{"id":152660,"date":"2024-02-23T09:38:46","date_gmt":"2024-02-23T08:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/venues\/?p=152660"},"modified":"2024-02-23T14:56:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T13:56:07","slug":"accessible-tourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/venues\/blog\/accessible-tourism\/","title":{"rendered":"How Museum and Attraction Operators Can Deliver Accessible Tourism Experiences"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When you hear the phrase accessible tourism<\/em>, what comes to mind? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This concept sounds simple, but it\u2019s about a lot more than just serving people with obvious physical limitations. According to ENAT<\/a>, accessible tourism is \u201ctourism and travel that is accessible to all people, with disabilities or not, including those with mobility, hearing, sight, cognitive, or intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, older persons, and those with temporary disabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider the following scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An older gentleman loves art, but shies away from the in-person experience of visiting museums for fear it will entail more walking than he\u2019s comfortable with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A history buff with a gluten intolerance opts out of making a day at your museum because she\u2019s worried there won\u2019t be adequate onsite food options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dyslexic young adult has always struggled to read, and feels shame about it. They avoid situations where reading is critical \u2013 like a historic attraction where signage and exhibit explanations will really matter to their experience.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by AnnaStills<\/a> on Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

These are just a few examples of museum visitors outside the mainstream, and there are plenty more. Accessibility is not just a niche market. In the EU<\/a>, 14% of people have a disability and 19% are over 65. According to a recent study in Ireland<\/a>, 30% of potential visitors to tourism destinations are not confident they can easily access the range of experiences available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessible tourism encompasses a wider range of human experiences than you might think. If your museum or attraction is (or seems) inaccessible to nearly one out of three people, you\u2019re missing out on a rich audience (and revenue).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you need to overhaul your entire facility and rethink all of your exhibits. Sometimes, visitors with certain needs avoid your museum or attraction simply because they don\u2019t know what to expect. You might already offer them a highly accessible experience, but fall short on making this obvious in your marketing materials. Or, there may be small adjustments you can make and offerings you can create to enrich your museum or attraction\u2019s accessible tourism experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more your museum or attraction can create accessible experiences and share information about them in advance, the better. You don\u2019t always have to spend a fortune overhauling your facility or experience<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The true importance of accessible tourism<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Photo by SeventyFour<\/a> on Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If the mission of museums and attractions is to share culture, history, and experiences, that has to include everyone \u2013 not just the normally abled. When you expand the old-fashioned notion of \u201cdisability\u201d beyond wheelchair use or blindness, you can make your museum or attraction more accessible for people with behavioral, psychosocial, and learning differences<\/a>, as well as young families, older individuals, and people with medical conditions that may not be visible or obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, accessibility in tourism means thoughtfully creating environments, opportunities, experiences, and services that actively cater to people of all kinds, living within a wide range of personal experiences. What do you stand to gain from this effort? Not just being conscious of human needs and creating an inclusive museum culture, but actual revenue that would otherwise be left on the table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efforts to implement accessible tourism lead to enhanced customer service, better reviews, repeat customers, and the true advantage of word-of-mouth marketing. Here are 10 ways to think about incorporating accessible tourism into your museum or attraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 easy ways to implement accessible tourism experiences  in museums and attractions<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Blind reading text caption in braille language at at National Archeological Museum of Madrid. Photo by WH_Pics<\/a> on Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Here are some places to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Increase experiences in the off seasons or during the off hours<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People with traditional disabilities tend to travel during times when others don\u2019t. They may want to visit your museum when it\u2019s less crowded and noisy. Placing an emphasis on welcoming them during these times can help disabled visitors feel seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your museum or attraction has an off season, consider offering special rates or events for those who identify with particular accessibility groups. Additionally, consider days and times to invite marginalized groups of people throughout the year, such as your slower days of the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Provide more than one way to get information<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone reads well, or at all. Perhaps your museum or attraction already employs universal signage throughout the facility, and you might even offer the option of Braille signage. But you can take this effort further with audio options \u2013 not just audio tours but audio versions of signage and exhibit descriptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Strategically design your seating options<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For people who have trouble walking or even standing for long periods, providing places to sit down at strategic points throughout your museum or attraction is a thoughtful gesture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of just sticking a bench here and there, consider where you could strategically place comfortable seating that would allow patrons to view art from a sitting position \u2013 and consider how the art (or other type of exhibit) will look from that angle. Good seating should contribute to the viewing experience, not just enable a quick rest for a tired visitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Create a detailed mobility map<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the best ways to prepare visitors to expect accessible experiences is to create an explicitly coded map that\u2019s available prior to their visit. This map might include the locations of accessible bathrooms, the availability of quiet spaces, audio-specific exhibits, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Include your <\/strong>accessible tourism<\/strong> efforts in your marketing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make sure to offer the mobility map and other accessible tourism options on all of your marketing channels: your website, emails to ticket holders, social media platforms, and printed brochures. The more detailed you can be, the more potential visitors will know what to expect and whether your museum or attraction will work for their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Make your marketing itself accessible<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This means not just talking about accessibility options in your marketing, but making the marketing itself accessible with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n