Accessible travel positively transforming tourism sectors and local businesses for various destinations
UN Tourism Guidelines Promote Accessible Travel for All
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has released a set of guidelines aimed at promoting accessible travel for people with disabilities and seniors, based on the International ISO 21902:2021 standard. This standard, developed in collaboration with organizations such as the ONCE Foundation and the Spanish Association for Standardization, provides a comprehensive framework to ensure accessibility throughout the entire tourist journey.
According to the latest research, 1.3 billion people globally experience significant disability, and within the European Union, over 70% of the 80 million people with disabilities can afford to travel and enjoy tourism. In five years, 1 in 6 of the population is expected to be aged 60 and over, underscoring the growing need for accessible travel options.
The UNWTO's guidelines target national tourism administrations, destination management organizations, accommodation, food & beverage, MICE companies, travel agencies and tour operators, transport sector, heritage sites and cultural institutions, organizations and companies working in protected nature areas, and more. The guidelines provide strategic and actionable recommendations to offer accessible tourism experiences.
Key elements of these guidelines include general principles, such as respect for human rights, diversity, and inclusiveness in tourism services. For tourism businesses and service providers, recommendations include adapting services and facilities to be accessible, including accessible websites and staff trained to assist tourists with special needs. Infrastructure and communications requirements ensure that information is accessible, that physical sites and environments are adapted, and that transport options meet accessibility needs.
Public authorities play a crucial role in applying these standards to public transport and tourism infrastructure, ensuring broad accessibility. The standard is not just theoretical; it provides practical, actionable measures to create accessible tourist destinations and services.
The collaboration with the ONCE Foundation and the Spanish Association for Standardization helped shape the standard’s focus on practical accessibility measures in tourism, including certification of accessible hotels and transport systems.
The potential market size for accessible travel is significant, with 690 million people in Asia and the Pacific and 85 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Madrid International Tourism Fair FITUR 2025 will serve as a platform to discuss implementing the recommendations.
UN Tourism, along with the ONCE Foundation and the Spanish Association for Standardization, have joined forces to promote the benefits of increasing accessibility in tourism for people with disabilities and seniors. Accessible tourism is a game-changer for improving mid- and low-season performance, significantly improving the reputation of destinations and businesses that welcome all visitors, with or without disabilities. Accessibility improvements lead to comfort, service, and quality of life enhancements for visitors and host communities.
Links to guidelines for public administrations and tourism destinations, accommodation, food & beverage and MICE companies, transportation sector, tour operators, travel agencies and travel agents, cultural tourism, and managers of natural resources are available for download. The customers of accessible tourism are extremely varied and loyal.
By embracing these guidelines, the tourism industry can create a more inclusive and accessible world for all travelers.
- The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has issued guidelines that focus on practical accessibility measures in tourism, including certifying hotels and transport systems, to cater to people with disabilities and seniors.
- An increasing number of people aged 60 and over will necessitate greater accessibility in travel options, given that 1 in 6 of the population is expected to fall into this category in five years.
- Adapting services and facilities for accessibility, such as training staff, designing accessible websites, and providing accessible infrastructure and communication systems, are strategic recommendations for businesses and service providers in the tourism industry.
- The collaboration between UN Tourism, the ONCE Foundation, and the Spanish Association for Standardization aims to highlight the benefits of promoting sustainable-living principles in home-and-garden, lifestyle, and tourism sectors, resulting in improved accessibility and the creation of a more inclusive world for travelers.
- The implementation of these guidelines by the tourism industry can significantly improve the reputation of destinations and businesses, enhance the comfort, service, and quality of life for visitors, and contribute to the growth of the market for accessible travel, with a potential market size reaching 690 million people in Asia and the Pacific and 85 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean.
