Addressing Accessibility in the Tourism Sector

Like the general population, the term ‘persons with disabilities(PWDs)” encompasses a diversity of individuals with different levels of ability and different requirements for travelling. There is a wide range of impairments, including those to do with mobility, sight, or hearing, as well as learning difficulties and allergies. Many PWDs are keen to travel, but wide variation in the level of access within destinations and across the nation generally, combined with poor information and negative experiences, discourages potential customers. Improved accessibility will not only result in economic benefits to the tourism industry but will also assist the move towards full social integration. Unnecessary barriers should be the starting point for thinking about access. Instead of concentrating on an individual’s impairment, tourist facilities and destinations should focus on the barriers to access created by:

• poor physical layout;

• architectural barriers, such as narrow doors and stairs;

• the lack of basic equipment, such as induction loops; and

• the way in which services are delivered.

To be accessible for all, many facilities and destinations may need to make physical changes. While this is to be encouraged (and is a legal requirement in some countries) some organizations may currently lack the resources to make these changes. This does not necessarily mean that such facilities are inaccessible to everyone with impairment. Good information on current accessibility allows PWDs to judge for themselves whether a facility is accessible to them. This provides immediate benefits for those PWDs who can access the facility or destination in its current state, as well as increasing the market potential for the tourism sector. Facilities and destinations should also be aware that many barriers can be easily overcome with careful consideration and at little cost. For example, disability awareness training will not only help ensure service that is sensitive and inclusive, but will also train staff to identify access problems and suggest improvements. This guidance shows tourist facilities and destinations how to provide information on the basic aspects of accessibility. A standard factsheet is provided, which gives sufficient information to allow a person to decide whether to visit a facility or not and to com-pare facilities and their accessibility. It provides a method for facilities and destinations to make potential visitors aware of what to expect and highlights areas where organizations should consider improvements. This guidance does not replace detailed access audits, nor is it intended as guidance for redevelopment work. Any business which is considering making a facility more accessible should contact the relevant national organization like the National Council for Disability Affairs for further guidance. Instead, this guidance provides a ‘first step’ for tourism facilities considering accessibility and presents a consistent approach which can be followed across the nation to assist PWDs in making informed choices.