As someone who covers LGBTQ+ topics year-round, I’ve noticed a recurring theme whenever travel safety comes up: advice is often built around the destination rather than the person. Government advisories and country rankings can be useful, but they rarely capture how identity can shape someone’s experience once they arrive.
That disconnect is becoming harder to ignore as global travel continues to rebound.
To better understand where current guidance falls short, I spoke with Ava Melenchuk, Regional Security Coordinator for Europe and the CIS at Healix International, a global travel risk management company. Our conversation focused on why organizations, and travelers themselves—need to think beyond traditional safety ratings when planning international trips.
Why One Safety Rating Doesn’t Fit Every Traveler
Many organizations rely on destination risk assessments when approving business travel. While those ratings provide an overview of political stability, crime or health concerns, Melenchuk said they don’t always reflect the realities LGBTQ+ people may encounter.
“Destination risk ratings provide an important baseline, but they do not always reflect the lived experience of LGBTQ+ travelers,” she told Gayety.
A country may have anti-discrimination protections on paper while still presenting real challenges through local attitudes, inconsistent enforcement or regional differences.
She pointed to Colombia as one example. Despite legal protections for LGBTQ+ people, transgender women continue to face disproportionately high rates of violence.
“Effective travel risk management must look beyond legislation,” Melenchuk said, adding that organizations should also consider access to healthcare, recognition of same-sex relationships, personal security and how local authorities respond when incidents occur.
The Same Trip Can Mean Different Experiences
One of the biggest misconceptions, according to Melenchuk, is assuming every traveler experiences a destination the same way.
“Two employees traveling to the same destination may have very different experiences depending on how they are perceived, local laws, cultural attitudes, and access to support.”
She recalled a case involving a traveler whose gender presentation differed significantly from the gender marker on their identification, leading to heightened scrutiny during airport security screening in the United States.
Moments like these illustrate why blanket travel guidance often falls short.
Instead of relying solely on country ratings, Melenchuk believes employers should provide destination-specific information that accounts for the circumstances employees may realistically face.
Preparation Can Prevent Problems
For LGBTQ+ travelers, preparation extends well beyond checking visa requirements or weather forecasts.
“Preparation is one of the most effective ways to reduce travel risk,” Melenchuk said.
That means researching not only local laws but also how they’re enforced, understanding cultural expectations, locating affirming healthcare providers and identifying trusted local resources before departure.
She shared another example involving an LGBTQ+ student traveling to Japan with gender-affirming medication. Before the trip, Healix advised the traveler to secure an import certificate and consult Japan’s Ministry of Health to avoid issues at customs.
It’s the type of practical guidance that can prevent stressful situations before they happen.
Government travel advisories remain a valuable starting point, Melenchuk said, but they rarely provide the full picture for LGBTQ+ travelers.
Instead, she recommends learning about local attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people, regional differences within a country, privacy concerns, access to medications and emergency support services.
Building Better Travel Policies
For employers, inclusive travel policies don’t require separate programs exclusively for LGBTQ+ employees.
“The strongest duty of care programs build LGBTQ+ travel considerations into broader travel risk management processes rather than treating them as a separate issue,” Melenchuk said.
That starts before employees leave by offering destination-specific guidance, clear communication channels during travel and opportunities to provide feedback afterward. She emphasized that effective policies should support workers without requiring them to disclose personal information.
Organizations should also vet hotels, transportation providers and medical networks to ensure they offer respectful treatment and maintain confidentiality if travelers need assistance abroad.
A Changing Global Landscape
Melenchuk said travel planning has become more complicated in recent years as legal protections have expanded in some countries while shrinking in others.
“The global landscape has become increasingly uneven,” she said.
Rather than relying on outdated assumptions, organizations should monitor changes in legislation, political developments and local conditions before every trip.
Thailand serves as one example of how quickly circumstances can evolve. After legalizing same-sex marriage in 2025, the country introduced additional measures supporting LGBTQ+ communities the following year. At the same time, other parts of the world have moved in the opposite direction by introducing new restrictions or increasing criminal penalties affecting LGBTQ+ people.
Because of that, static destination ratings are no longer enough.
Travel Safety Is Personal
One point from my conversation stood out above the rest: travel risk isn’t universal.
Two people can board the same flight, stay at the same hotel and follow the same itinerary, yet leave with completely different experiences because of how they’re perceived or treated.
For LGBTQ+ travelers, understanding that reality isn’t about creating fear. It’s about making informed decisions.
As more companies expand international travel, the opportunity isn’t simply to improve corporate policies. It’s to recognize that meaningful duty of care starts with acknowledging that travelers don’t all face the same challenges, and preparing for that difference before anyone ever leaves home.
Click here to read Healix’s full LGBTQ+ Special Advisory and explore destination-specific travel guidance for LGBTQ+ travelers.
