DESTINATIONS MYTH-BUSTING ACCESSIBLE TOURISM
ASK THE EXPERT
David Skillicorn, general manager, Prestige Holidays “From an agent’s perspective, this is challenging but rewarding and, with an ageing population, a growing area. The minute someone enquires about adapted rooms, our reservations team will request further details because, dependent on the specific mobility issues, there are
many things to consider and pre-book. It’s also worth enquiring how fit and able a travelling companion is. This will help us judge the suitability of a property in terms of access to all areas. Abta also has a very useful checklist for disabled and less mobile passengers and we would recommend agents use this as a guide. Within reason anything is possible, but it is vital we are appraised of all the facts in advance.”
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travelweekly.co.uk 24 November 2016
Sandbanks Beach in Poole, Dorset, for example, has five beach-accessible wheelchairs available for a £25 deposit, while nearby Boscombe Pier Beach can guarantee beach huts with disabled access and beach-going wheelchairs for hire from the Boscombe Beach Office. Northern Ireland’s flagship
tourist attraction the Titanic Belfast has also been a real champion for this market with its current ‘Year of Access’ campaign, shining a light on a different disability each month to encourage greater understanding among staff and visitors.
◗ THE DISABILITY SECTOR WILL NOT OFFER A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT… Putting aside any moral outrage for a moment, this is the biggest myth about disability travel. According to disability charity Scope, the total spending power of households that include a disabled person is around £212 billion a year.
Taking travel spending alone,
research by VisitEngland found the accessible tourism market in England alone was worth at least £3 billion for overnight visits, rising to £12.4 billion if you include day trips. And farther afield, the US Open Doors Organization estimates adults with disabilities in the US spend $17.3 billion a year on travel, and in Australia, it’s about $8 billion. Maybe travel suppliers smell a
‘fad’ or think it’s post-Paralympic hype, but tell that to an ageing population who are ever-more interested in opportunities to enjoy active leisure and travel opportunities. It’s also worth understanding
that because of the emerging nature of this marketplace, disabled people tend to be incredibly brand loyal. As anybody impacted by disability will tell you, the worst case scenario is a ‘nasty surprise’ whereby a promise of access or facilities isn’t kept. Finding a trusted provider of travel services
is a huge relief for people who are simply looking for providers they can rely on. Recognising the value of the ‘purple pound’, Lohmann adds: “Barrier-free travel, as it’s called in Germany, is top of our government agenda. The focus is travel with ease and comfort, for experienced travellers and an ageing society. For the travel trade, accessible travel presents a growth opportunity and at the GNTO, we are here to put UK tour operators in touch with the right people in Germany.” There’s clearly an opportunity
BELOW:
Accessible beach on
Lake Stechlin, Germany
for savvy agents to get ahead of the game, as disability travel is increasingly moving from compliance – making activities accessible because the law requires it – to choice, as a result of growing demand and greater visibility. Tait adds: “With awareness of accessible travel increasing and more providers adapting their products or starting to specialise, it can only grow in volume and value.”
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