Access Tourism NZ TOURISM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, AND AGEING BOOMERS IN NEW ZEALAND AND WORLDWIDE

Tourism South East (TSE) in the UK – which covers eight counties – has over 2000 industry and 70 local authority members.  Tourism in the region is worth in excess of £13 billion and supports over 300,000 jobs.   TSE estimates that the disabled market is worth £40 billion per annum, and that over 2.5 million disabled people travel regularly.  As they often travel with families and carers the number of access tourists increases dramatically.   TSE has funding to deliver a series of subsidised Destination Access Audits, mini audits, bespoke access workshops, and Welcome All courses across the South East over the next four years.  It also used funding from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to undertake some  Accessibility Case Studies to understand how businesses have benefited from making their properties more accessible in the run up to the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London.   These include:

• Heath Farm, Lewes.  A four star self- catering property that has achieved the National Accessible Scheme Mobility Grade 2 award, is a TSE member and whose owners have benefited from Welcome All training. 
• The Roald Dahl Museum, Buckinghamshire.  Won the Enjoy England Award for Small Visitor Attraction Of The Year 2008, is a TSE member, has taken significant steps towards welcoming all customers and has benefited from signing up to Hosting The World.
• Holiday Inn, Windsor/Maidenhead. The Holiday Inn Windsor/Maidenhead has achieved the National Accessible Scheme Mobility and Hearing Grade 1. The Holiday Inn Accessibility Manager recently presented at a Tourism South East and Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead accessibility seminar at Legoland.
• Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire. Winchester Cathedral is Winchester’s principal tourist attraction and has dominated the city for nearly a thousand years.  Visitors to the city are largely drawn by its well-preserved historical centre and making its key attractions accessible to everyone is important for the city’s ambition to be a world-class visitor destination. Winchester Cathedral is a Tourism South East member and staff have benefited from Tourism South East’s Welcome to Excellence and e-animation training courses.

Videos of some of these case studies can be found here.

TSE also conducted text case studies to provide an insight into the benefits of businesses becoming more accessible in the run up to 2012.  Continue reading:

Text case studies include:

·         Windsor Castle, Berkshire, a globally recognised landmark close to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics host venue Dorney Lakes.  Windsor Castle is fully accessible to wheelchair users. Induction loops, audio transcripts, large print information and audio tours are also available. Windsor Castle is a Tourism South East member and recently attended the Tourism South East accessibility seminar at Legoland. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has completed a Destination Access Audit.

·         High Wray, Hampshire.  A highly accessible self-contained flat at High Wray near Farnham, in Surrey, has long been established as a popular self-catering choice for leisure and business travellers. High Wray has achieved National Accessible Scheme Mobility Awards 1 and 2. The owners have also benefitted from numerous Tourism South East training courses, including Welcoming Walkers and Cyclists, Search Engine Optimisation and Social Media for Tourism. 

·         Little Silver Country Hotel, Kent.  Has achieved a 3 star Silver quality rating and has also been awarded the National Accessible Scheme Mobility 1 award. Being able to welcome all guests, including those with accessibility needs, for weddings, special events and functions is a unique selling point for this luxury small hotel. 

More accessibility case studies can be found on the Welcome To Excellence pages at TSE.