In the second of our series of reflections by members of our Board of Trustees, Antonella Vecchio looks behind the headline statistics at what 45 years of change reveal about inclusion, participation and economic opportunity.
How Accessibility Became Central to Business and Tourism
Accessibility is no longer a niche consideration — it is a defining economic condition.
Today, around 16.8 million people in the UK — approximately one in four — are disabled, according to the Family Resources Survey (FRS) published by the Department for Work and Pensions (January 2026).
This is not simply a demographic statistic. It reflects a structural shift in the composition of the workforce, consumer base, and housing demand.
Disability is increasing among working-age adults and children, varies significantly across regions, and remains closely linked to income, employment, and housing outcomes. These patterns are not only social issues — they are economic realities shaping labour markets, consumer demand, and infrastructure needs.
As Tourism for All marks its 45th anniversary, the evolution of accessibility data offers an opportunity to reflect on how understanding — and expectations — have changed.
Accessibility Then and Now: A 45-Year Perspective
In the early 1980s, when Tourism for All was founded (as a campaign by the Holiday Care Service), disability prevalence was estimated at 13–15%, based on narrower medical definitions and limited data.
By the mid-1990s, early FRS data suggested rates of 18–19%. Today, that figure stands at around 25%.
In effect, the scale of accessibility demand has nearly doubled — driven by population ageing, improved diagnosis, longer life expectancy with chronic conditions, and broader recognition of mental health and neurodiversity.
This shift marks a fundamental change in how accessibility is understood. What was once seen primarily as a welfare issue is now a central factor in economic participation and workforce inclusion. Tourism for All’s early advocacy highlights how awareness of accessibility as a structural challenge preceded the development of robust national measurement systems.
Looking at the data with my knowledge of the Tourism sectors and my analytic lens, there are a few key insights and some considerations I want to share.
Key Insight 1: Disability Is Increasing Among Working-Age Adults
Disability is becoming more common within the core working-age population. The proportion of working-age adults reporting a disability rose from around 16% in 2013–14 to approximately 24% in 2023–24.
This is important because accessibility is no longer a marginal workforce issue. As disability becomes more prevalent within working-age populations, exclusion translates directly into labour market inefficiency.
Organisations that fail to adapt risk constraining their own talent supply, while those that invest in accessible workplaces, assistive technologies, and flexible working gain a structural advantage in recruitment, retention, and productivity.
From a travel and business perspective, this reshapes both the workforce and the customer base simultaneously. A growing proportion of travellers — and employees — will require accessible environments, meaning accessibility directly affects service delivery, staffing resilience, and customer satisfaction. In tourism, businesses that fail to adapt risk losing both talent and high-value customers.
Key Insight 2: Disability Among Children Is Rising
The proportion of children reported as disabled increased from around 7% in 2013–14 to approximately 12% in 2023–24.
Children with disabilities represent the future workforce and consumer base. As prevalence rises, expectations around accessibility in education, digital services, transport, and employment will continue to increase.
This signals a long-term shift: accessibility is not a temporary adjustment, but a permanent feature of future economic demand.
In travel, decisions are rarely made by individuals alone — they are made by families. As disability among children rises, accessibility becomes a decisive factor in destination choice, accommodation, and transport. Businesses that design for families with diverse needs are not serving a niche; they are positioning themselves for future mainstream demand.
Key Insight 3: Accessibility Needs Vary by Region
Disability prevalence differs markedly across the UK. Estimates suggest:
- North East England: around 31% disabled
- London: around 17% disabled
This variation reflects underlying economic and health inequalities, meaning accessibility demand is closely tied to regional labour market conditions.
This means that accessibility demand is not evenly geographically distributed in the United Kingdom. A uniform national approach may be less effective than targeted, location-based strategies.
Businesses and policymakers can achieve greater impact by aligning inclusive design, service provision, and investment with areas of higher need.
For the tourism sector, regional variation presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Destinations with higher disability prevalence have an opportunity to lead in inclusive tourism, attracting both domestic and international visitors seeking accessible experiences. Conversely, inconsistent accessibility across regions can weaken overall destination competitiveness.
Key Insight 4: A Significant Employment Gap Remains
The employment gap remains one of the clearest indicators of systemic exclusion:
- Around 53% of working-age disabled people are in employment
- Compared with around 82% of non-disabled people
With only just over half of disabled people in work, a significant portion of potential economic contribution remains unrealised.
While impairment severity plays a role (with around 11% reporting being limited “a lot”), the persistence of this gap indicates that structural barriers — including workplace design, employer practices, and job accessibility — remain substantial.
Improving workplace accessibility is not only a matter of inclusion but of economic efficiency. Reducing barriers can help address skills shortages while expanding participation in the labour market.
Hospitality and tourism are already facing persistent labour shortages. The employment gap represents an underutilised workforce that the sector can ill afford to overlook. Businesses that invest in accessible roles, training, and working environments are likely to see tangible returns through improved recruitment, retention, and service quality.
Income, Housing Tenure and Disability Severity
Disability keeps on being closely linked to economic disadvantage.
- 31% of individuals in the lowest income quintile are disabled, compared with 14% in the highest
- 41% of disabled people are owner-occupiers, compared with 53% of non-disabled people
- 24% of disabled people live in social housing, compared with 17% of non-disabled people
These patterns reinforce a feedback loop: reduced income limits access to suitable housing and services, while inaccessible environments can further constrain economic participation.
As a result, demand for affordable, accessible housing and adaptable living environments is likely to grow significantly.
Accessibility needs also exist along a spectrum:
- 11% of the population report activities limited “a lot”
- 14% report activities limited “a little”
Inclusive design therefore benefits a wide range of users, including older adults and people with temporary or situational impairments.
Affordability is a critical but often overlooked dimension of accessible tourism. If travel products are not economically accessible, a significant portion of the disabled market is effectively excluded. At the same time, those who can travel often demonstrate strong loyalty to destinations and brands that meet their needs — making accessibility a long-term commercial advantage, not just a compliance requirement.
Conclusion: From Advocacy to Mainstream Economic Priority
Over the past 45 years, accessibility has moved from the margins of policy debate to a core determinant of economic performance.
From my perspective — grounded in both statistical analysis and experience in the tourism sector — the data makes this shift unmistakable. Accessibility now shapes who can participate in the workforce, who can engage as consumers, and how infrastructure and services must evolve.
For organisations, accessibility is no longer a compliance exercise — it is a strategic imperative. Those that embed inclusive thinking across workforce design, customer experience, and physical and digital environments will be better positioned to compete in a more diverse and ageing society.
In the context of UK tourism, this has both commercial and strategic implications. Accessible tourism already represents a substantial and growing market, driven by disabled travellers, older visitors, and accompanying companions — a segment with significant spending power and a tendency toward longer stays and higher total trip value. For businesses, this translates into opportunities to increase occupancy, extend seasonality, and build stronger customer loyalty.
At a destination level, accessibility is increasingly tied to competitiveness. Places that invest in accessible transport, accommodation, attractions, and information will be better positioned to attract both domestic and international visitors. Conversely, gaps in accessibility risk constraining demand and limiting the UK’s ability to compete effectively in a global tourism market that is becoming more inclusive by design.
What stands out most, looking across the data over time, is not just how much has changed in the last 45 years, but how expectations have evolved alongside it. The next 45 years will depend on how effectively organisations — particularly within the tourism sector — translate this understanding into action, and how seriously accessibility is treated as a driver of economic and social value.
The TFA45 Appeal
This is Tourism for All’s 45th anniversary year. We began life as a campaign, instigated back in 1981 by the Holiday Care Service. We were formally born when the Holiday Care Service later joined with sister charities to form a new organisation, called Tourism for All.
During the last 45 years there have been significant shifts in attitudes, legislation and product development, as well as in our understanding of the nature and prevalence of disability and impairment, which have impacted on the accessibility of tourism in the UK. Throughout this time Tourism for All has acted as a supporter and enabler in the development and delivery of these public policy initiatives. The original Tourism for All campaign’s call to action and aspiration, that disabled people should not be excluded from social activities like trips and holidays, is as relevant today as it was 45 years ago.
Over the next few months, members of our Board of Trustees will share their personal reflections on different aspects of our disability and accessibility journey, highlighting the progress that has been made – and what still remains to be achieved to remove the barriers which still prevent disabled people, and those they travel with, from enjoying tourism experiences.
We are highly dependent on technology to deliver our objectives. To ensure that we can continue to discharge our role as a supporter and enabler of accessible tourism in the UK most effectively, we are planning major upgrades to our IT systems, including our ‘Travel Planner’ website and our online Training platform.
To help us to fund these upgrades, which are vital to our sustainable future, we have launched our TFA45 Appeal. During 2026, in recognition of the work the charity has delivered over the last 45 years, we hope to raise £45,000 in donations. If our agenda has resonance with you or your organisation your support would be greatly appreciated.
You can make a donation here. Thank you.
https://www.tourismforall.co.uk/charity/join-tfa/make-a-donation
