Making Tourism Accessible

More than 100 industry representatives attended an Inclusive & Accessible Tourism Industry Workshop in Derry this week to learn more about how they can embark upon or continue their accessibility journey.

During the session at the Ebrington Hotel, which was hosted by Jamie Shields, Co-Founder of Disabled By Society, Tourism NI revealed the results of recent industry research before launching its new Inclusive & Accessible Tourism Toolkit.

The toolkit provides practical hints and tips alongside reassurance and confidence to move forward inclusively, however new or well-established the business is.

The session, which was entirely signed, also included best practice industry case studies, latest updates on the Accessibility Website Project and examples, tips & advice on what good looks like in relation to inclusivity and accessible tourism.

There was also a panel discussion featuring Lisa Heaney, Millennium Forum Access Manager, Kyleigh Lough, Chief Executive of the Mae Murray Foundation, Emma Cunningham, from the National Trust (North Coast Portfolio) and Fionnuala McEldowney from the Ebrington Hotel.

The workshop also included a demonstration from Guide Dogs NI and a session with Sign Source NI on communicating with deaf people.

Mark Thompson, Visitor Information Manager at Tourism NI, also provided a presentation about the Accessible Information Website Project.

Eimear Callaghan, Head of Experience and Industry Development at Tourism NI, said: "Tourism NI is delighted to launch our Inclusive & Accessible Tourism toolkit, which is designed to support tourism businesses enhance their provision for visitors with additional needs.

“We recognise the gaps in knowledge identified through our research, which was carried out in partnership with Disability Action, and we are helping tourism businesses improve their own offerings through our toolkit, e-learning modules and the experiences of other tourism businesses who are already active in this area.

“As a tourism destination, we want to ensure we can offer a giant welcome to all."

Details of a new partnership were also announced on the day - Tourism NI, Derry & Strabane District Council and North West Regional College are partnering with Foyle Deaf Association to train eight new deaf tour guides for the city. This follows on from a similar programme in Belfast in 2023.

Tourism NI’s Inclusive & Accessible Tourism Toolkit can be accessed at Inclusive & Accessible Tourism Toolkit.