HOLIDAYS AND HOMOSEXUAL IDENTITY

The sexuality dimension to tourism studies is under-explored, This pap er seeks to contribute to the development of such a dimension by exami ning the significance of holidays for homosexual men. The evident targ eting of holidays specifically at homosexuals reflects the strength of the 'pink pound' and such holidays are ostensibly sex-focused. As, ho wever, the construction of sexual identity involves a societal input i t is argued that holidays facilitate the construction of a homosexual identity. Much of the search for a homosexual identity necessarily inv olves travel and is analogous to tourism (travel to the 'resort' of th e homosexual world) even though not involving holiday-taking, In addit ion, however, the taking of holidays by homosexuals serves a role in c onstructing identity; social censure of homosexuality makes the holida y a particularly necessary and significant agent for identity-construc tion. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.