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VisitEngland has launched a campaign called to raise awareness of accessible destinations and hospitality business in England.
The ‘Access for All’ campaign will inform disabled people planning a day-trip or holiday of accommodation and visitor attractions offering a necessary level of accessibility.
The launch follows a successful pilot project in 2013 and 2014 which included four destinations. VisitEngland received a grant of £90,700 from the European Commission to expand the initiative.
For the past year VisitEngland has been working with seven local destination partners across the country – including Visit Kent, Marketing Birmingham, Visit Lincoln, Northumberland Tourism, Visit Peak District and Derbyshire, Experience Nottinghamshire and Visit Brighton – to create a series of access guides covering coastal, countryside and city destinations.
A total of 56 businesses are involved in the project, including a mix of accommodation and attractions such as Lincoln Cathedral, Brighton and Hove buses, Chatsworth House, Turner Contemporary, Hotel La Tour and Nottingham Belfry.
James Berresford, chief executive at VisitEngland, said: “The accessible tourism market is worth a sizable £12.1bn to the English economy and many tourism businesses are realising that catering for disabled customers is not only a necessity but a wise investment that brings a host of business benefits.
“Many of the changes businesses make may be small, but combined contribute significantly to the visitor experience.”
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New figures from VisitEngland confirm an approximate value of overnight accessible tourism to the destinations involved:
- Kent: £60m
- Birmingham: £50m
- Lincoln: £9m
- Northumberland: £65m
- Derbyshire: £45m
- Nottinghamshire: £30m
- Brighton and Hove: £14m
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