"While almost 1.2 billion people are travelling abroad each year, close to one billion persons with disability, along with young children, older persons and persons with other access requirements, still face obstacles in accessing the most basic travel needs such as clear and reliable information, efficient transportation and public services and a physical environment that is easy to navigate," stated Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message on World Tourism Day 2016.
Making tourism accessible presents a unique business opportunity that would help ensure all people can participate equally in tourism.The World Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated Rs 16.91 lakh crore (US$210 billion) or 9.2% of India's GDP in 2018. India has also been a popular destination when it comes to health and wellness tourism. The UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation)quotes "There is a high demand for complementary and alternative therapies and holistic treatments in Asia, which is a reflection of the rich spiritual resources and traditions of the region".Thus, as a country with the most population of persons with disabilities, accessible tourism is an opportunity for India to lead by example and emerge as a leader in the space of accessibility in tourism.
Persons with disabilities face major challenges in different facets of the travel process. Beginning from the booking process to the travel process, to booking an accommodation that accommodates their needs and not being able to visit places of interest due to inaccessibility. Among the major issues bothering the foreign tourist segments at attractions, as per a report commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism (2010) are "non-availability of ramps in general or level differences of alternate ramps; non-availability of toilets meant for persons with reduced mobility, unhygienic condition of available ones; lack of access stairs/lifts; inconvenient reach points at attractions and the slippery or coarse tracks. As in the case of the domestic segment, these constraints are found to be equally prohibitive in nature".
In order to effectively achieve 'tourism for all', multiple measures need to be taken. This includes beginning with sensitisation of service providers on problems faced by passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility. All staff may be made to undergo a mandatory training programme during the onboarding process to facilitate this process. Ensuring all have equal access to information can be made by sharing important information in accessible formats with the public. It also includes making web services accessible and using universally accepted signages to communicate to persons with disabilities. All infrastructures must be made accessible for all. Principles of Universal Design can be adopted to build and modify spaces to make them inclusive. Conducting periodic access audits is another way to ensure that all products and services being developed and offered are inclusive in nature. These measures can only come into effect when persons with disabilities demand their right to free and barrier-free mobility and government, civil society organisations, the private sector and the communities all come together to make India truly inclusive and accessible.
By: Arman Ali
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