MMGY Journey Intelligence, an MMGY International firm, not too long ago launched its Portrait of Vacationers with Disabilities Mobility & Accessibility research, which gives useful client insights about vacationers with mobility challenges and those that use wheelchairs or different mobility aids.

I used to be a member of the steering committee and assisted in designing the research, and WheelchairTravel.org readers such as you had been instrumental in offering particulars of your journey experiences — key information used to develop insights in regards to the disabled journey expertise. A number of the takeaways gleaned from the research are shared under.

The Enterprise Case for Accessibility in Journey

Though enhancing accessibility is the fitting factor to do, companies must be impressed to interact on this work as a result of it makes monetary sense — vacationers with disabilities signify a major alternative for income development.

The research discovered that among the many 75% of respondents who had taken a leisure journey within the final 12 months, disabled vacationers had taken a median of three.4 journeys throughout that point — barely greater than the common variety of journeys (3.0 journeys) taken by nondisabled leisure vacationers.

That elevated frequency of journey has a considerable influence to the underside line: Disabled vacationers spent a median of $3,546 on leisure journey throughout the previous 12 months, in comparison with nondisabled leisure vacationers who reported spending $3,058 on journey throughout that point.

Disabled vacationers incessantly encounter boundaries to accessibility

The frequency and variety of accessibility boundaries reported by disabled vacationers in MMGY’s research aligns with analysis and reporting beforehand shared on this web site.

Almost the entire research’s respondents reported dealing with an accessibility barrier at a lodge or lodging when touring (96%), adopted by 9 in 10 who’ve confronted an air journey barrier (86%) and eight in 10 who’ve confronted an issue with accessible transportation on the vacation spot (79%).

Some further insights are significantly essential for companies and journey suppliers to pay attention to:

• 8 in 10 have handled inaccessible showers or tubs (81%) in a lodge room
• 6 in 10 reported not reserving an lodging as a result of the web site didn’t supply them sufficient info to make them really feel snug reserving (59%)
• Almost 6 in 10 have skilled prolonged wait occasions for mobility help on the airport earlier than or after their flight
• 4 in 10 have had their mobility assist misplaced or broken by the airline

Motels must be designed with the disabled visitor in thoughts

Motels are meant to function one’s “dwelling away from dwelling,” a secure area the place vacationers can search relaxation and leisure throughout their journey. However for a lot of vacationers with disabilities, inns are replete with accessibility boundaries and challenges that trigger misery, upending any notion of a calming escape.

Respondents, when requested what a lodge selling itself as “accessible for vacationers utilizing wheelchairs and different mobility units” ought to have, recognized barrier-free entries into buildings (92%), computerized sensor doorways (75%), info or signage directing friends to accessible entrances, wheelchair accessible counter heights (68%) and low-pile/laborious flooring (66%) as anticipated options.

8 in 10 vacationers consider that pictures of accessible room options must be offered, in order that higher knowledgeable choices will be made when reserving lodging.

Report Particulars & Ultimate Ideas

MMGY’s Portrait of Vacationers with Disabilities research expands on analysis carried out by WheelchairTravel.org and different organizations, providing locations and journey suppliers useful insights on how finest to answer the rising accessible journey market. Because the world turns into extra accessible, disabled folks will journey in bigger numbers and it’s my hope that this research will information journey suppliers in efforts to make journey extra inclusive and equitable.

The report relies on a pattern of two,789 U.S. residents aged 18 or older, together with 2,735 folks with disabilities and 414 respondents who’re caregivers or companions of somebody with a mobility impairment. The whole research is out there at www.mmgyintel.com, with proceeds donated to the United Spinal Affiliation, a nonprofit membership group devoted to advocating for and empowering folks with spinal wire accidents.