Meeting of the Parliament 25 September 2014
Today in the chamber we are particularly grateful that the Scottish Parliament has provided its assistance so that British Sign Language users can follow the debate in their language, a palantypist is providing text content to other visitors and the gallery is fully accessible to visitors who use wheelchairs. We are proud of the continuing efforts that the Parliament makes to be accessible to all, through a range of facilities that are freely available, to enhance visitor experience and engagement. Of course, we are always keen to get feedback from people about the sufficiency and quality of provision.
I am delighted to open this debate on accessible tourism. As I think that this is the first occasion on which we have debated this most important topic, at least on a Government motion, it might be helpful if I set out what we mean by it.
There are 11 million disabled people living in the United Kingdom—about 16 per cent of the population—and only 2 million of them enjoy an annual holiday. Let us bear in mind that only 4 per cent of those people use a wheelchair, 2 million have sight impairments and 9 million are registered deaf and hard of hearing.
Let us consider the issue in the global context. There are 1.3 billion—1,300 million—people with a disability. That is an emerging market the size of China. In 2009-10 the accessible tourism spend in Scotland was £325 million; by 2013 spend had risen to £391 million, which is an increase of £66 million. The most significant aspect of the figures is the proportion of overall spend that they represent: in 2009 it was 6 per cent but by 2013 it had risen to 14 per cent of the overall figure.
When disabled people find accommodation that suits their needs, they can be loyal customers who return year on year. It is estimated that around 70 per cent of disabled people are able to travel but do not do so because of a lack of accessible accommodation and basic facilities. Disabled people tend not to travel alone; they are often accompanied by carers, family and friends, which increases occupancy and brings in extra revenue for accommodation providers.
What does all that signify? I think that we can draw two clear conclusions. First and most important, it is a matter of social responsibility to seek to facilitate the enjoyment of a holiday or break for everyone, including people with a disability. Secondly, by doing that we create business opportunities for the whole sector and the whole country. On the one hand, accessible tourism is a matter of social responsibility, in that disabled people, like everyone else, should have the opportunity and ability to enjoy a holiday; on the other, our ensuring that that happens creates business opportunities.
Those are the two key points on which I hope that we can all agree. I hope that we can take those points away from the debate and build on the excellent progress on accessible tourism that is being made in Scotland. I hope that we can work together to achieve the enormous potential benefits to disabled people—and their families, friends and carers—of adding to their lives the pleasure and enjoyment that holidays bring, and I hope that we can enable the tourism sector to lead the way in grabbing new opportunities in a world in which more and more people are able to enjoy a holiday.
I suspect that most or all of us in the chamber enjoy a holiday each year, whether it is in Scotland, elsewhere in the UK or further afield. Perhaps it is fair to say that most of us here and many throughout the country take it for granted that we will enjoy a holiday—a break from the routine and a chance to get away from it all, relax and recharge the batteries. We are fortunate.