England Inclusive Tourism Action Group

29th Oct 2015

Canary Wharf

The England Inclusive Tourism Action Group met in London today.

The invitation-only group comprising thought-leaders in accessible tourism from around the country met at Barclays Bank headquarter in Canary Wharf.

The group was established following the hugely successful VisitEngland Purple Pound conference in Blackpool in March of this year. Accessible tourism (tourism where one or members of the group has access needs) is worth an astonishing £12,1 billion pounds a year to the UK economy with the overall spending power of this group (known as the 'purple pound') being estimated at £200 billion! It is also a market which is growing at an extremely impressive 11% per annum.

The group, which met today primarily to establish ways of working and set up its initial action groups,  includes Accessible Derbyshire, Barclays Bank who aim to be the most accessible bank in the UK), Euan's Guide, Access Champ, Tourism For All, Sandcastle Water Park, Blackpool, Visits Unlimited, DisabledGo, Access New Business, Access Auditor Brian Seaman,  Ross Calladine (who  is Head of Business Support for VisitEngland as well as their in-house accessibility expert) and other key players. 

The purpose of the group, which meets quarterly, is chaired by Access Champ's Arnold Fewell, is to work collaboratively to champion accessible tourism throughout the UK.

The next meeting of the group will be in Derbyshire in the New Year.

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