By KATH GANNAWAY
WHEN tourism and business operators from around the Yarra Ranges’ region gathered in May this year for a seminar on accessible tourism, they were blown away by the opportunities being opened up around the world.
Whether it’s age, physical or intellectual disability or other challenges people face when they pack their bags for a one-off or longer holiday experience, the message was loud and clear – accessible tourism is an untapped market that Yarra Ranges can tap into to open up a whole range of experiences to everyone.
The sector currently represents 11 per cent of the tourism market but it was estimated it could make up 25 per cent by 2020.
Certainly, the seminar, presented by Yarra Ranges Tourism, Yarra Ranges Council and Tourism Victoria was aimed at creating opportunities for the businesses involved, but there was a genuine enthusiasm for providing the means for everyone to share the exciting and memorable experiences that come with getting out in the great outdoors, jumping from a plane, attending a festival or just relaxing in a place that is inclusive.
Bill Forrester from Travability challenged the view of many operators which is that people with a disability were non-participative, passive, travelling with a carer and looking to the lower end of the market.
“I want to change those perceptions. The thing to remember about disability, it’s the only minority group in the world that anybody can join in an instant,” he said.
He showed it can be done highlighting experiences overseas where operators had succeeded in capturing the disability market showing practical examples, from signage and placement of furniture to heritage buildings that had adapted to meet the needs of the disability market.
The Loft in the Mill in Olinda, Three Sugars Café in Warburton, Global Ballooning in Dixons Creek and De’Vine Escape in Yarra Glen he said, were great local examples of businesses catering for the market.
Kiff Saunders from Global Ballooning is the first balloon company in the world to come up with an accessible balloon basket and in June this year the company won the Business and Community Supporting Disability category at the prestigious Victorian Disability Sector awards.
Mr Saunders spoke passionately about what it means, not only in a business sense, but on a personal level.
“You feel very proud if you can offer a person an experience that’s not been available to them before,” he said.
“I would love to think we have a quantum accessibility tourism operation here,” he added.
