In the past few years, more and more water leisure operators are looking at how to make their websites, facilities and staff more accessible and welcoming to guests with disabilities. It makes sense that inclusive tourism has become a trending term because, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), “over a billion people live with some form of disability; this corresponds to about 15 percent of the world’s population.”
So what is inclusive tourism?
As defined by Push Adventures (pushadventures.com.au), an inclusive tourism consultancy in South Australia, “inclusive tourism is about reducing uncertainty around what to expect from a destination or service. It creates increased participation in tourism activities and embraces the entire community of travellers, regardless of ability.”
One waterpark that’s already introduced a robust “access for all” approach is Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool, UK. Starting with its website, which has a helpful “plan your visit” section, Sandcastle enables anyone to visit, whatever their physical or cognitive impairment.
For the Sandcastle team, it’s about the total guest experience –from pre-visit to visit to post-visit. The waterpark has a variety of inclusive services and trains staff to treat each guest, regardless of ability, with care and understanding. To learn more about their accessibility programming, visit sandcastle-waterpark.co.uk.
As Push Adventures says, inclusive tourism is more than providing a ramp. “Not all disabilities are visible and every person is unique. Small details can make the world of difference to a person’s travel experience.”
Aleatha Ezra, director of park member development, WWA
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 1
Industry Opinion: Waterparks
More water leisure operators are investing in becoming more accessible, writes WWA's Aleatha Ezra
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
Species survival expert Bill Robichaud shares the trials of the saola and what zoos are doing to save this near-extinct creature
Interview: Bob White
Bob White, COO of Village Roadshow, on
weathering a dip in attendance and keeping
his eyes on investment and expansion
Inclusivity: Open to All
Kath Hudson reports on some inspiring
initiatives to help include people who
face physical, social or economic
obstacles to visiting attractions
Heritage: Lofty Ideals
Westminster Abbey is getting an attic
conversion of sorts. We found out more
Waterparks: Under the Weather
Meet the team who helped bring
Epic Waters to fruition – an undercover
Texas waterpark on an epic scale
Profile: Andreas Andersen
IAAPA’s new chair Andreas Andersen sat
down with Tom Anstey to talk about industry
growth, sustainability – and queueing
Theme Parks: Think Big
Liseberg CEO Andreas Andersen reveals
details of the park’s €200m expansion
Themed design: The Story Builders
Disney’s Joe Rohde and Scott Trowbridge
and Universal’s Thierry Coup reveal the
secrets of their trade – well, some of them!
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
In the past few years, more and more water leisure operators are looking at how to make their websites, facilities and staff more accessible and welcoming to guests with disabilities. It makes sense that inclusive tourism has become a trending term because, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), “over a billion people live with some form of disability; this corresponds to about 15 percent of the world’s population.”
So what is inclusive tourism?
As defined by Push Adventures (pushadventures.com.au), an inclusive tourism consultancy in South Australia, “inclusive tourism is about reducing uncertainty around what to expect from a destination or service. It creates increased participation in tourism activities and embraces the entire community of travellers, regardless of ability.”
One waterpark that’s already introduced a robust “access for all” approach is Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool, UK. Starting with its website, which has a helpful “plan your visit” section, Sandcastle enables anyone to visit, whatever their physical or cognitive impairment.
For the Sandcastle team, it’s about the total guest experience –from pre-visit to visit to post-visit. The waterpark has a variety of inclusive services and trains staff to treat each guest, regardless of ability, with care and understanding. To learn more about their accessibility programming, visit sandcastle-waterpark.co.uk.
As Push Adventures says, inclusive tourism is more than providing a ramp. “Not all disabilities are visible and every person is unique. Small details can make the world of difference to a person’s travel experience.”
Aleatha Ezra, director of park member development, WWA
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2018 issue 1
Industry Opinion: Waterparks
More water leisure operators are investing in becoming more accessible, writes WWA's Aleatha Ezra
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
Species survival expert Bill Robichaud shares the trials of the saola and what zoos are doing to save this near-extinct creature
Interview: Bob White
Bob White, COO of Village Roadshow, on
weathering a dip in attendance and keeping
his eyes on investment and expansion
Inclusivity: Open to All
Kath Hudson reports on some inspiring
initiatives to help include people who
face physical, social or economic
obstacles to visiting attractions
Heritage: Lofty Ideals
Westminster Abbey is getting an attic
conversion of sorts. We found out more
Waterparks: Under the Weather
Meet the team who helped bring
Epic Waters to fruition – an undercover
Texas waterpark on an epic scale
Profile: Andreas Andersen
IAAPA’s new chair Andreas Andersen sat
down with Tom Anstey to talk about industry
growth, sustainability – and queueing
Theme Parks: Think Big
Liseberg CEO Andreas Andersen reveals
details of the park’s €200m expansion
Themed design: The Story Builders
Disney’s Joe Rohde and Scott Trowbridge
and Universal’s Thierry Coup reveal the
secrets of their trade – well, some of them!
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
Royal Caribbean has revealed its Hero of the Seas cruise ship, home to the most pools at sea
(nine), and a record-breaking 28 dining venues, as well as attractions including a waterpark
with two new family raft slides.
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