Tourism For All: Inclusive Tourism In action Workshops

Why do these workshops matter?

Join us for our Inclusive Tourism in Action workshops and discover how small changes can make a big difference for guests everywhere.

Tourism should be for everyone. Yet many travellers still face barriers, from physical access to communication challenges. By breaking down these barriers, we can create a region where all visitors, whether they are locals, domestic travellers or international guests, feel welcome and included.

Around 15% of the world’s population lives with a disability. That is more than 1 billion people, many travelling with families and friends. Becoming more inclusive not only does the right thing, it also opens our region to one of the fastest growing tourism markets.

That is why we are hosting Inclusive Tourism in Action workshops in the Gladstone Region. These sessions will give tourism operators, venues and community groups the tools and confidence to deliver accessible, welcoming experiences for all.

For the Gladstone Region, inclusive tourism means growing industry capacity, supporting operators to welcome diverse visitors, and building a reputation as a destination known for inclusivity, accessibility and community.

Together, we are working towards a future where our region is recognised worldwide as offering Tourism for All.

Meet the Presenter

Ryan Smith is an entrepreneur, qualified Access Consultant and tourism professional who brings lived experience as a person with a disability.

His passion for accessible travel began in 2010 during his first solo trip in a wheelchair to New York, where he gained firsthand insight into the many challenges faced by travellers with access needs. Inspired to make change, Ryan founded The Access Agency to advocate for all visitors and to equip operators and destinations with the tools to become more inclusive.

Since then, he has been invited to share his expertise at major events across Australia and internationally, including Colombia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Chile and Argentina.

Today, The Access Agency is recognised as a leader in Universal Design for tourism, providing training, audits and communications for clients such as:

• Visit Victoria
• Tourism North East
• Destination Gippsland
• Queensland Country Tourism
• Tourism Midwest
• Parks Victoria

Workshop Overview

Session One: Actioning Accessible Tourism
This 60-minute presentation and interactive workshop, followed by a 15-minute Q&A, will introduce the background and fundamentals of accessible and inclusive tourism. Drawing on insights from the pre-attendance survey, the session will help participants identify the main barriers faced by visitors with disabilities and other access needs. Attendees will also be introduced to the three core pillars of accessible tourism: creating accessible spaces, implementing inclusive practices, and effectively communicating accessibility within their tourism offerings.

Session Two: Access Information Workshop (Optional)
This session includes a 20-minute presentation followed by a 45-minute workshop. Building on the themes from Session One and the insights gathered through the survey and discussions, participants will take a deeper dive into sector best practices.

Attendees will prepare a customised accessibility roadmap to better understand and improve the inclusivity of their tourism product. The goal is for each participant to leave with an access statement that can be used on their website and online travel agent listings, as well as a stronger understanding of the barriers within their business. These outcomes will also support operators seeking ATIC accreditation where relevant.

Pre-Attendance Survey

To ensure the workshop is tailored to the needs of the Gladstone Region, all attendees will complete a short survey before attending. This will help assess current levels of access awareness and actions, ensuring maximum value from each session.

Workshop Program

Inclusive Tourism Workshop Recording

Pre-Attendance survey