The majority of disabled travellers in the UK have faced barriers when travelling, despite improvements in disabled facilities over the past decade, research has found.
A survey of disabled travellers found that nine out of 10 had experienced problems while travelling as a result of their disability.
The study, which was carried out by the charity Tourism For All and car rental firm Adapted Vehicle Hire, also found that extensive improvements had been made in the last 10 years.
It revealed that 92 per cent of disabled travellers felt that accessibility had improved over the past decade, with a number of destinations in the UK providing a particularly good service.
The Eden Project, in Cornwall, along with a number of National Trust destinations (have a look at their accessibility guides), was singled out in the study for offering a good service for disabled visitors.
Yet it seems there is still room for significant improvements, as 86 per cent of respondents in the survey said that information about access and facilities is still insufficient.
Airports and railway stations in the UK were highlighted in the study for not doing enough for disabled travellers.
While London was found to be the best destination in the UK for disabled access, the London Underground was criticised.
Carrie Ann-Lightley, from the Tourism For All charity, has said that it is modern airports and railway stations – not historic properties – that should be offering the best disabled facilities.
“We are heartened that most people feel that access and facilities have improved in the past ten years, but the survey also revealed there are big variations across the UK,” she said.
“Access to some rural and historic sites will always present more of a challenge for disabled visitors, but places like airports have scope for significant improvement to better meet the needs of disabled travellers.”
(Images: Fenners1984, Kyle McDonald)
