Arguineguín ( Guanche for "quiet water") is one of the most populated towns along the south coast of Gran Canaria , Spain . A once typical Canarian fishing village, it is now home to both locals and tourists, as the settlement has continued to grow. In 2015 it had 2517 inhabitants. It is part of the municipality of Mogán and is located southwest of Las Palmas .
35-533: There are several bars and restaurants, the latter specialising in fresh fish caught the same day. Tuesday is market day (the largest on the island). Arguineguín features a beach and a port. Tourism is not as popular in Arguineguín as in the larger places as Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles . Holiday hotels, however, can be found in Arguineguín; Marino I, Dorado Beach, Club Puerto Atlantico, Sunwing Resort Arguineguín, Green Beach Hotel and Radisson Blu Resort to mention
70-530: A tropical climate , as the average temperature in all months of the year is above 18 °C (64 °F). Winters are very mild to warm and dry, with night temperatures rarely drop below 13 °C (55 °F) while summers are hot and very dry. It is one of the regions with the highest average annual temperatures in Spain , due to its very southern location and the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. Maspalomas
105-453: A Summer University (in collaboration with the university of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , mainly focused on tourism-related activities). It has a wide range of accommodation on offer, although the urbanism concept speaks of an horizontal expansion (bungalows) rather than high rises. Much appreciated as a winter destination for foreign tourists, mostly from north-European countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, etc.), it remains
140-408: A consciousness and positive awareness of LGBTQ travelers to their fellow inhabitants and employees. These locales also feature infrastructure, businesses and services whose representatives are sensitive to and friendly with LGBT travelers; this includes everything from bars, travel agencies/guides, restaurants, hotels, resorts, nightlife, entertainment, media, political/legal aid and, more than anything,
175-488: A nearby interchange and a highway. 27°45′44″N 15°41′01″W / 27.76222°N 15.68361°W / 27.76222; -15.68361 Maspalomas Maspalomas ( Spanish: [maspaˈlomas] ) is a tourist resort in the south of the island of Gran Canaria , Canary Islands , stretching from Bahía Feliz in the east to Meloneras in the west, including the resort towns of San Agustín , Playa del Inglés and San Fernando . Maspalomas constitutes
210-662: A print readership in excess of 20,000 every month and reaches up to another 30,000 readers on-line. In September 2012, the World Tourism Organization organized its World Tourism Day in Maspalomas, as a form of commemoration of its 50 years of existence. Maspalomas is a gay-friendly destination with many establishments catering for the LGBT community and a popular gay beach by the sand dunes. Particularly centred around Playa del Inglés . The seafront at Punta de Maspalomas,
245-427: A specific destination, to learn about gay travel to a specific city. The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) holds an annual world convention and four symposia in different tourism destinations around the world. Each symposium attracts over 500 representatives of convention & visitor bureaus, tour agencies and travel publications that specialize in the gay and lesbian market. The association
280-519: Is a form of tourism marketed to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer ( LGBTQ ) people. People might be open about their sexual orientation and gender identity at times, but less so in areas known for violence against LGBTQ people . The main components of LGBTQ tourism include: destinations, accommodations, and travel services wishing to attract LGBTQ tourists; people looking to travel to LGBTQ-friendly destinations; people wanting to travel with other LGBTQ people when traveling regardless of
315-585: Is available internationally. Spartacus International and FunMaps of Maplewood, New Jersey, have promoted gay- and lesbian-friendly businesses since 1982. One of Europe's gay and lesbian travel marketing specialists is Out Now Consulting . The Gay European Tourism Association (GETA) works to promote and enhance LGBT tourism in Europe. In 2003, LGBT activist Juan P. Julia Blanch opened the first gay-friendly hotel chain Axel Hotels in several cities and countries around
350-679: Is expected to continue to grow as a result of ongoing acceptance of LGBTQ people and changing attitudes towards sexual and gender minorities. Outside larger companies, LGBTQ tourists are offered other traditional tourism tools, such as networks of LGBTQ individuals who offer each other hospitality during their travels and even home swaps where people live in each other's homes. Also, available worldwide are social groups for resident and visiting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender expatriates and friends. LGBT-friendly travel destinations are popularly known because they usually maintain welcoming attitudes , with local leaders and business owners instilling
385-613: Is highly profitable; an average of US$ 65 billion is spent on gay travel in the US alone, annually. According to In Europe , the gay tourism market has been estimated at €50 billion per year by the Gay European Tourism Association. The adult LGBTQ community in the US had a total economic spending power of more than $ 600 billion annually, as of 2007 (according to Witeck-Combs), and by 2016 this had risen to $ 917 billion. Some governments tend to highlight this for foreign visitors, like
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#1732876582399420-531: Is served by the Faro de Maspalomas bus station run by the Gran Canaria Transport Authority [ es ] , which is located near the lighthouse at the end of Avenida Cristobal Colon. Bus services operated by Global Transport [ es ] provide connections to other tourist resorts and towns in the south of the island, including Playa del Inglés and Mogán , as well as to towns along
455-466: The gay community . Coinciding with the increased visibility of LGBTQ people raising children in the 1990s, an increase in family-friendly LGBTQ tourism has emerged in the 2000s, for instance R Family Vacations which includes activities and entertainment geared towards couples including same-sex weddings . R Family's first cruise was held aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines 's Norwegian Dawn with 1600 passengers including 600 children. Major companies in
490-407: The travel industry have become aware of the substantial money (also known as the " pink money ") generated by this marketing niche and have made it a point to align themselves with the gay community and gay tourism campaigns. According to a 2000 Travel University report, 10% of international tourists were gays and lesbians, accounting for more than 70 million arrivals worldwide. This market segment
525-461: The 1960s and 70s, the construction of hotels and the tourist resort began to encroach on the dunes, damaging the natural habitat, and in 1994 a 4 km (1.5 sq mi) area of dunes was declared a nature reserve to protect native wildlife. El Charco is a natural lagoon at the edge of the dunes which attracts many species of birds, eels and guppies . In the north of Maspalomas San Fernando and El Tablero were built for people working in
560-654: The Canary Islands and the Caribbean , Maspalomas has a personality of its own, as it evolved into a fully equipped town much closer to the "tourist" concept of destinations like Palm Springs , California or Palm Beach , Florida. It has a variety of infrastructure and public institutions rarely seen in other tourist areas, including private clinics and two hospitals, local and foreign schooling institutions (Spanish, English and Swedish schools), shopping and convention centres, two casinos, golf courses, sports centres, theme parks and
595-649: The GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco, often become key places for education and cultural engagement. Exhibits in general museums also highlight important events, movements, and figures in LGBT history, giving visitors the opportunity to explore these narratives. Their support of tourism includes drawing in visitors interested in exploring the history and culture of LGBT communities, offering unique and educational experiences. They also contribute to
630-557: The Villa del Conde hotel, opened in 2005, the architect created a replica of the nearby town of Agüimes (the home town of Eustasio López González [ es ] , founder of the Lopesan Hotel Group), including a distinctive replica of the large, domed Church of San Sebastián [ es ] , which serves as the hotel reception. Maspalomas serves as the base for Gran Canaria's only English language newspaper, which serves
665-526: The area. Present-day Maspalomas is the result of an ambitious development project, organized in the form of an International Ideas Contest (opened to any member of the International Union of Architects ), held in 1961 under the auspice of Alejandro del Castillo, owner and promoter of most of the space under construction. The contest was won by the French office SETAP (including the urbanist Guy Lagneau and
700-493: The destination; and LGBTQ travelers who are mainly concerned with cultural and safety issues. The slang term gaycation has come to imply a version of a vacation that includes a pronounced aspect of LGBTQ culture, either in the journey or destination. The LGBTQ tourism industry includes destinations (tourism offices and CVBs), travel agents , accommodations and hotel groups, tour companies, cruise lines, and travel advertising and promotions companies who market these destinations to
735-469: The east coast and to the island capital, Las Palmas . Plans have existed for several years to construct a rail link, called Tren de Gran Canaria , connecting Maspalomas to Gran Canaria Airport and Las Palmas . A terminus station is planned at Meloneras underneath Av. Cristóbal Colón, near the lighthouse. The scheme, estimated to cost €1,500 million, has not been confirmed due to funding problems. LGBT tourism LGBTQ tourism (or gay tourism )
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#1732876582399770-419: The economist Michel Weill) and covered the 1,060 hectares (2,600 acres) and 19 kilometres (12 mi) of coast that constitute the core area of Maspalomas - Costa Canaria . The contest paved the way for a particular way of understanding "touristic" urbanism that served as a model for later tourist development in other Canary Islands. Unlike the resort-like development model later extended to other locations in
805-415: The larger ones. The harbour here hosts a ferry service to Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria and Puerto de Mogán whilst another popular way to reach the town from Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria is by trekking over the mountain between the two towns. The town also lies on several public bus routes offering convenient service to other towns on the island. Arguineguín is also served by an expressway ( GC1 ) with
840-612: The largest tourist destination in the Canary Islands and a worldwide-known destination for LGBT tourism . The development of luxury hotels along the coast between Maspalomas and neighbouring Meloneras has resulted in some notable architectural developments. The Lopesan Villa del Conde and the Lopesan Costa Meloneras Hotels have both been designed in a Canarian Spanish Colonial Revival style, partly derived from de la Torre 's Hotel Santa Catalina (1890) in Las Palmas. For
875-459: The laws of the country before travelling to avoid issues and persecution. LGBT museums and exhibits focus on documenting and presenting the history, culture, and experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities. These institutions play a crucial role in preserving diverse LGBT stories, using artifacts, documents, and multimedia to show the community's contributions to society, art, politics, and culture. LGBT museums, like
910-626: The museum draws tourists who want to understand the evolution of LGBT rights and culture, as well as those interested in San Francisco’s important role in the LGBT rights movement. In Minnesota, the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County at the Hjemkomst Center hosted the exhibit "At Last: 10th Anniversary of Marriage Equality in Minnesota" to celebrate ten years since same-sex marriage
945-528: The official US website that promotes historic New York places in Greenwich Village , such as the Stonewall Inn or Eve's Hangout , that are well-known sites to visit for Europeans. Philadelphia was the first destination in the world to create and air a television commercial specifically marketed towards gay tourists. Philadelphia was also the first destination to commission a research study, aimed at
980-551: The opportunity to meet others and socialize. Gay travel destinations are often medium to large cities, and can coincide with the existence of gay neighborhoods . These neighborhoods often work actively to develop their reputations as safe and fun, specifically for LGBTQ people, to travel to. LGBTQ travel guide Queer in the World states, "The fabulosity of Gay New York is unrivaled on Earth, and queer culture seeps into every corner of its five boroughs". The LGBTQ tourism industry
1015-501: The promotion of inclusive tourism, attracting a diverse audience and enhancing the cultural appeal of the destinations where they are located. The GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco, established in 2011, is one of the first museums in the United States dedicated to LGBT history. It offers both permanent and temporary exhibits that cover different aspects of LGBT life and history. By focusing specifically on LGBT history,
1050-440: The southernmost part of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana , and of the island. Before the era of tourism, Maspalomas was the name of a hamlet in what today is San Fernando de Maspalomas . Its name may derive from that of Rodrigo Mas de Palomar, a settler and soldier from Majorca , or from Francisco Palomar, a Genoese friend of Alonso Fernandez de Lugo who purchased 87 Guanche slaves from Güímar and settled in
1085-528: The southernmost point of the resort, is dominated by a 56-metre-high (184 ft) lighthouse , El Faro de Maspalomas . Completed in 1890, it was built to guide ships travelling between Europe and the Americas. The lighthouse overlooks the popular 12 kilometres (7.5 mi)-long Maspalomas beach. To the east of the lighthouse, the Maspalomas Dunes stretch inland all the way to Playa del Inglés . During
Arguineguín - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-590: The tourist industry. In between Sonnenland was constructed, on a crest, to accommodate expats . An array of large satellite dishes visible on a hill from Meloneras is Maspalomas Station , an ESA ground station that supported several NASA space missions, including the Mercury Program , the Gemini Program , the Apollo 11 Moon landings, and Skylab . Maspalomas has a hot desert climate with influences of
1155-741: The world. There are a large number of LGBT events, such as: Many OTA travel websites now feature LGBT travel search options. The most popular travel resources are still ones from local LGBT media organizations and online LGBT news and lifestyle websites. Additional destination-specific LGBT travel information is commonly found on niche gay travel blogs. The US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs now offers information about LGBT travel and provides tips about what one can do before traveling. It also provides information about different issues one should take care of before traveling. In 69 UN member states, there are laws that criminalize consensual same-sex relationships , making it important to check
1190-514: Was founded in 1983, and it currently represents over 2000 members. Its headquarters are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida . The "17th International Conference on Gay & Lesbian Tourism" was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, on 11–13 December 2016. With nine issues a year, Passport Magazine is currently the only gay and lesbian travel magazine still in publication in the United States. It
1225-423: Was legalized in the state. The exhibit included a range of materials, such as photographs, legal documents, and personal stories, to show the journey toward marriage equality in Minnesota. It attracted both tourists and local visitors, especially those interested in civil rights history and the progress of LGBT legal and social acceptance. By focusing on this important legal milestone, the exhibit provided insight into
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