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Developing accessible tourism facilities and activities “makes business sense”, World Travel Market London delegates heard. Ryan Smith, the founder of The Access Agency, said investing in the accessible sector can generate $13 for every dollar spent. He said 25% of inbound tourists to Australia have access needs, adding: “If you do it well, you are not leaving people behind, and you are not leaving money on the table. We are a loyal cohort, we stay longer and go in shoulder seasons. The industry is a bit slow to catch up…but it will eventually catch up.” He told the WTM diversity, equality, accessibility, inclusion and intersectionality (DEAI) summit about how attitudes to disability, government policies, technology and representation are improving, adding: “You can see people with disability in media, in boardrooms. I think that stigma is really starting to become reduced.” He highlighted how adaptive equipment can help wheelchair users to explore the great outdoors, citing examples in his native Australia and his travels to places such as Machu Picchu in Peru. Furthermore, public bodies in Australia are developing accessible beaches and a directory listing more than 70 such sites, which offer beach padding for wheelchairs and special types of wheelchairs. Other facilities include “discovery tents” and all-terrain wheelchairs in Victoria. “If I was a tour operator or developing a tourism product…I would certainly be thinking about how I might integrate this into my offering,” he said. Queensland has designated 2023-24 as the year of accessible tourism, ahead of Brisbane hosting the Paralympics 2032, which has seen more funding for outdoor inclusive and accessible experiences. “We are seeing the private sector start to lean into this as well,” he said, pointing …

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