A US nationwide survey for the Open Doors Organization (ODO) has quantified how much adults with disabilities spend on their own travel. The figure is $17.3 billion annually, up from $13.6 billion in 2002. Since these individuals typically travel with one or more other adults, the economic impact is actually double, or $34.6 billion. “This new data,” says ODO Director Eric Lipp, “shows that the disability travel market has a greater impact than ever on the industry and the broader economy.”
In Brief
- In the past two years alone, more than 26 million adults with disabilities traveled for pleasure and/or business, taking 73 million trips.”
- According to the new research, among adults with disabilities who have traveled by air, 72% said they encountered major obstacles with airlines and 65% with airports, down from 84% and 82% in 2005, respectively.
In Depth
- Read the original article on the ENAT website.
- Follow the Open Doors Organization on Twitter
- Explore the issues further in the article: “Why Accessible Tourism Could Soon be The Largest Travel Market“.
- Copies of the 2015 Market Study are available for sale through the Open Doors Organization website (opendoorsnfp.org) or by calling (+1) 773 388-8839 or e-mailing info@opendoorsnfp.org.
