The differently abled are all around us with some thriving and others struggling. Travel consultancies in the country are now looking at this segment with considerable interest. Recently Umoja, the country’s first online platform for accessible travel announced the launch of BeachFest2017. To be held in Candolim beach from 31st March 2017 to 9th April 2017, this is an initiative to provide wheelchair users and their families an opportunity to enjoy a completely accessible experience on the beautiful beaches of Goa. One needs to remember this initiative is being held on the only beach in India which caters to the requirements of the differently abled. They can use their wheel chairs or other vehicles on the pathway created especially for them right up to the water.
This then brings us to a rather important question. Is Goa ready for such kinds of tourists. Are there facilities in place for these tourists? Responding to questions sent to the tourism ministry, Sanjeev Dessai, Director of Tourism, Govt of Goa said the state was preparing itself. Sanjeev said “ Considering the fact that on 27th September 2017 the theme for International World Tourism Day was Tourism for All: Promoting Universal Accessibility, and the year dedicated to focus on tourism for tourists with special needs, Goa Tourism has been working on providing facilities for the differently-abled visitors. We are tying up with NGOs and other associations to assist Goa Tourism in making Goa a more accessible tourism destination for differently- abled”. He said the department had appealed to all stakeholders and the hotel industry to ensure facilities within their hotels for tourists with special needs. It was also proposed, he said to provide accessible friendly amenities at GTDC residencies and a pilot project was proposed to be taken up at the Calangute residency. He then went on to say the department had tied up with UMOJA to have a beach fest to promote accessible tourism for the differently abled. He said with more and more agencies coming on board, the department was confident there would be a lot of facilities even at tourist spots like beaches, tourist locations etc for the differently -abled to get better access and enjoy Goa as a holiday destination.
Goa has always been portrayed as destination of beaches and to take advantage of this, the department has plans to have special ramps and this will be demonstrated at the UMOJA beach fest. Goa Tourism under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme has proposed to provide basic amenities for the differently -abled on the beaches such as special toilet block facility, special ramps at Tourist Information Centers, special parking lot for physically disabled persons. Sanjeev revealed the new multi-level car parking facility at Panjim, a project of the GTDC, also has facilities for tourists with special needs like ramps etc. The forthcoming tourism policy is expected to be friendlier to this population.
The domestic players in the tourism industry may have just woken up to this segment but internationally, there are special travel houses that focus on the differently abled. Sanjeev said “Presently how many differently abled tourists visit Goa both Indian and international there is no such inventory done by the tourism department. But yes, we do receive a lot of differently abled tourists. There are also special tours conducted by foreign tour and travel operators for visually impaired and deaf. Using various modern technologies like Braille these special tourists can feel, smell, sense and experience a tourism destination. Goa Tourism may also consider studying these modes and mediums and tie up with such organizations to give tourists with special needs an experience of a lifetime here in Goa”. Goa Tourism, he said is also proposing to have special tour packages for tourists with special needs.
The market in India given the size of the population is huge. Given that now the parameters to consider whether one is disabled or not has been increased to 21 the surge has been significant. 1in every 18 people is differently abled. Globally the value of this market is valued at $135 Billion. Given the size of India, the value of the market in the country can only be imagined.
Yeshwant Holkar , Co-Founder & CEO, UMOJA said “ The differently abled do not travel alone, they have two or three people who accompany them. I will not hazard a guess about the size or value of the market but is substantial”.
The substantial size has meant that national and international players are moving in too. Enable Travel introduced specially designed travel itineraries for people with disabilities in Goa. Enable Travel is a product “made by the disabled for the disabled” and powered by Cox & Kings Ltd.
