New research based on a global survey of 3,500 tourists with disabilities has been released by the Valuable 500 – the only global CEO collective committed to disability inclusion – which reveals the top 10 most accessible cities in the world.

The research is launched as the travel and tourism industry gathers in London for World Travel Market at the ExCeL Centre, Stratford.

The top ten most accessible cities in the world, as voted for by disabled travellers who have travelled in them, are as follows:

Read the full report: Valuable 500 Accessible Cities Report 2022.pdf

Respondents rated the accessibility of each city according to the transport links, proximity of accommodation to cultural attractions, shops, and restaurants and the availability of information about accessibility.

While no city can claim to be fully accessible, it is worth championing those who are making efforts in the right direction to cater for the wide-ranging and diverse needs of disabled travellers, as are the ten cities listed above. With an estimated billion of the world’s population living with disability and an ageing population, it is increasingly important that governments and businesses in the travel sector work towards meeting accessibility needs globally.

The findings are released as the first phase of wider research by the Valuable 500 to explore the barriers to travelling for disabled customers. The second phase of the research, which will explore the causes of this will be released later this month. The Valuable 500 is made up of high profile members including Expedia, Skyscanner, Virgin Atlantic, and Airbnb. 6% of the Valuable 500 are within travel and tourism.

Our research shows that across both the public and private sectors in travel and tourism industry, these cities consistently score well in the accessibility rankings. However, worldwide, tourist boards still aren’t making the necessary headway to remove the physical and ethical barriers to ensure cities are truly accessible for all. Accessibility arrangements for people with disabilities remain an afterthought for the travel and tourism industry – which is why we’re looking into every aspect of the industry journey for people with disabilities in the research we have commissioned.

Caroline Casey, founder of the Valuable 500

 

Martin Heng, Travel writer (who wrote the Accessible destinations report) commented:

Although physical accessibility is important, what’s so significant is that across all territories people with disability choose travel providers based on being treated with respect and understanding of their needs.

Media Contacts

Ryan Curtis-Johnson, the Valuable 500

 

Lara Prince, Seven Hills

Notes to Editors

About the Valuable 500

The Valuable 500 was launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January 2019. Today the Valuable 500 is the largest community of Global CEOs committed to disability inclusion in business.

Since its creation, the Valuable 500 has achieved its initial goal of getting 500 multinational organisations to make a public commitment to disability inclusion in their organisation, igniting a historic global movement for a new age of diversity in business. The Valuable 500 and their global impact partner The Nippon Foundation, will be working closely with the World Economic Forum and International Disability Alliance – bringing together a leading philanthropic organisation with the most prestigious global business network and the voice of the global disability community.

By engaging with the world’s most influential business leaders and brands, the network now has a market cap of over $23 trillion, combined revenues of over $8 trillion and employs a staggering 22 million people worldwide. Its members include 15 global CEOs and companies who will be spearheading the programmes and services to be offered under Phase 2 of the transformation programme.

The Valuable 500 is determined to create a community that supports and empowers its 500 members to systematically transform their businesses, so they include the 1.3 billion people living with disabilities worldwide, thereby unlocking their business, social and economic potential.

We believe that if business takes a lead, society and government will follow. Truly inclusive businesses can build truly inclusive societies.