FIRST ACCESSIBILITY FINDINGS REPORT

SPANISH TOURIST OFFICE PUBLISHES FIRST ACCESSIBILITY REPORT FOLLOWING ADVISORY BOARD SESSIONS

Download Accessibility Findings Report

The Spanish Tourist Office has published it’s first Accessibility Findings Report following a series of panel discussions with a dedicated travel industry advisory board on accessibility.

Across three thought-provoking sessions, industry experts, accessibility consultants, and those with lived experiences of disability, spoke on what accessible travel means in 2024. From these sessions that took place between April and June 2024, the Spanish Tourist Office has created this Accessibility Findings Report to underline some of the key challenges and discussion points around accessible travel and carve a roadmap towards a more inclusive travel sector.

The sessions were moderated by Angus Drummond, UK accessibility consultant and CEO of Limitless Travel, with additional input from ‘Spain for All’ ambassador Ade Adepitan and IMPULSA IGUALDAD; a Spanish non-profit organisation dedicated to representing those with disabilities and accessibility requirements, including the standardisation of tourism practices.

Manuel Butler, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office (UK), says

“We are proud to share the Spanish Tourist Office’s Accessibility Findings Report as the culmination of our work on accessibility over the last six months. Our aim is for this report to be used as a launching point for destinations or private travel companies wishing to start their own accessibility journey.

“At the Spanish Tourist Office, we believe everyone has a right to experience travel, and we are committed to reducing discrimination and improving accessibility within our travel sector.  The spending power of disabled people in the UK is estimated at £274 billion, and we aim to better understand and cater to the needs of this important consumer demographic.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Angus Drummond, Ade Adepitan, the team at Impulsa Igualdad and every member of our advisory board panel that contributed to the creation of this report. We look forward to the continuation of this initiative to create further dialogue between Spain and the United Kingdom around accessible travel and further our understanding around the challenges travellers with accessibility needs may face, and the opportunities to improve.”

Key pillars of the report include:

1.     Defining accessibility & ensuring inclusivity

It’s important not to default to wheelchair users when talking about accessibility

2.     Closing the Information Gap

There is an information gap on accessible travel for both consumers and businesses

3.     Collaboration and Consultation

Accessible travel is a complex topic, and destinations and organisations should not feel they need to adapt alone, collaboration is key.

4.     Data

Accessibility adaptations should be data-driven, supported by insights from those with lived experiences of disability, with integrated feedback loops.

5.     Adapting the customer journey

The entire customer journey should be adapted to accommodate for consumers with accessibility needs from the research and booking process all the way through to end-of-service.

The report concludes the first chapter of ‘Spain for All', a campaign aimed at better understanding the needs of British holidaymakers with accessibility requirements. The campaign is underpinned by an ongoing commitment to improving accessibility, eliminating discrimination and improving diversity within the travel sector.

The campaign also included a consumer survey to better understand Spain’s position as an accessible destination for British travellers.

Advisory Panel Members:

• Amanda Norey, Executive Recruitment Consultant, Gail Kenny
• Angie Hills, Head of Destinations, ABTA
• Angus Drummond, Founder, Limitless Travel and accessibility consultant (moderator)
• Atlyn Forde, CEO, Communicate Inclusively
• Ben Kirby, CEO, Enable Holidays
• Carol Rose, Head of Sustainability, ABTA
• Harry Wales, Founder, Travelosophers 
• Jesús Ruiz, Head of Sustainability & Impact, Spanish Tourist Office (UK)
• Jonathan Fletcher, CEO, Wheelie Good Travel
• Kate McWilliams, Managing Director, LOTUS
• Manuel Butler, Director, The Spanish Tourist Office (UK)
• Marina Snellenberg, PRM & Accessibility Manager, TUI
• Miguel Carrasco, Director of Tourism, Impulsa Igualdad / Tur4All (Spain) and COO in TUR4all Travel
• Monica Molina, Senior Sustainability Consultant, Sustainability Solutions (Barcelona) 
• Paula Hansen, Managing Director, World Accessible Holidays
• Sassy Wyatt, Accessibility and travel consultant, Blind Girl Adventures
• Stelena Angelova, Technician, Impulsa Igualdad / Tur4All (Spain)
• Susan Deer, Director of Industry Relations, ABTA