Accessible tourism - The tourist industry does not see it as a huge untapped market!
Australia For All Alliance has carried out a survey on the barriers experienced by people with disabilities when trying to make holiday arrangements and visit accessible tourism venues. The outcome of this survey was the construction of an international web site devoted entirely to accommodation and tourism venues which are accessible to people with disabilities. It can be seen at: www.australiaforall.com It is very ...more »
Australia For All Alliance has carried out a survey on the barriers experienced by people with disabilities when trying to make holiday arrangements and visit accessible tourism venues. The outcome of this survey was the construction of an international web site devoted entirely to accommodation and tourism venues which are accessible to people with disabilities. It can be seen at: www.australiaforall.com
It is very clear that in relation to accessible tourism in Australia the demand for accessible accommodation and accessible tourist venues is increasing very rapidly. The demand is not only coming from people with disabilities, but also from elderly tourists, who do not see themselves as being in any way disabled, but who appreciate the fixtures and fittings in accessible facilities to aid their balance. There is also a lesser, but increasing demand from families with young children for accessible facilities.
It is suggested that the Federal Minister responsible for tourism in Australia initiate a conference where members of the disability community, and federal representatives from Tourism Departments in each State and Territory of the Commonwealth are represented. The objectives of this conference would be:
To involve all members of the tourist industry (including travel agents):
To discuss the proposition that in this ageing world accessibility is necessary to the tourism industry for its future expansion:
To bring to the attention of the tourist industry members the potential market of servicing the needs of people with physical, hearing, vision and intellectual disabilities:
To impress on the members of the tourist industry that they have a moral as well as a legal oblication to accept accessibil;ity as a quality factor:
To provide a forum to discuss the lack of, but demand for, accessible facilities:
It is essential that people with physical, hearing, vision and/or intellectual impairments be involved in the organisation of this conference as well as having input into the final agenda:
This 'niche market' is, according the the following ABS statistics much larger than the present tourist industry apreciates. The following figures prove this fact:
In Australia in 2003/4 it is estimated that tourists with disability:
Spent between $8034 million and $11,980 million on their leisure activities:
Contributed between $3,075.5 million and $4,580.2 million to total tourism gross value added:
Contributed between $3,885 million and $5,787 million to Gross Domestic Product:
Sustained between 51,820 and 77,495 direct jobs in the tourism industry – which equates to 11.6% - 17.3% of direct tourism employment:
It is estimated that 7% to 8% of all international travellers have a disability and therefore it is this group that contributes to the increased Gross Domestic Product of the economy:
These figures show that without people with disabilities supporting the tourism industry there would be a decrease in the economical benefit they bring to it.
Sheila King
Hon. Secretary
Australia For All Alliance Inc - Accessing The World
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