Venture Taranaki Access commitment statement
Venture Taranaki is working to increase accessibility across our organisation. We aim to ensure all venues that we use to host our events or conferences are accessible, and that we will provide relevant information on the types of accessibility in all event listings.
We are striving to share inclusive content across all our channels, and highlighting inclusive product and service offerings throughout Taranaki. We encourage hospitality owners with listings on our site to do the same, please get in touch if you would like to update your listing.
Accessibility has been identified as a key focus area for the Taranaki region’s visitor sector and economy.
In May 2022, Venture Taranaki commissioned Auckland University of Technology (AUT) to support with identifying the value of the accessible visitor market to the Taranaki region, referencing best practice, and defining the actions required (based on the current status in Taranaki) to position the region as a leader in the field.
Defining accessible tourism
Accessible tourism enables people with access requirements to engage independently and with equity and dignity in tourism. This definition is inclusive of all people, including those travelling with children in prams, seniors, and people with disabilities, as well as the carers and companions who may travel with them[1]. While much of this webpage and reports will focus on disability, specifically, we recognise there is a broader market that may be served when providing accessibility.
[1] Darcy, S., & Dickson, T. (2009). A whole-of-life approach to tourism: The case for accessible tourism experiences. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 16(1), 32-44.
Disability reflects the interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives[2]. Within an everyday, as well as a tourism context, people with disabilities will have various types of impairments (i.e., physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, or other), varying levels of support needs (i.e., independent, low, medium, high, or severe), as well as a variety of motivations and desired experiences.
[2] Office for Disability Issues. (2022). The new disability strategy.
Top 10 Tips for accessible and inclusive tourism
1. Train staff to be well informed. Reach out to local providers for disability awareness training and knowledge of support services and available equipment.
2. Provide a warm welcome. Know what assistance the access visitor may need and how to communicate with them.
3. Accommodate safety. Ask every access visitor if they require any assistance with evacuation in an emergency.
4. Assess the physical environment. Know what physical features may cause barriers.
5. Ensure information and interpretation is in accessible formats. The access visitor will plan and engage in different ways.
6. Provide clear, accurate, and up-to-date information on the accessibility of your business. The access visitor needs to know what to expect and will want to plan.
7. Offer incentives and concessions. The access visitor and their companions are a growing market that are loyal, stay longer, and spend more.
8. Help with the journey. Connect with and promote other tourism operators.
9. Destination ‘one-stop-shop’. Centralise information for the access visitor.
10. Accessibility charter. Set goals and plan to improve, promote, and monitor your access.
In 2020 Venture Taranaki commissioned We Create Futures to research future trends in the visitor sector.
The research showed a significant increase in demand for those travelling with access needs.
1 in 4 New Zealanders lives with a disability, with 83% of those taking a domestic holiday every year. Most people with a disability travel with an average of 2.5 companions, they tend to stay longer and return multiple times.
Globally there are 1.3 billion people living with a disability, and an estimated 8 billion was spent by people with a disability travelling in Australia alone.
Taranaki Disabilities Information Centre
Taranaki Disabilities Information Centre offers disability awareness training for local businesses to experience firsthand what it’s like to live in Taranaki with a disability. You will be taken to visit a number of local services to better understand the additional barriers facing people with disabilities. These workshops are free to attend.
Taranaki Disabilities Trust also offers a range of equipment for visitors to our region to hire. This includes mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walkers and strollers, bedding, chairs, ramps, and a whole lot more.
For more information contact Taranaki Disabilities Information Centre on
Phone: 06 759 0019
Open: Mon – Fri 9 am - 5 pm
Taranaki and New Zealand Access Organisations
Accessibility guide
This guide gives an overview of ways to improve both digital and print information to better include those with access needs.
Credit: Ministry of Social Development. 2021. Accessibility Guide: Leading the way in accessible information. (3rd ed.). Wellington: Ministry of Social Development
Winning More Website Visitors
A guide for destination managers on providing Access Information on destination websites.
Coming soon.