Stockholm Pride attracts international visitors

Stockholm has become a popular destination for LGBT travelers from around the world. This is especially apparent during Stockholm Pride, one of Stockholm's largest annual event.

- Stockholm Pride has a reputation around the world to be both safe and fun. Our partners have noticed an increase in international LGBT travelers during Pride Week, especially from the USA, says Christina Guggenberger, Project Manager Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network within Stockholm Visitors Board

For nearly a decade, the City of Stockholm, through Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network, has actively worked to attract LGBT travelers to Stockholm. A combination of an open and diverse city, targeted marketing to put Stockholm on the LGBT map along with the image of Sweden as an open country standing up for human rights has been some of the success factors.

The City of Stockholm supports Stockholm Pride
The LGBT visitor is an important group for the City of Stockholm. 450 000 SEK (70000 USD/45 000 GBP) is given yearly by Stockholm Visitors board for marketing the festival.

- The Pridefestival builds the Stockholm brand as an open and welcoming city. It is an important issue, especially now that the LGBT movement has been difficult in other countries, says Olle Zetterberg, CEO of Stockholm Business Region

Stockholm Pride focuses on Russia
With the Stockholm Pride campaign “gowest2013.com” and the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt's condemnation of the Russian Duma's change in the law that prohibits "homosexual propaganda" are two strong signals that Sweden does not accept the oppression that LGBT people are forced to live in Russia.

- We cannot stand silent and watch while a Pride-festival becomes an illegal act and can’t be implemented in Russia. Pride is an important symbol of the freedom to love anyone. With the gowest2013- campaign, we urge anyone who has a voice to show LGBTQ people in Russia there are many people in Sweden who joins their fight, says Peter Rimsby, president of Stockholm Pride.

Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network:

Christina Guggenberger, project manager, Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network at Stockholm Visitors Board, phone: +46 8 508 28533, christina.guggenberger@stockholm.se.

Ann-Charlotte Jönsson, PR Manager Stockholm Visitors Board, phone: +46 8 508 28 507, ann-charlotte.jonsson@stockholm.se

Magnus Lindbergh, Marketing Manager VisitSweden USA , phone: +16462263588, magnus.lindbergh@visitsweden.com.