Tourism for All: "Traveling is not just about physical access"

Tourism is for everybody. The aim of the British organisation Tourism for All is to make travel accessible. Whether travelers, policy makers or companies, Tourism for All wants to operate with and for everyone. REHACARE.com asked Ana Crome, Tourism for All's administration officer, how the attitude of companies and politicians towards people with disabilities has changed and what the European tourism market has to offer.

Tourism for All is not a booking agency in the classical sense – so, what exactly does Tourism for All offer people with disabilities when it comes to traveling?

Ana Crome: Here at Tourism For All we help individual disabled people plan a holiday. The word 'disabled' to us has a huge range. No matter what difficulties an individual has, whether it may be a learning impairment or physical, we can help.

We offer a personalised information and advice service to our disabled members. Members tell us their requirements for holidays and we do all the research. We also help with the booking process.

Tourism for All is not only about helping individuals booking their dream vacations, you are also offering help for Travel & Tourism Businesses to become more accessible and are encouraging accessible policy development and delivery. That is a lot of work and requires probably a lot of passionate partners. How satisfied are you with the achievements of Tourism for All so far?

Crome: You can never be satisfied if people are still having issues planning and undertaking travel or holidays. However we have seen a significant change in both businesses and policy makers in their attitude towards disabled people, and tourism and we recognise we have played a significant part in that change – still there is a long way to go until equality in these areas.

When we are talking about accessibility of the tourism market, we felt, that it is opening up for people with disabilities (well, some countries more, some less). As a professional, what is your estimation of the tourism market: How well suited is the European market when it comes to accessibility?

Crome: It is still a mixed bag with some countries significantly ahead of others, but there are minimum standards being put into place as regards travelling and accessible hotels and accommodation are becoming more available. However it is still very patchy and requires organisations such as ourselves and in particular countries national tourism bodies to still provide key information and help.

What does inclusion mean to you?

Crome: That businesses are open to listening to people’s needs as regards travel and tourism and within their circumstances are able to offer help and be flexible to help meet those needs of such travellers/tourists. Reasonable adjustment is the key and that is not necessarily physical access but more an openness and willingness to help others and ask how an organisation can be of help. By simply applying the rules of good customer service and listening to the customer and being flexible in adapting to those needs a great deal of inclusion can be achieved within current structures and systems.