Accessible tourism
Kangaroo Island, South Australia © Tourism Australia
Accessible tourism is the ongoing endeavour to ensure tourist destinations, products and services are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical limitations, disability, or age.
The accessible tourism community can include people with disability, a long-term health condition, or access requirements, along with their accompanying companions. This can include people with, limited mobility, including the use of wheelchairs and scooters, low vision, low hearing, cognitive disability, autism, allergies, and intolerances. Other visitors can also benefit from improved access including, the elderly, those with temporary access requirements, mobility restrictions or medical conditions, parents with prams, multi-generational family groups.
Research shows the substantial economic impact to tourism of this segment.
- According to Tourism Australia’s Future of Demand Research (2022) around a quarter (24 per cent) of international travellers considering Australia have an accessibility need and many more (86 per cent) indicated that accessibility influences their choice of destination.
- Tourism Australia’s Consumer Demand Project (2024) identifies that approximately 12 per cent of the High Yield Traveller Target Audience have accessibility requirements, reflecting the diverse needs of travellers. Among these, four per cent have mobility restrictions, four per cent have cognitive accessibility needs, two per cent require wheelchair access, and two per cent use pushchairs or prams.
- Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey shows that the estimated total value of domestic travel by people with disability and access needs and people who travelled with them in the June 2023 quarter alone was $6.8 billion. This amounted to 21 per cent of total domestic tourism spend in that quarter. The estimated number of domestic trips (both overnight and daytrips) by travellers with disability and access needs in the June 2023 quarter was 18.5 million. This accounted for 23 per cent of all domestic trips that quarter.
- The data suggests that travellers and their travel parties are likely to engage more with travel products and operators if their needs could be better met, therefore resulting in more trips, longer trips, more interstate travel and increased spend.
What is the difference between accessible and inclusive tourism?
| Accessible tourism | Accessible tourism refers to making travel and tourism destinations, products, and services available to all, regardless of their age, physical or cognitive abilities. It’s about removing physical barriers. |
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| Inclusive tourism | Inclusive tourism goes a step further by not only making travel accessible but also creating an environment that welcomes and accommodates people from all backgrounds and abilities. It's about ensuring that travellers feel comfortable and included during their travels.
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Tourism Australia have a strategic focus on accessible and inclusive tourism. Our goal is to unlock the potential of Australia’s accessible tourism sector, through inclusive marketing, industry support, and fostering a workplace culture that values and champions diversity. Our efforts are underpinned by our Disability and Inclusion Action Plan, including a commitment to the Shift 20 Initiative. Founded by Friend of Australia Dylan Alcott AO, the initiative focuses on increasing disability representation, inclusion, and accessibility in Australian advertising.
Australian policies and legislation
Resources for tourism operators
Accessibility research
Accessible Tourism Consultancies
Accredited access consultants and architects can assist you with accessibility design in the built environment. Visit the Association of Consultants in Access Australia to find a consultant, or Australian Institute of Architects to find an architect for your project. Below is a range of consultancies specialising in tourism and travel.
Resources for travellers
Australia is for everyone. Get tips on travelling in Australia with a disability and learn how to make your trip unforgettable. Find out more about accessible travel around Australia on Australia.com, or find a range of further resources below.
