5 replies to this topic

[Bill Forrester]

Often this travel forum has been plagued by the lack of information available on accessible travel destinations. I was privileged to be a presenter at the inaugural Access Tourism New Zealand Conference at the Auckland University of Technology on Monday. The conference was opened by The Honourable Tariana Turia, Minister for Disabilities Issues and co-leader of the Maori Party. The key thing about her speech (see the full text on my link below) is the recognition that Access Tourism is a valuable market sector and should no longer just be a matter of disability rights. True inclusion will only come when everyone is valued equally not simply "accommodated" because the law says so. Currently Access Tourism represents 11% of the total tourism market, and will grow to over 22% over the next 10 years as the Baby Boomers age. This conference represents a major cultural shift and the tourism industry needs to embrace travellers with disabilities as an inclusive part of the overall travel market. It is critical now for everyone to support and accelerate this cultural change away from "accommodating" a minority group to a position of fully inclusive travel. This is by no means an end but at least New Zealand is starting to recognize that in addition to any moral imperative there is a strong business reason to adopt Accessible Tourism as a core element of a tourism strategy for that country.

more information and links to the presentations

[JimG]

Bill Forrester, on 05 October 2010 - 10:06 AM, said:

Often this travel forum has been plagued by the lack of information available on accessible travel destinations. I was privileged to be a presenter at the inaugural Access Tourism New Zealand Conference at the Auckland University of Technology on Monday. The conference was opened by The Honourable Tariana Turia, Minister for Disabilities Issues and co-leader of the Maori Party. The key thing about her speech (see the full text on my link below) is the recognition that Access Tourism is a valuable market sector and should no longer just be a matter of disability rights. True inclusion will only come when everyone is valued equally not simply "accommodated" because the law says so. Currently Access Tourism represents 11% of the total tourism market, and will grow to over 22% over the next 10 years as the Baby Boomers age. This conference represents a major cultural shift and the tourism industry needs to embrace travellers with disabilities as an inclusive part of the overall travel market. It is critical now for everyone to support and accelerate this cultural change away from "accommodating" a minority group to a position of fully inclusive travel. This is by no means an end but at least New Zealand is starting to recognize that in addition to any moral imperative there is a strong business reason to adopt Accessible Tourism as a core element of a tourism strategy for that country.

more information and links to the presentations

We live in one of the premier ski resort destination towns in the U.S., and we've started working with local leaders to make our town more accessible by emphasizing the same thing.

It wasn't on their scope of imagination until just recently.

Unfortunately......w/o the emphasis on economic growth, most officials will stand on the ADA laws and comfort themselves that they've done everything they could.

Some do it b/c it's the "right thing to do", but most don't want to address the issue unless it means increased revenue.

[Bill Forrester]

Jim,
It is becoming a real topic now. SATH (Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality) are running with this theme at their World Congress in January in Florida. I will be heading up a panel on day 1 dedicated to the economic case for Accessible Tourism. Hotels, resorts and other venues haven't yet realised the potential size of the market but hopefully thanks to Sandra Rhodda and the Auckland University of Technology's Tourism Research Institute the lights will start coming on.

[HiltonP]

New Zealand is THE ONLY country I have visited which offers genuinely affordable accessible accommodation in all its towns,
regardless of size. Via their extensive network of HAPNZ and Top10 holiday parks one can tour both islands, top to bottom,
for a fraction of normal hotel rates, with no access concerns, and all bookings can be done on the Internet. I know of nowhere
else where such a comprehensive set of facilities is offered. I have corresponded with Sandra Rhodda about this, and pointed
out its uniqueness, and she has used our findings in her reports and papers.

P.S. . . . When I travel I have no interest in plush carpets, paintings on the wall, stocked bar fridges, in-house dining, etc
. . . all one really needs is a spacious, accessible, clean room.

[JimG]

Bill Forrester, on 06 October 2010 - 04:57 AM, said:

Jim,
It is becoming a real topic now. SATH (Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality) are running with this theme at their World Congress in January in Florida. I will be heading up a panel on day 1 dedicated to the economic case for Accessible Tourism. Hotels, resorts and other venues haven't yet realised the potential size of the market but hopefully thanks to Sandra Rhodda and the Auckland University of Technology's Tourism Research Institute the lights will start coming on.

Oh....I think there are officials in our town who are starting to "get it" now, but they aren't pushing for a full-on program just yet.

...which is where I've offered my services, to assist in any way possible.


Interestingly enough.....Whistler B.C. is a competing destination to here, and they are LIGHT YEARS ahead.

http://www.whistlerforthedisabled.com/

The website even goes through town and measures tables at fast food restaurants for advanced planning.

Talk about a place that has the vision of how big this is.....

[Bill Forrester]

Whistler are light years ahead and were so even before the winter olympic games. Sun Peaks has also made their entire village area fully accessible now as well