“More London hotels allow dogs in their rooms than disabled people,” explains Inclu founder Richard Thompson. And it’s true – you can see it in their press releases and marketing campaigns. It seems odd that an industry based on hospitality would be so slow to respond, but it means 14.6 million disabled people in the UK alone are being ignored.
Richard believes that tourism needs a mindset shift. After breaking his neck in a skiing accident, he became a quadriplegic. He can walk but can’t use his hands. He’s learned to control and accept it, and it hasn’t stopped him from traveling as passionately as he did before the accident. But it’s time for the travel industry to catch up.
“Most people with disabilities don’t identify as ‘disabled’ so the default marketing about ramps and accessible hotel rooms doesn’t resonate. What disabled travellers need is inclusivity, and for companies to listen to their needs and be willing to adapt,” he continues.
Victoria Cruz, Director of Sustainability & Wellness at Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences, agrees: “The magic happens when we listen to our guests’ needs, whether they have special needs or not. Our Guest Preference Form is extremely helpful in this regard,” she says.
Amira is located in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Shutterstock)
At Amira, this might mean noticing someone struggling at the breakfast buffet and offering tongs or plate assistance, providing a distanced table for a guest with a weakened immune system, or finding an inclusive activity in the kids’ club for a child with a learning disability.
Listening to the needs of others is a recurring theme in sustainable travel, and creating an inclusive travel experience is no exception. One tour operator that understands this is InsideJapan, which has been creating a barrier-free version of travel for the past decade. Working with paraplegic travel blogger Josh Grisdale helped the company better understand the needs of travelers with disabilities. The result was wheelchair-accessible Golden Routes in Japan, a resource library, and the placement of “Barrier-Free Travel Parents” at each destination branch.
Canopy & Stars, which specialises in glamping and wilderness stays, also listened to a lot of feedback before establishing an “Accessibility Hub”, which launched in October 2022. As well as working with disability consultant Sophie Morgan on an ongoing basis, the company has provided mandatory disability awareness training to employees and created an in-house diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility team.
The Accessibility Hub gives guests the information they need to identify the best place to stay to meet their needs, like Wonnum Oak, a cabin nestled in the woods and complete with an outdoor bathtub. It’s one of the most accessible options in the portfolio, but this kind of information hasn’t always been easy for travelers to get hold of. It seems like a simple idea, but as Richard alludes, inclusivity is about everyone feeling like they belong. Laying out the welcome rug is just the beginning.
Sophie Morgan says the Maldives is becoming a wheelchair accessible destination (www.amilla.com)
Sophie Morgan is an award-winning TV presenter and disability advocate: she picks her favourite travel moment and tells us who’s doing it well.
“My recent visit to Amilla Maldives was unforgettable. It was one of the best trips of my life. The island was picture-perfect and the staff at Amilla Resort made my stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. With the help of the dive school, I was finally able to learn how to scuba dive. As I am paraplegic, I never thought I would come to the Maldives, which is not wheelchair accessible, but the staff there is trying to change that. I am very excited. Another amazing experience was a trip in California on a modified Ryker three-wheeled bike, made by Can-Am and I am a very proud ambassador for the company. The drive from Los Angeles to San Diego was amazing. Nothing beats a little ‘wind therapy’. This year I also filmed the second series of my show, Living Wild: How to Change Your Life. The trip took me all over the UK and visited some of the hardest to access places, such as small remote islands off the coast of Scotland and Ireland. “They’ve travelled hundreds of miles over three months and met some amazing people. The series will air on Channel 4 in 2023.”
Four Companies Leading the Way in Accessible Travel
Amira Maldives
Located in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, Amira is the first resort in the world to be certified by UK-based accessible and inclusive hospitality specialists Inclecare. Adaptive yoga classes, beach wheelchairs and calming spaces for those on the autism spectrum are just some of the services on offer.
Morocco Accessible Travel
With its spectacular mountains and deserts, Morocco isn’t exactly the most accessible destination, but specialist tour operator Morocco Accessible Travel offers trips tailored to the needs of disabled travellers, from city tours and hot air balloon trips to camel treks.
A guide to accessible Britain
The ninth edition of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain was released in summer 2022. The guide contains details and reviews of over 200 UK attractions and places to stay, including articles written by disabled reviewers.
Tropical North Queensland
After consulting with local disability organisations, Tropical North Queensland has added “accessibility hubs” to its Cairns & Great Barrier Reef destinations, allowing travellers with mobility impairments to select activities and itineraries.
Sophie has snorkeled with manta rays in the Maldives, where she also learned to scuba dive (@soulseapixels)
Let’s face it: we can make a difference
Sophie Morgan says: “Traveling as a disabled person is not easy. The biggest barrier we face is transportation. Boarding a plane can be scary for many reasons, but if we (and our assistive technology) are lucky enough to get somewhere safely, the world opens up. More and more destinations are making huge efforts to become more inclusive. Travelers and consultants like me have a responsibility to promote destinations that are already doing so, and put pressure on those that aren’t. The travel industry needs to remember that the demand is there – we all want to travel and it’s not hard to implement small changes that will have a big impact on the wellbeing of our guests.”