(To Quoc) - For people with disabilities, traveling is an exciting experience but also faces many challenges. The British government has recently established a working group to promote a number of projects that promise to bring positive changes in the field of tourism for people with disabilities.
Travel is a wonderful experience for many people, but for people with disabilities, it can turn into a “nightmare”, according to National Geographic. From lost or damaged wheelchairs, to untrained airline staff, to being treated inappropriately, many disabled people have encountered difficult situations when flying. However, a new UK government task force is offering hope for people with disabilities to have more opportunities to travel.
Airports must be responsible for providing free support services to people with disabilities. Photo: YakobchukOlena/Getty Images/iStockphoto.
Journalist Sophie Morgan, who uses a wheelchair after a traffic accident in 2003, shares that most disabled people I know have horror stories about traveling. Sophie Morgan founded the organization "Rights on Flights" in 2023, calling for comprehensive reform of how disabled people are treated when traveling by plane.
And one of the things that motivated Morgan to act was that her wheelchair had broken down on a British Airways flight.
Sophie Morgan is not the only passenger who has faced this dilemma. This situation has left many disabled people feeling discriminated against and neglected by the aviation industry.
Efforts to improve
To address this issue, the UK government has set up an "Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group" by the end of 2023. The group includes representatives from major airlines such as Jet2, British Airways, and airports such as Stansted, Glasgow.
The group is led by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, a renowned Paralympic athlete. Its main goal is to improve the experience of disabled passengers, from booking to baggage claim.
Some of the issues the group will focus on include: times to assist disabled passengers, wheelchair maintenance, service quality, toilet access and the ability to provide clear information about passenger rights.
Small steps to hope for
Despite the challenges, the travel industry is making positive strides. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) 2023 report found that for the first time since 2020, no airports were rated “poor” for accessibility for people with disabilities.
In addition, a number of new initiatives are also being implemented, such as the Air4All seating system, which allows passengers using wheelchairs to sit on the plane without having to move to another seat.
Additionally, companies like Inclu Travel are promoting more inclusive travel with special packages for people with disabilities. Hotels and attractions in the Maldives, London and South Africa have received IncluCare’s comprehensive travel standard certification.
Despite the many barriers, efforts from governments, non-profits and tourism businesses around the world are bringing about positive change. Disabled travelers like journalist Sophie Morgan believe that improvements in the aviation industry will not only help people with disabilities have a better travel experience, but also create a truly fair and inclusive tourism industry for everyone./.
Source: https://toquocweb.dev.cnnd.vn/nhung-dinh-huong-moi-thuc-day-du-lich-danh-cho-nguoi-khuet-tat-20250228114301702.htm
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