NEWS ANALYSIS
LEFT: Amar Latif, founder and director of Traveleyes
FAR LEFT: Research shows accessible tourism in Europe is worth €394 billion
BELOW: Travel companies are being encouraged to use technology to convey useful accessible information
56 million people with a disability, and disposable income of $544 billion. In China there are 83 million with a disability, while the global total is thought to be one billion. She says it was sometimes very
difficult to talk to accommodation providers by phone to ask them about facilities, but people with disabilities often had at least two people travelling with them and stayed longer than average. “Phrases like ‘wheelchair
accessible’ mean absolutely nothing; disabled people need certainties,” she adds.
CHANGES IN SIGHT Joining Jarvis on the panel is Amar Latif, founder and director of UK company Traveleyes, who describes himself as “the blind guy who wants to show you the world”. Traveleyes runs group tours around the world for blind solo travellers, who are matched with fully sighted participants. It puts great emphasis on sensory experiences with trips to vineyards, street markets and gardens, and groups dine together with sighted and unsighted guests changing partners each day. Disabled travellers may have special needs, but as Jarvis points out, they want to experience travel just like everyone else. “Nowhere is 100% accessible,
but just give us the information, preferably online, and we’ll make our own minds up,” she says.
Tourism for All: the business case for inclusive tourism takes place today from 14:45-15:30 in the UKI & International Inspiration Zone
BELOW LEFT: The conference session aims to dispel myths about accessible travel
MAKE TOURISM RESPONSIBLE
• All travel companies should publish information on which trips are accessible and for whom.
• All tourism businesses need to publish a statement of commitment on their websites by 2023.
• By 2023, every travel company should have specially trained staff in order to assist customers with access requirements.
• Every travel organisation should make its website accessible to people with disabilities by 2023.
• Tourist boards must better plan and advise travellers of routes and sights that meet their needs.
• More pre-departure information is needed.
• Aircraft should be configured so passengers are able to sit in their own wheelchairs by 2025, and should be fitted with an accessible toilet.
• Airports and airlines should adopt the UK lanyard scheme and implement it worldwide for those with less visible or “hidden” conditions.
• A new organisation for free legal advice should be established in each country to help bring legal cases forward that may be in breach of national disability and equality legislation.
• Travellers with accessibility requirements must not settle for anything less than the very best customer service.
Source:
responsibletravel.com
04.11.2019 WTM OFFICIAL EVENT DAILY
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