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Now, as Africa has recently seen a number of new laws passed in various countries increasing criminal penalties against gay people, there seems to be a different contrary trend in the Caribbean. Dominica has become the latest Caribbean country to decriminalize same-sex relations. The High Court there ruled parts of the law that criminalized same-sex activity went against the country's constitution. That's not only good news for the islands gay community, but also potentially for its tourist industry and 2021. Port by the business group opened for Business found that LGBT plus discrimination was costing parts of the Caribbean up to $4.1 billion a year in tourism or up to 5.7% of GDP. But in 2022, Cuba legalized gay marriage. The same year, Antigua and Barbuda and two other Caribbean nations decriminalized *** ***. I'm joined now by Darren Burn, founder and CEO of LGBT Travel Agency out of office.com. Darren, thanks for being with us here on World Business Report. First of all, I guess you obviously welcoming the change of the situation in Dominica. That's right, it's great news and I absolutely applaud the activists who brought the case uh to court. They're obviously few countries than ever where it's illegal to be gay and that's a good thing. But in the Caribbean is undoubtedly a beautiful destination, but it is one that has fell off limit to many LGBTQ plus travelers for years because of its antiquated laws. So it's absolutely, absolutely welcome and I know there'll be people listening in the Caribbean who are gay themselves and it will be massive relief to them to know that things are changing for the better. But indeed, but the financial benefit of this is clear, I guess I mean. Report from Open for Business certainly suggested there was a penalty for anti LGBT laws. I mean tourism, obviously the area you're in on this. Is tourism going to be boosted as a result of this change? I would like to think so many of our clients out of office. com are from the US and they will want to travel to the Caribbean, but many have been put off from doing so because of the laws that have been in place. So undoubtedly there will be more people that want to travel. You know, there is clear evidence that people boycott places where it is illegal and, and unfortunately that's just the way and that has a knock on effect for tourism dollars. I think it's actually true. In 2011, I think there was a case to American men were prosecuted in Dominica visitors for for involvement in. And gay fundamentally, and that obviously is changing. How quickly though is the message going to get through? I mean, will people just go, ohh, yes, it's fine now? Or will there be a, a kind of waiting for things to perhaps even out, perhaps see how it goes down, that kind of thing? I think probably the latter. I mean, you know that the in in many places the law doesn't always match the reality. And you know, unfortunately there are very long standing ingrained homophobia in within the Caribbean. I think in some places in the Caribbean, I think, you know, there are other islands which have been far more progressive than have been welcoming for years, like Kurosawa, Puerto Rico, Aruba, St. Martin. So that's where we do see clients wanted to go to more. But that is a good thing that, you know, Dominica has made these changes and hopefully that will boost its tourism dollars in due course. And. How much in a way does this matter? Because people might say, well, you know, there's plenty of other tourist non gay tourists personally happy to go there, perhaps gay tourists who, who, who don't, who conceal what they are. Does it actually matter? Does it make much difference financially in terms of the tourist dollar? Well, yes, it does in fact, because LGBT couples tend to have 23% more disposable income and therefore spend more dollars per person in destination. And so actually if you could get more LGBT travellers to your destination, you are going to see more tourism dollars as a result of it. And are you seeing, say, in the Caribbean now? Is there a general feeling that this is a welcoming place, perhaps in a way that as we're mentioning Africa, perhaps some African countries aren't? I think so. I think it's going in the right direction. There's still a long way to go, as I said. And and you know, we can see that the Caribbean is still missing out on those billions in tourism revenue, but ultimately that those billions are there for the taking. And if the Caribbean wants to welcome LGBTQ travelers, then LGBTQ travelers will want to travel there and will support them. Will you be heading to Dominica anytime soon? I'd love to. I'd love to try. I love trying destinations, even sometimes places where it's illegal to be gay, it is possible to travel. So it is just about making sure you know the right destinations. And that's exactly what our company is there for, to help LGBT character. Travelers navigate the world safely. Alright, Thanks so much for being with us. Darren Byrne, there, founder and CEO of the LGBT travel agency out of office.com, reflecting on that change in Dominica, the latest Caribbean country to decriminalize same-sex relations, and perhaps the financial benefit they might get from that. That's it from World Business Report.