Vancouver has been recognized as the number one gay leisure travel destination in Canada for the second consecutive year, according to a survey of U.S. gay and lesbian travelers.

The survey, conducted by San Francisco-based Community Marketing Inc., also ranked Vancouver as the fourth most popular destination outside the U.S. -- behind London, Puerto Vallarta and Paris. Montreal and Toronto ranked fifth and sixth, respectively.

Tourism Vancouver consumer marketing manager Candice Gibson said the gay travel market is a lucrative and loyal sector that has responded very positively to Vancouver in recent years. The market has been valued at $55 billion to $65 billion annually in the U.S. alone.

"Vancouver has been newly discovered as a market for gay travellers," Gibson said. "The destination itself is a big seller and we've been able to get the word out about that over a sustained period and now it's paying off."

She said tourism operators in Vancouver understand what it means to be gay-friendly -- including supporting causes important to the gay community, employing gay staff, having sensitivity training for staff and making information available on gay and lesbian neighbourhoods and businesses in the city.

Tourism Vancouver focuses its gay-market advertising on New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, using media relations to support print and online advertising.

Tourism Vancouver said the city has clearly soared up the ranks of popular gay getaways since same-sex marriage became legal in July 2003.

Hundreds of couples have exchanged vows in the city since then.

Tags: gay canada, travel