Not all inclusive - new research find that over half of people with disabilities associate holidays with stress

New research by Ocean Holidays has revealed the stress and uncertainty disabled people face when planning a holiday.

  • 51% of respondents with a disability said going on holiday was associated with stress, whilst 36% related it with frustration
  • Negative experiences when booking or going on holiday have impacted 65% of disabled people’s attitudes towards travelling
  • Nearly half (49%) of those surveyed have submitted an accessibility-related complaint, but for a fifth (21%) nothing was done about it

Ocean Holidays, the UK’s fastest-growing travel company and Europe’s leading Florida holiday expert undertook the research to shed light on the issue. The Essex-based operator, now a registered member of the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network, recently announced its new Accessibility Programme. Launched after twelve months of thorough research and development, the programme offers a service and resource hub dedicated to making holidays accessible for all, no matter the disability.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower has one simple purpose - for someone to choose to wear a Sunflower lanyard, badge or wristband, when it suits them, to let people know that they, or someone with them, has a non-visible disability and may need extra help, understanding, or just more time.

Following investment in rigorous staff training, customers can now book holidays knowing that every additional need is taken care of - whether at the airport or in resort – by staff with an unrivalled knowledge of accessible options in the Sunshine State, all at no extra cost. The programme takes a holistic approach, covering everything from mobility, visual and hearing impairment through to cognitive challenges with accessibility champions in all areas of the business.

The new Accessibility programme on its website is also designed to be a resource for disabled travellers and their families, with information on everything from accessible restaurants to wheelchair-friendly sightseeing options while abroad.

“These findings underline the opportunity the travel industry has to make travel a better experience for the one in five individuals with disabilities in the UK,”

said Harry Hastings, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Ocean Holidays whose son Rudy has a rare genetic condition called MCAHS1, he went on to say

“It’s great to see niche holiday operators serving the needs of so many but we also believe that it’s time that more mainstream travel companies step up with a more inclusive approach to supporting people with disabilities, and their families. As an industry, we have so much to do to vastly improve the holiday experience for people with disabilities. At Ocean Holidays, we are at the start of this journey, and we’ve taken steps to improve the experience across the board. We promise to do our best to provide people with disabilities the support they need to enjoy their dream holiday.”

Paul White, CEO, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower said,

“We are delighted that Ocean Holidays has become a member of the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network to ensure that travelling abroad is accessible for all. The launch of Ocean Holidays’ accessibility programme demonstrates how businesses are starting to take disabilities seriously by reviewing their current offerings and practices. As the findings in this research show there is still further to go for the wider travel industry to become fully inclusive for people with disabilities, but this is a positive step in the right direction.”

Learn more about Ocean Holidays.

 

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Is your organisation a member of the Sunflower network?

Is your place of work Sunflower friendly? If not, why not suggest they look into becoming members of the Sunflower? We provide training and assistance to help businesses recognise the Sunflower to support individuals with non-visible disabilities and become confident in providing them with additional help or assistance.

Join an impressive network of organisations so our Sunflower wearers can find you as they plan their days out:

  • add your location to the Sunflower location map
  • provide details useful for Sunflower-friendly visits
  • demonstrate how accessible you are
  • tell your story through articles
  • and even reveal your Sunflower-friendly events

Become a member of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network.