Top of page
Travel

Barbados Tourism Minister to Improve Island’s Accessibility

disabled senior man and senior woman walking on promenade at beach

Barbados – Kerrie D. Symmonds, Barbados’ minister of tourism and international transport, told TravelPulse on Thursday that the island is looking into several initiatives to make tourists with disabilities more comfortable on vacations, while also improving the quality of life for its disabled locals.

As part of Caribbean Week New York, which was organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), we sat down with Symmonds to learn more about what Barbados is doing to tap into the accessible travel market and help their own people at the same time.

“It’s a tremendous benefit to cater to someone with a disability,” said Symmonds, who took over as minister in May of last year. “We need to keep them comfortable so we can capture this market. But first, we need to cater to the full menu of requirements for this market.”

Symmonds said that mostly has to do with infrastructure improvements, but also told a requirement is being considered for hotels to have at least a certain percentage of its room inventory made equipped with traveler with disabilities in mind. He also said certain streets on the island will be revamped so locals with wheelchairs can use them.

View the original at Travel Pulse 

You might also like

person reading with Focus 40 Blue Braille Display person reading with Focus 40 Blue Braille Display

New guidelines to help digital tech meet accessibility compliance

The Australian Human Rights Commission has released new guidelines to…

A man with disabilities (right) and Woman in wheelchair playing video games together A man with disabilities (right) and Woman in wheelchair playing video games together

ESA unveils Accessible Games Initiative to highlight accessibility features

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced the formation of…

man tourist in wheelchair traveling in Europe. Lower Belvedere at background, Vienna, Austria man tourist in wheelchair traveling in Europe. Lower Belvedere at background, Vienna, Austria

UN Tourism, Germany lead the way in inclusive employment and accessibility

UN Tourism has joined the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation…

beach wheelchair beach wheelchair

New equipment for a more accessible and inclusive beach

The City is improving accessibility across the Gold Coast with…