The Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference (AITCAP) went hybrid in 2023, wrapping up on Thursday 11 May with the online event, after a fantastic inaugural in person event on the Gold Coast on 28 April.
Two themes emerged from the Gold Coast event, “just start now” and “progress over perfection”.
And start thinking of people with disabilities as assets to your business was a major theme in the online sessions.
The conference is an opportunity for the tourism industry to LEARN and CONNECT with like minded people and accessible & inclusive tourism leaders. It provides tangible strategies to cater to the 20% of the population with a disability, who represent a huge market with a spending power of US $13 trillion. With only 43% of that potential being tapped due to existing accessibility barriers, this conference aimed to bridge the gap by equipping attendees with practical insights and actionable steps to create truly inclusive experiences. Both the on-site and online days also showcased best practices in how to deliver accessible and inclusive events.
You don’t necessarily have to be in tourism or already knowledgeable regarding access and inclusion to benefit from this conference, everyone can learn from it, as Karen Headley shares “I can’t believe this is my first time at this conference – I thought it wasn’t relevant to me. Honestly most of these speakers are perfect for any business!”
Day 1– In-person event
There was a real buzz in the air at the Gold Coast event, with many people meeting in person for the first time after having connected virtually.
After welcomes and addresses by local Yugambeh Elder Uncle John Graham, GetAboutAble’s Founding Director Yasmine Gray, The Hon Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Minister for Innovation, Tourism and Sport, City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate with Melissa Tan and Bede Fennell Executive General Manager Tourism Australia, the day continued with panel discussions and workshops.
Day 2– Online event
The conference continued with the online event on May 11th and offered additional tips while showcasing some great examples of how to Start Change Now. We heard from more than 30 speakers from all over the world including the UK, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, Australia, Nepal and the Philippines and passionate and enlightening discussions were had in the chat.
The day finished on a high note with a virtual get-together that allowed both speakers and attendees to connect with each other.
Both events had those in attendance inspired and motivated to start working to improve access and inclusivity within their business.
If you missed the conference, you can purchase recordings for the 2023, 2022 and 2021 sessions via our website https://aitcap.getaboutable.com/purchase-2023-recordings/
If you want a free preview, watch our webinars organised by the AITCAP team:
“Gold Coast: A City Where Everyone Is Included”
Events for Everybody – Grow your event’s success through better inclusion and accessibility
The Staffing Advantage – Grow your business’ success through inclusive employment and diversity
Measuring The Impact of Accessibility Spend for Tourism
You can also join the conversation in our Facebook group
The Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Conference would like to thank all its partners and sponsors including our major sponsor, the Queensland Government and was proudly supported by City of Gold Coast.
