‘Take the lead’ on access

VisitEngland and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have produced a new guide for tourism businesses on welcoming customers with assistance dogs. Take the lead highlights the important role performed by assistance dogs, it outlines the legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010, and how tourism businesses can boost business by attracting more visits from disabled travellers and their canine companions.

By making small changes, often at very low cost, accommodation providers can help ensure all visitors feel welcome, make the most of the accessible tourism market -  a sector worth over £2billion a year* with strong growth potential, and ensure they fulfil their legal duties to the 6500 assistance dog users in the UK.

James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland said: “Assistance dogs are highly trained travel companions, providing a crucial service to their owners and used by thousands of people with access needs.”
Mark Hammond, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "The guide explains the important role assistance dogs play in the lives of their owners and provides answers to questions raised by the industry."

Download the new guide from www.VisitEngland.org/access. 

Celebrating Powerchair Football Week

Changing Face Of Travel

Since 1970 our holiday habits have changed dramatically; getting away was seen as a luxury, and globetrotting has long been seen as the pastime of the young and responsibility-free. But, interestingly, new research  reveals mature travellers - that is, over the age of 55 - are currently the most likely to go on holiday every year (47%), and are 3 times more adventurous in their choice of destination than 35 years ago.

The research also shows that, whilst we are spending more than ever on our holidays, £32 billion in 2012 compared to £382 million in 1970, the relative cost of long-haul travel has actually reduced. With new exotic destinations being added to the nations loved ‘package holidays’, it is not surprising how many of us are travelling to new corners of the world; 8 million visits were made abroad 35 years ago compared to 56 million in 2012.

New ‘package holidays’ introduced in the 70’s encouraged travel to Europe, claiming on average 84% of visits from UK residents going abroad over the past 35 years. And the trend is set to continue with new and more adventurous destinations becoming popular, and one in ten of people surveyed thinking we will be holidaying in space in 35 years' time!

Where do  you travel in your wheelchair?

Degree With A Disability

UCAS has now updated its data tables of total applicants and accepted applicants by declared disability, special need or medical condition to include the complete 2013 cycle.

The statistics cover applications to undergraduate higher education courses in the UK.

For comparison this dataset covers a six year time series, going back to 2008.

Applicants

Disability	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
No disability	472,697	512,670	547,656	548,170	504,084	518,105
Learning Difficulty	16,503	17,130	21,568	22,234	21,541	23,480
Serious visual impairment	968	896	536	589	561	565
Serious hearing impairment	1,414	1,522	1,026	981	909	1,035
Physical impairment or mobility issues	860	969	1,332	1,243	1,283	1,325
Autistic spectrum disorder	851	1,166	1,493	1,946	2,073	2,635
Mental health condition	1,483	1,730	3,477	3,845	4,188	5,170
Long standing illness or health condition	3,239	3,565	4,311	4,405	4,251	4,515
Two or more impairments and/or disabling medical conditions	952	978	1,100	1,369	1,444	1,695
Other disability, impairment or medical condition	3,494	3,659	4,322	4,568	4,418	4,795
Total	502,461	544,285	586,821	589,350	544,752	563,320

Accepted applicants

Disability	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
No disability	381,252	400,874	396,878	401,787	377,449	400,065
Learning Difficulty	13,483	13,320	15,526	16,111	16,019	18,085
Serious visual impairment	751	690	389	424	428	440
Serious hearing impairment	1,096	1,150	739	696	641	805
Physical impairment or mobility issues	679	747	924	875	952	1020
Autistic spectrum disorder	706	959	1,149	1,517	1,656	2,130
Mental health difficulties	1,089	1,164	2,205	2,517	2,847	3,760
Long standing illness or health condition	2,453	2,649	2,939	3,047	3,012	3,355
Two or more impairments and/or disabling medical conditions	764	740	766	956	1038	1275
Other disability, impairment or medical condition	2,751	2,770	3,119	3,305	3,349	3,755
Total	405,024	425,063	424,634	431,235	407,391	434,690

Applicants – expressed as percentages

Disability	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
No disability	94.1%	94.2%	93.3%	93.0%	92.5%	92.0%
Learning Difficulty	3.3%	3.1%	3.7%	3.8%	4.0%	4.2%
Serious visual impairment	0.2%	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Serious hearing impairment	0.3%	0.3%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%
Physical impairment or mobility issues	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%
Autistic spectrum disorder	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%	0.3%	0.4%	0.5%
Mental health difficulties	0.3%	0.3%	0.6%	0.7%	0.8%	0.9%
Long standing illness or health condition	0.6%	0.7%	0.7%	0.7%	0.8%	0.8%
Two or more impairments and/or disabling medical conditions	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%	0.3%
Other disability, impairment or medical condition	0.7%	0.7%	0.7%	0.8%	0.8%	0.9%
Total	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

Accepted applicants – expressed as percentages

Disability	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
No disability	94.1%	94.3%	93.5%	93.2%	92.7%	92.0%
Learning Difficulty	3.3%	3.1%	3.7%	3.7%	3.9%	4.2%
Serious visual impairment	0.2%	0.2%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Serious hearing impairment	0.3%	0.3%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%
Physical impairment or mobility issues	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%
Autistic spectrum disorder	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%	0.4%	0.4%	0.5%
Mental health difficulties	0.3%	0.3%	0.5%	0.6%	0.7%	0.9%
Long standing illness or health condition	0.6%	0.6%	0.7%	0.7%	0.7%	0.8%
Two or more impairments and/or disabling medical conditions	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.2%	0.3%	0.3%
Other disability, impairment or medical condition	0.7%	0.7%	0.7%	0.8%	0.8%	0.9%
Total	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

@lonelyplanet needs you!

Lonely Planet have created a new project that seeks to make travel possible for everyone.

They would like you to let them know what you think can be changed. Whether its help with planning, advice about how to cope on the road or something else entirely; simply send an e-mail to travelforall@lonelyplanet.com.au or visit here.

Friends Come In Many Sizes

Winter Sun

Now we are reaching mid- January, are you ready for your next holiday? A recent  Sainsburys survey found the  Canaries is the most popular winter sun destination with 18% of winter sun seekers planning to go there

 The Caribbean is the second most popular with 8% of winter sun seekers heading there,  6% plan to go to Dubai and 5% to Australia.  21% are undecided where they will go.

Where is your favourite wheelchair- accessible holiday destination?

 

How To Choose Your Holiday

Who will influence your 2014 holiday?  Diffusion has found:

1.       Word-of-mouth 46%
2.       TV programmes 30%
3.       Review sites (e.g. TripAdvisor) 29%
4.       Online Media  22%
5.       Newspapers  16%
6.       Friends’ Facebook and Twitter photos  15%
7.       Lifestyle Magazines  13%
8.       Advertising Campaigns  11%
9.       Blogger Reviews  8%

Confidence among UK consumers could be returning as new research reveals that almost two-thirds of Brits (60 per cent) plan to increase the amount they will spend on holidays in 2014, compared to the previous year.

On average Brits will increase their travel budget by 14 per cent compared to last year and a well-heeled 8 per cent will be investing more than double their 2013 holiday spending. These findings make up Diffusion's 2014 Consumer Travel Trends report, commissioned by the communications agency using OnePoll to survey over 1,000 Brits online on their holiday plans in 2014.

In further positive news, more than one in six (17 per cent) plan to increase their number of holidays, one in eight (12.5 per cent) are looking to travel further afield and one in ten (10 per cent) will book a multicentre trip. However, the ‘fly and flop’ remains a staple part of British travel plans, with almost a fifth (19 per cent) of Brits intending to book a beach holiday in 2014.

The report also examined the sources of information used by consumers when planning and booking their holidays. Almost half (46 per cent) of consumers will rely on word-of-mouth recommendation to select destinations, with almost three in ten (29 per cent) planning to consult review sites like TripAdvisor.

Diffusion’s research analyses the sources of travel inspiration for British consumers. The report highlights the growing impact social media sites are having on our travel choices, rivalling the influence of traditional editorial sources and paid advertising campaigns. For example, more people will be inclined to book a holiday after seeing their friends’ boastful social media photos than will do having read a magazine review or seeing an advertising campaign (15 per cent, 13 per cent and 11 per cent retrospectively).

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Happy New Year 2014!
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