Department for Culture Media and Sport
accessible tourism
Anyone who provides a service to the public, whether they charge for it or not, has duties under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
These "service providers" include hotels, restaurants and holiday accommodation. They cannot refuse to meet someone's needs as a disabled person or provide a lower standard of service because of a disability unless it can be justified.
Service providers may need to make "reasonable adjustments" to any barriers that may prevent a disabled person using or accessing their service.
Simple changes to layout, improved signage and information and staff training will improve accessibility to disabled customers. It's about what is practical to the service provider's individual situation and what resources they may have. They will not be required to make changes that are impractical or beyond their means.
Examples of reasonable changes that can be made include using large print for registration and guest information, or ensuring that at least one copy of the fixed menu is in Braille.
Tourism for All provides information on accessibility for businesses at both national and regional levels.
The National Accessible Scheme (NAS) aims to help service providers within the tourism industry make their services more accessible - to encourage more disabled people to use them.
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