ACCESSIBLE TOURISM QUESTIONS TO ASK DESTINATIONS


A areas ccess all


Ask the right questions to ensure an accessible holiday, says Katie McGonagle


@katie_mcgonagle I


f half your clientele said they weren’t getting good customer


service, you’d be asking yourself what could have gone so wrong, and doing everything you could to put it right. Yet that’s exactly how


travellers with disabilities or other accessibility needs feel, according to the latest research from Amadeus. It found that 46% of the 800 travellers surveyed had encountered a “lack of skilled customer service” in the booking process, and “a void of information regarding destination accessibility”. Knowing the right questions


to ask is a good start, so we canvassed specialists from across the sector to see what to watch out for when booking an accessible break. And if this sounds like a niche issue, it’s not; the accessible travel sector in the US and EU alone is estimated to be worth $70 billion. More than two billion people around the world have some sort of


accessibility needs, and the figure is tipped to rise, so if you’re not fully switched on to what your clients need, you’re missing out on a potentially lucrative customer base.


w AIRPORT ASSISTANCE Don’t let clients be put off by the first leg of the journey – UK airports are well set up for those with mobility issues or hidden disabilities such as autism or dementia. Look online in the first


instance, as airport websites offer guidance – from walking distances and disabled parking to detailed notes on mobility aids, accessible toilets and how to get extra assistance – plus contact details to notify the airline of your client’s needs, usually required at least 48 hours in advance. Gatwick has led the way,


becoming the UK’s first autism- friendly airport last year and introducing a hidden disability lanyard to alert staff members


14 December 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 59


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