TALKING POINTS
Accessibility, diversity and artificial intelligence are a few of the hot topics shaping the future of travel – how is the industry addressing them? Andrew McQuarrie reports
The travel industry is among the most important sectors for the global economy, as well as being one of the most dynamic. It is constantly looking for fresh ideas and groundbreaking practices to improve life both for travellers and those working in the sector. Here, we take a look at some of the key topics being actively addressed by the industry, including accessibility, workplace diversity, neurodiversity awareness, the rise of new technology and the potential impact of developments in artificial intelligence.
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ACCESSIBILITY More than 16 million people in the UK have a disability – nearly one in four of the population – so the market for accessible travel is huge. Industry leaders are increasingly speaking about the need to ensure it is better served both at home and abroad. Barcelona and Amsterdam
are among the destinations that have been praised for their efforts on accessibility. For instance, the Catalan capital helps people with visual impairment to access metro and bus services through the NaviLens app, while the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, is fully wheelchair accessible.
Yet some of the biggest hurdles
facing travellers with disabilities still come at airports and on aircraft. The UK government recently convened a group of industry experts to put forward suggestions on how the aviation sector could improve its record on accessibility. Recommendations covered training, communication and the use of appropriate equipment. Travel agent Jon Fletcher, founder of accessible travel specialist The Wheelie Good Travel Company, who contributed to the group’s final report, has submitted a petition calling on the government to ensure that the recommendations
are implemented as quickly as possible. The cruise industry has
been praised for its efforts on accessibility, with lines including MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean International installing more accessible rooms than ever on their new-build ships.
DIVERSITY Many travel companies have become more vocal about the need to ensure their workforces better reflect the diversity that exists in the UK and the wider world. Virgin Atlantic’s ‘Be Yourself’ manifesto outlines the airline’s desire for its staff, customers and industry partners to “proudly
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