Do you want to travel to increase travel to Valencia, Spain? Hyderabad, India? Piriapolis, Uruguay? Pattaya, Thailand? Below is a helpful compilation of facts from the First International Tourism Development Forum for People with Special Needs in the Middle East.
FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT DISABLED TRAVEL
Statistics by Harris Interactive, a US market research company, show that the amount of money spent by disabled tourists can increase to $27 billion if specific services are added to accommodate them. A survey of 1,037 disabled individuals indicated that most of the services needed are:
<> Allocating special waiting bays that are close to airplane entrances to ensure maximum ease for the disabled
<> Receiving disabled tourists in a respectful manner by the employees in tourism facilities.
<> Providing suitable aisles for disabled in airports.
<> Appropriate shops in Duty Free Areas in airports.
<> Equipped taxi cars
<> Suitable insurance services.
<> Appoint sign language-speaking employees
<> Installing special doors that suit wheel-chairs.
<> Spacious toilets and rooms for disabled in wheel-chairs.
<> Short clothes hangers.
<> Reachable sinks for dish-washing
The statistics showed that:
[]- In 2001, US disabled travellers spent $3.3 billion on tickets, creating over 53,000 jobs among those catering for their needs. They spent $4.2 billion on hotel accommodation which led to 60,000 new jobs.
[]- The number of cabins designed for disabled travellers rose by 60 % on Caribbean cruise ships from 1999 to 2000.
[]- The disabled constitute around 15% of the British population (British National Statistic Centre).
[]- The British Government gives around 19 billion sterling pounds annually as aid for disabled people.
[]- In Germany one out of four individuals is disabled or has a disabled relative. One out of four Germans will reach the age of 60 by the year 2010 and the number will increase to 1 out of 3 by 2030.
[]- Five% of manufactured cars (130,000), suitable for disabled people, are sold yearly. (European Consumers Org.)
[]- In Russia around 900,000 individuals are registered as disabled annually.
[]- The number of the disabled individuals in Russia is 11 million (according to the Russian Ministry of Labor and Pravda newspaper). This number is expected to reach 15 million over the upcoming years.
[]- Around 54 million individuals are disabled in the US.
[]- More than 52% of disabled individuals require a companion. This encourages family tourism and supports other tourism sectors.
[]- 50% of disabled individuals worldwide are willing to travel more if the appropriate services are provided
[]- Disabled individuals spend an average of 945 Euros as apposed to normal individuals who spend an average of 818 Euros per trip.
Source:
Travel Impact Newswire, 24 Soi Chidlom, Bangkok, Thailand 10330. T: (66-2) 2551480, 2537590. Fax: 02 2544316. Email: imtiaz@travel-impact-newswire.com AND/OR imtiaz@loxinfo.co.th
Posted by rollingrains at June 15, 2005 06:12 AM