Enjoy a 10% discount when you use the code EQLYSEP23 at checkout from the 20th to the 30th of September 2023

Services Our expert insights reveal the key consumer and industry trends shaping global services, including best-in-class innovations in technology, customer experience and sustainability to thrive in dynamic times.

Accessible Travel: Changing the Mindset

8/13/2019
Caroline Bremner Profile Picture
Caroline Bremner Bio
Share:

Accessible travel is growing, driven by changing consumer demographics with a fifth of the world having access needs. The regulation, tools and consumer attitudes are now in place to lead to a paradigm shift to deliver seamless travel experiences for all. It is time for destinations and travel brands to embrace principles such as universal design to deliver inclusive travel products and services in a thoughtful way that deliver sustainable results.

There are several definitions of accessible tourism, but the most important point is that it looks beyond the number of people with physical and intellectual disabilities, to encompass all those with mobility needs - including seniors and babies - across the human lifecycle. It is vitally important to note that not every disability is visible.

In 2019, 18% of the world’s population was taken up by 701. 5 million people aged 65+ and 676 million children aged between 0-4 years. By 2030, the proportion of 65+ and the very young will increase to 20% - a fifth of the world, notwithstanding the one billion people living with a disability across all age groups.

Paradigm shift

The accessible agenda is gaining momentum, in the same way that we saw with sustainability and the anti-plastics movement that has taken hold. It will not be long until we reach the tipping point where consumers will demand inclusion for all.

Holistic approach

Accessible tourism is more than wheelchair users, it is about making everyone feel welcome regardless of age or ability in terms of customer service, facilities and information provision.

Embracing universal design leads to thinking about how all your consumers engage with your product or service which is a no-brainer for sustainable growth.

Bottom line

Targeting the accessible market is not just about doing the right thing - it drives repeat visitors, retention, extends seasonality and higher spend per visitor thanks to the multiplier effect. It also meets the needs of multigenerational travel.

Truly seamless

Technology is a key driver of change. Great work is being done by social start-ups to hack challenges and find solutions that usher in change and improve quality of life for people with accessible needs.

There are multiple links in the customer journey, and brands and destinations need to ensure to provide seamless experiences for all their customers. How can brands claim to provide personalisation if they are not truly inclusive and cater to everyone’s needs and preferences?

Future inclusive

One size does not fit all - thanks to technology, we are moving to a world with a segmentation of one, and potentially 2.3 billion individual trips by 2030. This means that needs should be met in a world of ever greater personalisation for everyone, regardless of age or ability.

Long road ahead

Great strides have been made thanks to a strong legislative framework, start-up funding and grassroots activities, but we are still at the beginning of the journey. Everyone needs to do their bit to make travel sustainable and accessible for transformative change.

Interested in more insights? Subscribe to our content

Latest Insights

European Tourism Association

Euromonitor International 26 September 2023

Travel is Back: What Does it Mean for Luggage?

Fátima Linares 25 September 2023

Shop Our Reports

EV Readiness Index 2023

In its second edition, the EV Readiness Index 2023 indicates the best prepared markets for the electric vehicle (EV) transition. This follows growing EV…

View Report

World Market for Automotive

The report provides an overview of the global light vehicles industry which includes an assessment of market size, company shares and brand performance. It also…

View Report

The Return of Travel and its Impact on Luggage Recovery

The luggage industry faced significant challenges during the pandemic, with sales plummeting in 2020. As COVID-19 restrictions eased in 2021, travel rebounded,…

View Report
Passport Our premier global market research database with detailed data and analysis on industries, companies, economies and consumers. Track existing and future opportunities to support critical decision-making across all functions within your organisation Learn More
;