Accessible tourism is travel specifically designed for people with disabilities, including mobility impairments, blindness, deafness, and mental disabilities. It involves making tourist destinations and transportation accessible, as well as organizing tours geared towards disabled travelers. Accessible travel groups and initiatives provide resources and support for disabled travelers to experience the wonders of world travel.
Accessible tourism is a form of travel or tour operator specifically aimed at people with disabilities, especially those related to mobility. The term ‘accessible’ can mean many things, but in the tourism industry it usually refers to the special needs of people with disabilities. Braille signage and audio tours for the blind are common examples, as are subtitles on informational videos, wheelchair ramps, and instant access to elevators. In most cases, however, accessible tourism is more than just tourist destinations that can accommodate people with disabilities. The term is most commonly applied to tours and tour operators who organize trips specifically geared towards disabled travellers.
People with disabilities often find it difficult to travel and visit the city. While many different public facilities and transportation lines have made efforts to accommodate all people, travel is often about more than just getting from place to place. Once at their destination, people with disabilities often find it difficult, if not impossible, to experience a place as others might. The main goal of the accessible tourism movement is to bring the wonders of world travel to people who might otherwise be unable to experience them due to a specific disability.
There are accessible travel groups for just about every handicap imaginable. Some are for the blind, some for the deaf; some are designed specifically for the mentally handicapped, often together with their families. By far the most common type of accessible travel is designed for people with mobility impairments who are wheelchair bound and powered wheelchairs.
Wheelchair travelers often find it difficult to navigate crowded planes, train stations and travel platforms. Many modernized destinations in large cities are wheelchair-friendly, but the vast majority of ancient ruins, older infrastructure, and historic buildings are not. Accessible tourism finds ways to bring disabled travelers to the forefront of these exciting places and helps them navigate everything from transportation issues to elevator wait times.
The premise of accessible tourism is built on the intersection of high quality services and personal attention. Trips typically begin as guided tours of already barrier-free destinations, then build to include more difficult-to-reach destinations as passengers desire. For many, the benefit of this type of travel is knowing that routes are planned, arrangements have been made, and any special arrangements have been considered beforehand.
People with disabilities often avoid travel for no other reason than the enormity of the logistics involved. Organized tours take this burden off. So too are several so-called accessible travel initiatives, many of which are sponsored by non-profit organizations based in local areas or popular tourist cities. These groups are dedicated to ensuring that visitors with disabilities can experience the main attractions of their cities. They also usually post resources on accessible transportation options, accommodations, and sightseeing tips and tricks that can be invaluable to disabled travelers and their families.
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