Wheelchair Users Prefer Travelling to Goa and Kerala for its Accessibility – Survey

MUMBAI:
A survey commissioned by Enable Travel – India’s Premier Accessible Holiday Specialist, interviewed 90 people with disabilities across Wheelchair Users (30), Deaf (30) and Blind (30), from Mumbai and Delhi. Key factors highlight that people with disabilities have a deep desire to travel like everyone else. However, they have specific requirements and travel related barriers that need a differentiated approach.
The survey gauges the travel interests, decision-making process and areas of concern faced by people with disabilities, at the same time offers an insight to various tourism stakeholders to consider their interests in travelling and involve them as part of tourism activities.
Debolin Sen, Head, Enable Travel said, “The need to explore the travel requirements of people with disabilities has been largely ignored. It is time that we as a society stop overlooking the choices and desires of this segment and help them break free from the various physical, social, and attitudinal barriers they face as individuals. The survey to an extent highlights the need to explore the interests and attitudes of this segment of travellers and create awareness about the different barriers they face while travelling, through a focussed approach”.
The survey interviewed individuals who have taken at least two holiday trips in the past one year and highlighted different needs of people with different disabilities.
The Wheelchair users users said:
-90% of the respondents said they do not have access to other hotel services like restaurants, garden and swimming pools
-70% of the respondents said they want to stay in hotels with spacious bathroom with adequate turning radius.
– 92% of the respondents agreed there is lack of information in hand when deciding on the mode of transport.
– 77% of the respondents agreed they face difficulty due to the placement of switch boards and emergency bell inside the hotel rooms.
– All the respondents said they want restaurants with steps to make provision of ramps at the entrance.
– 77% of the respondents said that they gathered information about a destination through social media posts and travel blogs.
– 60% of the respondents said they prefer visiting beach destinations like Goa and Kerala for its easy accessibility.
The vision impared/blind said:
– 70% of the respondents said they face difficulty accessing websites for information on destination and bookings.
– 90% of the respondents said that Word of mouth was their major source of information in choosing a destination.
-70% of the respondents said that they are unable to chalk out the food menu without braille formats.
– 80% of the respondents said that buildings should make provision for grab/ hand rails to help climb stairs
– All the respondents said that hotels must have Braille and tactile markings on the elevator control buttons.
The deaf said:
– 89% of the respondents said that most hotels had no visual signal alert to detect knock on the door, recognise telephone ring or alarm clock.
– All the respondents said that their main source of information for choosing a destination is through social media posts.
– All the respondents said that quality hotel accommodation and ease of commute are important factors while deciding on a destination
– All the respondents said that Hotels, Museums and tourist sites should provide Deaf Friendly Tour Guides
– All the respondents said that Hotels need to be equipped with necessary visual alert devices in case of emergencies.