African tourism is behind the rest of the world in terms of making travel accessible to people with disabilities, and the region is missing out on a billion-dollar market.
Shama Nathoo, MD of Universal Accessibility Hub, and Simon Manda, owner of the disability awareness publication Thisability, held a presentation at Meetings Africa to outline the shortfalls in the African tourism sector concerning catering for people with disabilities.
“Globally, one in six people have some form of disability. In South Africa, this number was 2,87 million people in 2011 according to StatsSA,” said Nathoo on the tourism potential of the accessibility market.
“Think revenue. Think job creation. Why are we not thinking about this in the tourism and travel space?”
According to Nathoo, this market will also see an increase as travelling over the age of 70 becomes more popular – a trend noticed globally in recent years. According to the UN, almost 50% of people over the age of 60 have a disability.
The accessibility market in Australia is valued at US$11 billion (R211,75 billion), as one of few countries that lead the way in terms of accessible travel. Japan has also begun to focus on accessible tourism with initiatives such as barrier-free Tokyo (itineraries and guides created by the Japan National Tourism Organization for wheelchair users when exploring the city). Nathoo highlighted Disney World in the United States as an example of an accessible destination.
In contrast, the African continent appears not to prioritise accessibility in tourism, according to Manda, who said, while attending a recent conference on accessible tourism in Dubai, only one African country, Kenya, was represented.
“Something is wrong that needs to be addressed.
“People with disabilities are more valuable travellers, especially because they often travel with caregivers or family members, making them more valuable than the solo travellers the industry is targeting these days,” he added.
According to UN Tourism, the average spend in Spain for tourists with disabilities is more than €800 (R16 665), while the average for other tourists is €600 (R12 500).
