How accessible tourism invigorates community engagement and boosts business

November 5, 2024

Irrespective of the financial and social benefits the travel and tourism industry can provide to businesses who facilitate these experiences, the ability to travel and enjoy products, services, and environments is a fundamental right for every disabled person. As such, it is the responsibility of these same businesses and attraction providers to ensure that their facilities and environments are as accessible as they possibly can be.

But what makes a tourist attraction truly accessible? If you work within the tourism sector, implementing wheelchair ramps is probably what comes to mind first. And yes, physical accessibility is absolutely a key part of the process, but the overall development of a a truly accessible tourism industry is a lot more than just this. It means ensuring sites and services inclusive to all, embedding inclusive design elements from the outset which ensure that disabled people, regardless of their specific ability, are able to engage in and enjoy different leisure activities, restaurants, heritage sites, and overnight accommodation independently and with dignity.

Due to how complex creating truly accessible tourism experiences can be, implementing changes requires a concerted effort on part of the service provider and will, of course, come at a financial cost in the short-term. However, the overall benefits to providers massively outweighs any short-term loss. In fact, the benefits are three-fold; it generates income for businesses thanks to increased capacity and spending from disabled people (who contrary to popular myth, have considerable expendable incomes), promotes sustainable built environments in the long-term, and crucially, allows service providers to comply with globally increasing standards of access. As when legislation is introduced which makes less accessible tourist locations legally, accountable service providers can rest assured that thinking ahead was the right call.

Raising standards of inclusion is not mere speculation but a palpable reality. Direct Access works with architects on new-build projects across the world from the United States to the Middle East, and while every architect firm is expected to comply with local laws, they will often go further to attract the wide market of potential disabled customers. What’s more is that, according to the World Health Organization, 15% of the global population, or around 1 billion people, experiences disabilities that can complicate their travel journeys.

With each of these factors in mind, it should come as unsurprising that municipalities and governments around the world are collectively experiencing pressure to make their facilities and tourist experiences inclusive. So it stands to reason that by promoting awareness and implementing changes that foster an inclusive travel environment for everyone, disabled people, service providers, and regulatory authorities all benefit in different ways.

Embracing accessible tourism is not just a moral imperative; it is also a strategic business move. By appealing to a wider demographic, destinations can enhance local economic prospects and generate a thriving tourism industry, creating new jobs for local people and even increasing the number of non-disabled visitors. It is rare for disabled people to travel alone; instead, they are accompanied by others who assist them in moving around and communicating, which presents an opportunity to make a positive impression on all guests. A favorable impression of an accessible location might also motivate those who are traveling with return since they were pleased with the experience, the level of service, and the chance to enjoy the place with their friends or relatives who have disabilities.

Disabled people will virtually always prefer to return to places that they are certain are adapted to their needs and where staff will give them with great service, as there are only a very small number of accessible venues. Because they won’t want to take chances with potentially inaccessible locations, maintaining a reasonable degree of accessibility for individuals with disabilities will improve their loyalty to the place in question.

Tourist destinations and public facilities should be adapted to the needs of persons with both physical, emotional, and communicative disabilities, which sounds scary when you consider how many disabilities are out there. But often the solutions are simple, such as providing information in alternative accessible formats like Braille, Easy Read, or Large Print, or ensuring that Induction Loops are present at all public-facing areas like reception desks and service counters. Accessibility is not just a feature; it’s a fundamental principle of great design. By implementing universal design and reasonable adaptations in our spaces, we can transform accommodations, dining, and public facilities into truly welcoming tourist destinations.

Creating accessible environments can only have a positive impact on a business’ local community. As inclusive practices inevitably snowball into quality of life improvements for both locals and visitors, socio-economic growth is generated, which benefits absolutely everyone, including the most vulnerable people in society.

Once disabled people are granted equal access to local amenities, happiness and personal satisfaction within that area also increases – which circles back to benefit businesses, increasing overall activity and spending within the local area.

So now that we have properly established the benefits of accessible tourism, the question remains; how can stakeholders begin their accessibility journey and make a difference? The answer is to first assess what barriers to access may exist on your project by seeking guidance from an accessibility consultant, like Direct Access.

Collaborating with clients, architects, and design teams, we bring inclusive visions to life across a diverse range of projects, from intimate community venues to UNESCO heritage sites and renowned museums, theme parks, and retail centers. We have helped countless organisations across twenty years to meet their social responsibility and embed inclusive best practices in both new-build construction projects and refurbishments of existing services and environments.

Elevate your accessibility standards with our expert access audits and consultancy services. Together, we can navigate your journey towards inclusivity, leveraging our deep understanding of international standards and real-life experiences with disability.

How accessible tourism invigorates community engagement and boosts business

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