[Chris G Veitch]

Hi, regretfully there is probably no one destination where they can show the ROI or other measurable impact of improved accessibility. A key question is of course ‘Accessible for whom” for wheelchair users or universally accessible? This said there are a number of significant destinations recognised for their great work and commitment to develop Accessible tourism, these are:

VisitFlanders: https://www.visitflanders.com/en/accessibility/index.jsp

Catalonia: https://www.catalunya.com/what-to-do/how-to-travel/catalonia-is-accessible-to-everyone

Germany: https://www.germany.travel/en/ms/barrier-free-travel/experience-barrier-free-travel-in-germany.html

Portugal: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/experiencias/turismo-acessivel

In the UK, England Scotland and Wales are all committed to improved accessibility with the UK Government recently stating the ambition to become the most accessible tourism destination in Europe by 2025 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-plan-to-drive-rapid-recovery-of-tourism-sector Objective 5.

VisitEngland offers information and resources to developing accessible destinations https://www.visitbritain.org/developing-accessible-destinations. You may be interested in a VisitEngland ‘Access for All project, with £125,000 funding by the EU which generated £32 million pound incremental spend https://www.visitbritain.org/sites/default/files/vb-corporate/access_for_all_project_roundup_and_results_15.08.16.pdf

A report produced in 2014 by the University of Surrey for the European Commission identified that lack of accessible tourism was costing the economy billions – it stated that the tourism industry across Europe was missing out on up to 142 billion Euros annually https://www.surrey.ac.uk/features/lack-accessible-tourism-costing-economy-billions

Whilst this is an old report I think its findings are probably still relevant with the tourism industry globally missing out on a large and growing market which is effectively all of us.