What is Accessible Tourism?
"Accessible tourism is the ongoing endeavour to ensure tourist destinations, products and services are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical limitations, disabilities or age." - Tourism Australia
Within Australia, almost one in five people identify as being with a disability – approximately four million people. With an ageing population, it is expected that this number will increase over the next 20-40 years and that, by 2050, it is estimated that almost one-quarter of the population will be aged 65+ years*.
Accessible tourism is the fastest growing market in tourism – people who identify as having a disability spend almost $10.8 billion a year within Australia on tourism related activities – including day tripping, overnight stays and inbound travel – and by 2020, accounted for 25% of all tourism spend*.
Globally, it is reported that approximately 23% of the world's population have accessible needs - representing the fastest growing market in tourism; and with only 4% of this figure using a wheelchair – who are accessible tourists?
Accessible tourists include:
People with access requirements including those with young children in prams or pushchairs.
People with mobility restrictions that may require the assistance of a walking stick, walker or scooter.
·People with permanent or temporary disabilities that may include physical or mobility, hearing, vision, reading difficulties or cognitive (understanding, learning or speech)
People who travel with a disability are reported to travel for longer, spend more and, when they have had an enjoyable, accessible and inclusive experience, will become positive advocates of your business via word of mouth through customer reviews and within their own communities and have a higher propensity to return.
In an effort to change the perception of what it means to be an accessible tourism business and assist Queensland operators better cater for people of all abilities, Queensland has declared 2023 the Year of Accessible Tourism – with $8 million in funding now available to small and medium sized tourism industry operators to assist in improving tourism and events infrastructure and accessibility.
Queensland Operators – Accessible Tourism Infrastructure Grant
How to promote that your business is accessible:
Ensure your information is easy for your guests to find.
Ensure your accessible information is accurate – that you are delivering exactly what you are promising.
Provide information about the accessibility features of your experience – this can be done using photos, floor plans and descriptions of your experience, including measurements where necessary such as doorframes, height of bedding and surrounding spaces.
Ensure all images on your website have alt text added to assist travellers who are vision impaired.
Review all third-party website listings and ensure the accessible check-list for your property has been completed.
Review the accessible section of your ATDW listing.
Business Victoria – Tourism Accessibility Resource Kit
*Resources: My Travel Research 2018; Tourism Research Australia; Travelability 2018
