Accessible Tourism

Visit England the national agency, working with LVEPs (Local Visitor Economy Partnerships) like Marketing Lancashire, exists to support and grow England’s visitor economy sector. With 1.4 billion people travelling the world and 15% of those identifying as disabled or having accessibility requirements, it is important that we work together to remove barriers to making England’s tourism more accessible.  Moreover, it is our social responsibility and it makes good business sense.

16 Million people in the UK have a disability – nearly 1 in every four people.

Your existing customers are likely to have an impairment but these are not always visible or disclosed.  The spending power of disabled people and their households is referred to as the ‘Purple pound’. The Purple Pound in England alone is worth £14.6 billion pounds.

Lancashire tourism businesses should take time to assess and review their accessibility regularly to make changes or strive to make their business welcoming and available to all.

There are also obligations under the Equality Act 2010, regarding anyone who is disabled, thought to be disabled or associated with someone who is disabled. The Pink Book gives guidance and information on the legislation and how it affects you.

Making improvements is not always costly or time-consuming, as we often say ‘making a small change can make a big difference’ to the experience of our guests and visitors. Improvements can also include training for your teams;  giving them the understanding and tools to make every guest experience one to cherish.

We have a reputation for being a friendly and welcoming destination and that warm, Lancashire hospitality should be enjoyed and experienced by all visitors.

Visit England has a wealth of guidance, information, checklists and downloadable toolkits, to help you on your business journey towards being more accessible.

Start your journey here…

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Latest regulatory updates  – May 2024 and archive