Travel fit for all

With the International Day of People with Disabilities on 3 December, sustainable-travel writer Holly Tuppen finds out who is leading the way when it comes to making the world more inclusive for everyone

More hotels in London invite dogs to stay in their rooms than they do disabled people,” Richard Thompson, founder of Inclu Travel, explains. It rings true; I’ve seen the press releases and marketing campaigns to confirm it. And while it might be incongruous for an industry based on hospitality – showing kindness to others – to be so slow off the mark, that means some 14.6 million disabled people in the UK alone are currently being ignored.

Richard believes tourism needs a mindset shift. After breaking his neck in a skiing accident, he became tetraplegic; he can walk but cannot use his hands. It’s something that he has learnt to control and live with, and it doesn’t stop him travelling as passionately as he did before his accident. But he needs the travel industry to catch up with him.

“Most disabled people don’t identify as ‘disabled’, and so the default marketing about ramps and accessible hotel rooms doesn’t resonate. What disabled travellers need is inclusion and for businesses to listen to their needs and be willing to adapt,” he continues.

Victoria Kruse, director of sustainability & wellness at Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences, agrees. She says: “The magic always happens when you listen to the needs of guests, whether they have additional needs or not. Our guest preference form is gold here.”

At Amilla, this means noticing that someone is struggling at the breakfast buffet and offering to help them with tongs or carrying a plate, setting aside a table at a distance for a guest who is immune compromised, or finding an inclusive activity in the kids’ club for a child with a learning disability.