ABTA has released new guidance to encourage travellers to consider accessibility and assisted travel needs while booking a holiday.
The material, which includes a checklist customers can use as a prompt when talking to their travel agent, encourages travellers to consider accessibility and assisted travel needs across the whole travel experience, from the planning and booking process through to travelling and experiencing the destination.
ABTA said its aim is to help customers think about their needs right at the start of the planning process so that agents and operators can help find the holiday that best suits them, request any support that may be required and provide advice.
The guidance also aims to help people consider whether they, or someone they are travelling with, may have specific needs due to reduced mobility, access requirements, non-visible disabilities or neurodiversity.
ABTA said the new material comes as part of a wider project to support people with accessibility and assisted travel needs.
Director of Industry Relations at ABTA Susan Deer said: “We want everyone to be able to travel with confidence and recognise that if you have a disability, planning and organising travel can be more complicated.
“However, as an industry we have an opportunity to support travellers and improve access to travel by helping them plan a trip that suits their needs.
“At ABTA, we’re looking at this across a number of fronts. Our new consumer guidance was developed with the help of members, customers and assisted travel experts to ensure it covers the whole customer journey and addresses all travellers’ needs.
“We’re also updating our guidance for members, providing practical advice to give them confidence to deliver a great customer experience.”
