Tourism for peoplewith disabilities: a niche market
Tourism for All:a great opportunity for business
Torino, 29 maggio 2008
TOURISM AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE:Introduction
The increasing number of people over 60 years and people with disabilities will create new demands
Growing quality awareness and travel intensity
Tourism industry will find new markets and increase of turnover if they’ll cater for the new demands
IntroductionStudy commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Economics:
“Economic Impulses of Accessible Tourism for All“
(2003)
Travel-Behaviour (of German Disabled Tourists):
Lower travel intensity in comparison to overall population (54.3 %; all Germans: 75.3 %)
Large proportion of domestic travel (41 %; all Germans: 31 %)
2m journeys p.a. and 4m short and weekend trips p.a. in Germany
Travel-Behaviour (of German Disabled Tourists):
Travel is largely independent of the season
Loyalty to a certain destination
Relatively high travel spending
52% need a travel companion
The most important holiday destinations
People with Activity Limitations
All Germans
People with Activity Limitations
All Germans
Nederland
Germany
Spain
Austria
Italy
Turkey
France
Denmark
Switzerland
Hungary
Accessibility needs(of German Disabled Tourists):
37 % have previously decided not to travel due to the lack of accessible facilities.
17 % of the travellers who undertake their vacations outside of Germany decided to travel abroad specifically because of the accessible facilities and services there.
Analysis of supply and demandAccessibility needs(of German Disabled Tourists):
48 % would travel more frequently if more accessible services were available.
60 % of the surveyed persons would be willing to pay higher travel expenses in exchange for improved accessible facilities or services.
Expectations versus Reality
Particular discrepancy between importance/expectation and perceived reality emerges for:
Moving around at the touristic destination.
Excursions.
Arrival and departure.
Cultural activities.
Current net turnover generated by German disabled travellers
Holidays: € 1,570 mShort breaks: € 930 m
Total: € 2,500 m
Full-time jobs:65,000
Economic significance of accessible tourism
ECONOMIC IMPULSES
Demand impulse in tourism industry:
up to € 2 bn
Maximum additional economic impact: up to € 4.8 bn
Additional full-time jobs in all areas of the economy: up to 90,000
For people with disability willing to be only with people with disability.
For people with severe disabilities, the family decides for them.
For people needing medical care
15% of people with disability?
SPECIALIZED MARKET
Essential for the 10% of the population
Comfortable for the 100% of the
population
Necessary for the 40%
of the population
TOURISM FOR ALL
You can decide,as tourism manager to adapt your business to the need expressed by 85% of people with disability and their families and friends?.
12 STEPS TO DEVELOP A HOLIDAY DESTINATION FOR ALL
1. Realisation and impartation that Tourism for All is an economic factor.
2. Main project management. (fixing responsibilities)
3. Close co-operation/networking within the destination.
4. Inclusion of travellers and people on location who are affected.
5. Master plan for an accessible destination.
6. Analysis regarding accessibility of a holiday destination. (accessibility map)
7. Mobilisation and qualification of tourism and service providers.
8. Development and project implementation / good practices.
12 STEPS TO DEVELOP A HOLIDAY DESTINATION FOR ALL
9. Product development and marketing.
10. Guarantee for Accessibility as selection criteria for public procurement and concessions.
11. Continuous public relations and Customer Relationship Management.
12. Continuous success review.
12 STEPS TO DEVELOP A HOLIDAY DESTINATION FOR ALL
TOOLS TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES
A Attention Draw Attention
I Interest Attract Interest
D Desire Generate Desire
A Action Effect Reaction
AIDA Model
“The Flag of Towns and Cities for All”
International award, delivered by the Design for All Foundation.
To show good practices regarding Accessibility and Design for All.
To show the continuous efforts regarding the quality improvement of the environments and services.
TOOLS TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES
More accessibility creates sustainable turnover in tourism and improves service quality for all!
The commitment of all operators in a destination and the support of specialists in the field are a key tool to guarantee the success!
CONCLUSIONS
Investments in accessibility are worthwhile investments into sustainability of tourist destinations
These investments are not higher than other investments to increase destination’s quality, they can be minimized by combining it with other interventions
CONCLUSIONS