By Carolyn Boyd, Industry Development Manager, Tourism Northern Ireland
Tourism NI is taking strides towards making Northern Ireland a more inclusive and accessible environment by rolling out a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing the tourism sector.
Around 23% of people in NI have a disability and £249 billion is spent by disabled customers in the UK each year so recognising the importance of inclusivity and accessibility and making the industry a more diverse and welcoming place should be a top priority for all.
Tourism is a people-oriented industry but for individuals living with disabilities, travelling can present some daunting challenges. Tourism NI wants to pave the way for the future and has a vision that tourism should be an ecosystem that brings opportunities for all regardless of abilities, needs and backgrounds. These opportunities should also have lasting economic and social benefits that are felt by communities right across the region.
With a major role to play in encouraging inclusivity across the tourism and hospitality sector, Tourism NI is working with a range of partners to roll out initiatives that will support the industry.
Economic growth for all
The benefit of inclusive tourism extends beyond the traveller, it also contributes to economic growth and promotes social integration. Tourism NI has ambitions to ensure the tourism sector is an inclusive employer that offers a diverse range of desirable career paths to all.
The tourism body has been taking action to improve the sector such as promoting equitable working conditions. By supporting the facilitation of an accessible, competitive and attractive industry to work in, Tourism NI aims to increase the number of employees within the tourism sector from underrepresented groups including those who are economically inactive, those who have disabilities, and those who come from deprived areas.
Learning Resources
A tour guiding for the deaf qualification has been launched. This qualification, a first of its kind for Northern Ireland, was developed jointly with members of the deaf community alongside Tourism NI, Belfast Metropolitan College and Visit Belfast. There are plans in place to roll the course out further including via North West Regional College and Derry City & Strabane District Council.
Tourism NI is also working with the UK and Ireland Accessibility Information Steering Group with the aim of establishing a list of accessible features that can be displayed by all tourism providers across the UK and Ireland. The listings will enable each tourism provider to list any accessible attributes it has such as blue badge and accessible parking bays, assistive listening, companion or carer discount, accessible changing and level access and will help tourists plan their visits easier. Once developed, these listings will also be incorporated on to the www.discovernorthernireland.com website.
Tourism NI is hosting an Inclusive & Accessible Tourism workshop on Tuesday 29 April 2025 at the Ebrington Hotel in Derry-Londonderry for tourism businesses to build the knowledge and learn how to embrace inclusive tourism. Register now at www.tourismni.com
Paving the way in tourism
Tourism NI is currently supporting a wide range of tourist attractions and accommodation providers right across Northern Ireland to address a multitude of needs as businesses strive to become as inclusive and accessible as possible.
Tourism providers such as Ebrington Hotel, the Marble Arch Caves and the Armagh Observatory & Planetarium are working on improving their environments for those with physical and mobility disabilities, sensory needs, blind and low vision, neurodiversity and non-visual needs as well as customers with dementia, complex disabilities and for those who use assistance dogs.
Titanic Belfast is another great example of accessible and inclusive tourism as they are consistently recognised as industry leaders on a local, national and international level for their accessibility standards. As recognised ambassadors, Titanic Belfast is continually working to further develop a five-star customer service by ensuring that all visitors’ access requirements are not only met but exceeded.
Operating as one of Northern Ireland’s most popular tourism attractions, Titanic Belfast recently invested £4.5million in its destination, placing accessibility and inclusivity at the forefront. Cementing their long-standing partnership with Orchardville, Titanic Belfast hosts ‘takeover days’ to give work experience to people with learning disabilities and autism and has extensive information regarding accessibility across their site and website. All staff at Titanic Belfast are also JAM card trained so guests can show they need a minute, as well as disability and diversity awareness training ensuring all guests get the same five-star service. They also operate a free essential carer policy for those who require assistance to visit the attraction and annually host a ‘Community Day’ where they open the attraction for free to a number of community groups, often those with accessibility needs.