Tourism Accessibility Guides: Good examples

A heritage building in Scotland at night with nice lighting from the windows. Accessibility guides like this encourage more visitors.
One of the attractions from the Visit England website

According to the Visit England website, 63% of tourism businesses do not promote their access provisions for visitors. Yet 95% of visitors with access requirements look for this information before deciding to visit. The website also has advice and help for creating and publishing accessibility guides. It includes sections on photography, and how to create a location map and video guide. 

The Visit England website also has a link to a video and three good examples of tourism accessibility guides:

Self-catering example

The self-catering example has an easy to read webpage setting out where there is level access, and access to bedrooms. Under the hearing tab it explains the TVs have subtitles and a hearing loop. 

Under the vision tab it explains colour contrast, large print and Easy Read formats. They have non-allergenic bedding and a portable hoist. 

There is a three-minute video explaining the importance of this information and how businesses benefit. 

Restaurant example

The restaurant example explains they are a family run business and similarly to the self-catering example they cover level access, hearing and vision. They cater for a variety of diets and assistance dogs are welcome. 

Visitor attraction example

The example is based on a whisky distillery with a guided tour, a shop, restaurant and tasting experience. Visitors can check out level access, and provisions for hearing and vision.

The example guides are a good start, but would be enhanced by more photographs of the rooms and spaces. See previous post on The Kelpies for another good example of a guide for ALL visitors. This one is in the form of an access statement and includes several photographs to aid visitors.

Is your pub accessible?

Picture from front cover of the booklet showing two pubs and a man who is blind using his smartphone to order food. Is your beer accessible?The British Beer & Pub Association has a straightforward booklet of advice and good case studies for accessibility. It dispels a lot of myths, and many of the adaptations are simple, such as easy to read menus. It covers physical, sensory and cognitive issues that potential customers might have. So joke-type symbols for toilets are not a good idea, as well as understanding that not all disabilities are visible. Excellent resource for any food and beverage venue. As is often the case, it is not rocket science or costly, just thoughtful.

The title of the publication is An Open Welcome: Making your pub accessible for customers. “Pubs are places where everyone is welcome. It’s where family, friends and colleagues come together and where tourists to the country feel they will see the true, welcoming Britain”. 

 

Accessibility Toolbar