KTM seminar calls for prioritising accessibility in tourism planning

Kochi / September 25, 2026

Kochi, Sep 25: Experts today called for prioritising systems and facilities that are easy to use and accessible to everyone while planning and designing tourism projects.

The observations were made at a Kerala Travel Mart (KTM-2026) seminar on inclusive and accessible tourism here.

Thrissur District Collector and former Tourism Director Smt Shikha Surendran said tourism projects should go beyond ramps, wheelchairs and special rooms for persons with disabilities and give due consideration to the needs of people with physical and mental disabilities. Projects for persons with disabilities are designed by officials from various departments. Therefore, awareness, training and capacity building among officials are important, she pointed out.

Tour and travel operators, hotel owners, employees, taxi drivers and all other stakeholders in the tourism sector should be trained in disability-friendly practices. Accessibility should be ensured across public transport, toilets, hotel rooms and other facilities.

Digital information systems should be put in place so that travellers can know what facilities are available at a tourism destination. Maps containing accurate information can also be prepared. As a first step, tourism destinations should undergo audits. Gender audits have been conducted at 72 tourism destinations in the state and they have been ranked. In some places, only 16 to 20 per cent of gender equality standards are being met. This needs to change. The government and the private sector should also explore ways to work together to provide facilities for persons with disabilities in a manner that improves the tourism sector, smt Shikha Surendran added.

Responsible Tourism Mission Society CEO Shri Rupesh Kumar K said responsible tourism has always focused on ensuring that a destination is a better place for people to live in as well as to visit. Tourism initiatives that ensure gender equality and special packages for women are being implemented. Of the 26,000 units under Kerala's Responsible Tourism initiative, 18,500 are run by women's collectives. This is a good example of putting the concept of inclusion into practice.

Kerala has always been at the forefront of embracing and implementing new ideas, he said, adding that the state can set an example in implementing the concept of tourism that is accessible to everyone, just as it has done with women-friendly tourism.

Planet Abled founder Neha Arora said it is important to design travel experiences that are inclusive and accessible to everyone. Guides should be adequately trained and equipped to provide the same standard of interpretation to travellers with disabilities as they do to travellers without disabilities.

Videos about tourism destinations should take into consideration people with visual impairments, those with hearing disabilities and those with intellectual disabilities. She pointed out that very few hotels have rooms that are convenient for persons with disabilities and that urgent attention should be given to improving the situation.

KTM Society Secretary S. Swaminathan moderated the seminar. Former KTM President Riyas Ahmed welcomed the participants to the seminar session.


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