Access and Inclusivity
Accessible Tourism
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO 2023). an estimated 1.3 billion people, about 16% of the global population currently experiences a significant disability. Accessibility for all visitor economy facilities, products and services should be a central part of any responsible and sustainable tourism policy. Accessibility is a business opportunity to embrace all visitors and their travelling companions and remember not all disability is easily apparent
Visit Britain Accessibility Guidance
One in five people in the UK have an impairment, which may affect where they choose to stay or visit. Improving your accessibility benefits all customers and does not always require major or expensive changes – simply providing a free Accessibility Guide for your venue can help you be more inclusive for people with a wide range of visible and hidden impairments. Click on the link below to read our guidance. Ensure that your access policy/statement is easily identifiable on your website.
https://www.visitbritain.org/business-advice/make-your-business-accessible
New Accessible Tourism Guides from Visit Britain August 2023
Visit Britain have developed an extensive set of guides to enhance support for travellers with a range of accessibility requirements, both when considering a trip within Britain and when already on our shores. The guides showcase useful links and practical information alongside inspirational experiences and attractions which cater to those with accessibility needs.
https://www.visitbritain.com/en/plan-your-trip/accessible-britain?
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are receiving considerable attention in the travel and tourism workplace and the overall sector. At a global level, a wide range of agreements and pledges exist to ensure the advancement towards EDI in the sector (Ferguson, 2018) (i.e., 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development). Despite global commitments, there is a substantive disconnection between global policy and practices of equality, and its absence across the tourism sector (Ferguson, 2018). Consequently, progress is primarily gradual and inconsistent across the travel and tourism industry.
