Access Tourism and New Zealand

Access Tourism and New ZealandSandra Rhodda

Access Tourism is for

•People with long term and temporary disabilities (PwDs)

•Seniors who may not be as agile as they once were

•Parents with pushchairs

•Pregnant women

•People with luggage

•Everyone!

In 2006, 17% of the population of New Zealand reported a disability

This percentage is bound to increase •Due to our aging population• Impairment increases with age

•750 m - 1 billion PwDs• largest minority group

Disabilities issue, or economic, or a tourism sustainability issue?

Ageing Spending

Power

Wealth Holders in Western Societies

– 4 million baby boomers– 20% of the population– hold 50% of all total net

household wealth

•25-39 year olds hold 19%

In Australia:

80 million are over 45 and they: – hold 77% of all financial assets– account for 50% discretionary

spending– have about US$800 billion in DS– earn an estimated US$3 trillion p.a.USA Bureau of Labour Statistics August 2010

In the USA:

Will ageing impact on tourism?

Germany: Tourism Projection

German Ministry for Economy and Technology, 2009 http://www.bmwi.de/

European Travel Commission + UNWTO July 2010

Saturday

Amongst 9 main trends,

“Richer, older and going somewhere - demographic changeswill alter Western travel.”

http://www.amadeus.com/amadeus/documents/corporate/Travel-Gold-Rush-2020-EN.pdf

What about PWDs?

Hagley Park Christchurch

In Australia:• Australian PwDs 4.2 million2008-2009:• 88% take a holiday each year within Australia• This = 8.2 million trips• 7% travel overseas/year• Average group size is 4.1• Contribute cA$4 b/yr to Australian Tourism Gross

Value• = 14% total tourism GVA

$220 billion discretionary spending p.a. (USBLN August 2010)

2002-2003 study showed:

• 31.7 million trips p.a.

• Spent $35US billion on Travel & Tourism p.a.

• Visited restaurants at least once a week spending $36 billion

• Would spend more on Travel & Tourism if more products were accessible

In the USA:

European Commission Estimates for European citizens

•128 million PwDs•70% (89 m) are physically and financially able to travel

•Travel in groups so # requesting accessible tourism products and services est. = 133-360 million

•Expected revenues of €166 billion p.a.

Other Facts about Boomers, Seniors, PwDs

• Inheritance•Retiring• Interest in travel• Increasing longevity/health• Increasing interest in “wellness tourism”, including medical tourism

•PwDs travel with companions •Elderly and children, or grandchildren

Other Facts about Boomers, Seniors, PwDs

• Increasingly net savvy•Fewer outgoing expenses •Spend a greater percentage of their discretionary income on travelling

•Willing to spend•Off-peak•Baby Boomers in particular will demand appropriate services

So, how does interest in the Silver and PwD market translate elsewhere?

Myriad of online advisors etc

What about PwDs?

•The United Nations, EEC, World Tourism Organisation, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat, national, regional, and local governments and interest groups etc.

•Undertake research and development; sponsorship of international conferences and meetings

•About 30 large international and national conferences on AT since 2001

What about policies and strategies?

• Some countries have used major events as lever to improve access for PwD tourists in legacy programmes

Some currently improving access around major events

The UK has included access planning since 2004 in the lead up to the 2012 London Olympics

Where doesNew Zealand

focus?

• We seem to concentrate and talk about going after the youth traveller market. For example, this market was highlighted at the recent backpacker conference in spite of the fact that older backpackers are increasing

• We push adventure and thrill seeking despite the fact that adventure is way down the list of holiday motivators for both domestic and international visitors

• However, Domestic Tourism Market Segmentation Report……………….

“Being There”

• 98% Leading Edge Baby Boomers

• NZ’s largest market segment• Comprises 22% of the NZ

population• Members are comparatively

asset rich• Money is less of a barrier to

travel than it is to members of other segments

“Being There”

“Major barriers to travel are health and disability (their own or that of a travelling companion) as well as a lack of travelling companions”

Where is the information about T+T in NZ for PwDs?

TNZ website: Search for Disability, Disabled, Wheelchair, etc 20 September 2010

20 September 2010

20 September 2010

……..Leads to newzealand.com which is a Tourism

NZ (govt) site

•This kind of misinformation is also on such commercial websites as the NZ Tourism Guide……………….

Established February 2009, chaired by the Minister for Disabilities Issues - 23 September 2009 committee meeting, ministers agreed to: “encourage efforts underway in Auckland to make accessibility a more visible goal for all and to go beyond minimum requirements for the Rugby World Cup in 2011 to make it a very accessible event”

No way to search for

access information

Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues

21 September 2010

• Identical information is given for each site

• Limited disabled parking facilities are available. Access details will be confirmed…in early 2011

• Want to book a wheelchair spot or you have other disabilities?

• Telephone (!) or email “special needs” ticketing

• Customer service will fill it in for you on the phone

• Or you will receive a form in the mail or by email

• Cannot be filled in online as “non-special” forms can

• Must print the form, fill it in, scan it, and send it back, or post it

Visitor Ready Workshops

Well-known Auckland tourism venue

Thank you….