Spinal Life Australia has called on the Federal Government to allocate more funding and resources in 2025 toward making tourism more accessible for people living with disabilities.
Using International Day of People with Disability as a forum to spur change, the advocacy group wants to see next year become the ‘National Year of Accessible Tourism’, alongside a new national framework.
While the Federal Government has made some progress by implementing a National Disability Plan until 2031 to drive action, Spinal Life Australia believes state and territory governments “generally work to their own disability plans”, with some yet to flesh out full details.
“With $6.8 billion of the spend attributed to those living with disability in Australia, the sheer demand for accessible tourism is clear,” the organisation’s CEO Mark Townend said.
“With a further one in six people living with disability globally, this further cements the sizable market segment and need for further resourcing and funding when it comes to accessible tourism.”
People with disabilities account for 18.5 million trips being taken each year in Australia, equating to 23% of all domestic travel.
“We see states like NSW adopting a more ambitious goal of $91 billion in annual visitor economy expenditure by 2035… but we don’t see a continued focus on ensuring this industry is accessible to all Australians,” Townend added.
Fiona Donaldson is CEO at Supported Travel eXperiences (STX), which creates fun, personalised holidays for people with disabilities and special needs, as well as their families.
Donaldson is calling for a fundamental shift towards universal design, with hotels, transport and attractions designed with accessibility in mind from the very start of the design process.
“Improved staff training is also crucial. Tourism professionals need comprehensive training on disability awareness, communication strategies, and appropriate etiquette. This empowers them to provide exceptional service to all travellers,” she told travelBulletin.
“Accessible transportation is also essential. We need more accessible taxis, rideshares, public transport as well as aircraft options to ensure seamless journeys for everyone.”
Lastly, Donaldson would like to see clearer and detailed accessibility information available for travellers, such as websites with comprehensive information on wheelchairs, sensory features and available support services.
“This allows travellers to make informed choices and plan their trips with confidence,” she said.
