Call to be more inclusive
Tourism businesses across Callander and The Trossachs are being encouraged to become more inclusive, including to people with disabilities.
The Accessible Callander and Trossachs Group hosted a workshop last week in McLaren Community Leisure Centre on the untapped Inclusive Tourism market worth £2.6billion to the economy.
The free event featured inclusivity consultants, Access for All UK and tourism industry experts.
In the UK, one in five people is disabled but only eight per cent of these are wheelchair users while 70 per cent have ‘invisible’ disabilities. People aged over 55 also spend 20 per cent more than the average consumer. The session was open to all tourism businesses across Callander and The Trossachs. From accommodation providers to retail and visitor attractions, big or small, the event provided an opportunity to share industry experiences and best practice.
David Moore, chair of the Accessible Callander and Trossachs Group, added: “We want to make sure we can extend the same warm welcome to all our visitors and were keen to ensure local businesses felt able to do just that. Accessibility is important to the region and this event was aimed at informing and inspiring those working within the tourism sector to consider the small but significant steps they can take to appeal to those with access needs.”
LLTNPA chief executive Gordon Watson said “With significant investment planned for new visitor facilities and infrastructure in and around Callander, now is the right time to ensure well considered design is woven through plans to make the area as accessible as possible.”
VisitScotland, National Park Authority, and Stirling Council and Callander Enterprise supported the event.