Year of Accessible Tourism 2023-2024
The Year of Accessible Tourism in Queensland is an opportunity to recognise the importance of accessible tourism experiences for all, and to ignite change and create opportunities for Queensland tourism businesses.
Tourism Australia defines accessible tourism as the ongoing endeavour to ensure tourist destination, products and services are accessible to all people regardless of their physical limitations, disability or age.
People with access requirements include those with young children in prams, seniors with mobility requirements, people with hearing, vision or sensory impairments, and people with permanent or temporary disabilities. Their access requirements may include physical/mobility, vision and/or cognitive.
Targeted initiatives are being delivered as part of the Year of Accessible Tourism, with $12 million in new funding invested to help the Queensland tourism industry better cater to visitors of all abilities and provide greater destination experiences for all holidaymakers in Queensland.
This will enable everyone to participate in a tourism experience with choice and confidence and lay the foundations for making Brisbane 2032 the world’s most accessible and inclusive sporting event for athletes and spectators.
Project background
In 2022, Get Skilled Access and TravAbility delivered the Accessible Tourism in Queensland project on behalf of the department, assessing tourist infrastructure accessibility and business capability in six tourism destinations including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Townsville/Outback Queensland and Cairns.
As part of the Year of Accessible Tourism, the project was extended to complete a state-wide project with six more destinations assessed.
Destination guides
These Accessible Holiday Destination Guides have been developed for tourism businesses use and promotion.
- Brisbane Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 5MB)
- Sunshine Coast Accessible Holiday Destination Guide ; (PDF, 4MB)
- Gold Coast Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 5MB)
- Fraser Coast Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 1MB)
- Townsville Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 4MB)
- Dinosaur Trail Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 2MB)
- Cairns Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 2MB)
- Bundaberg Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 905KB)
- Capricorn Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 3MB)
- Gladstone Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 1MB)
- Mackay Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 977KB)
- Southern Country Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 1MB)
- Whitsundays Accessible Holiday Destination Guide (PDF, 1MB)
Accessible tourism case studies
Senior Leaders' Immersive Experience workshops
Senior Leaders’ Immersive Experience workshops are providing participants with the knowledge and insight required to inform decisions regarding accessibility and inclusiveness in their organisations.
The workshops are an immersive experience led by Get Skilled Access team members with a disability, who work with participants to simulate workplace challenges for staff using wheelchairs, mobility aids and low-vision glasses.
Watch the Queensland Tourism Accessibility Immersive Experience video.
More information
Email tourism@dtis.qld.gov.au for more information.
Last updated: 09 Jul 2024