trained more than 3,000 tourism staff and over 1,000 operators since launching in 2025.
Businesses on the program include more than 40 Accor hotels, Hilton and Hyatt properties, the South Australian Tourism Commission, Rottnest Island Authority, Experience Co and Brisbane Powerhouse, alongside holiday parks, tour operators, attractions, visitor centres and small accommodation providers across Australia.
GALTA President Louise Terry said the partnership represents an important step in strengthening industry standards and supporting operators to demonstrate their commitment to inclusion.
“Accreditation plays a vital role in helping tourism businesses move beyond intention and drive inclusive practices across the visitor experience,” Ms Terry said.
“By partnering with Welcome With Pride, we’re providing our members with access to a recognised, independently verified standard that builds traveller confidence and helps ensure LGBTQIA+ visitors feel welcomed, respected and valued.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to elevating inclusion across Australia’s tourism industry and recognising businesses that are actively investing in creating safer and more welcoming experiences for LGBTQIA+ travellers.
GALTA members who complete the program receive additional promotion to LGBTQIA+ travellers through GALTA’s channels.
http://welcomewithpride.com/contact.
