Web accessibility can pay off, says study

This study, published by travolution.com, isn't exactly find the accessibility of some of the most popular travel Web sites in the United Kingdom.
In this case, these sites are being criticized for not having optimum adjustablity of fonts, mouse-free navigation and properly adapted or tagged photos or audio-visual materials.
Points well taken all. In the UK, new guidance has been issued for the accessibility of Web sites and publishers there will need to begin complying with the law.
These above shortcomings are important. But too many sites that relate to travel still don't even address accessibility of facilities in a meaningful way. By this I don't necessarily mean big travel portals. I mean just the ordinary sites for individual attractions andaccommodations. In this day and age when cyber space is cheap, it surprises me how often detailed accessibility information is hidden away or not even present at all.
Why is this? It just doesn't cost anything to add a page or two for accessibility info. It's not like in the old days of the precious space of a print brochure. You can put your accessibility info up and have it available for the customers that want and need it without incurring a great expense. In fact with the very likely case that accessibility info will in fact attract some customers to your business that wouldn't have come if they didn't know about your level of accessibility there's a very good chance it will pay off quickly
The study offers make this point eloquently:

"While this might sound like yet another expensive demand on your resources, in truth making your site accessible will make it more usable by everyone. If return on investment data from other sectors can be repeated in travel then the business case for making your site accessible to disabled people is compelling. Financial service provider Legal and General reported a 300 percent increase in take-up of one insurance product after the company made its site more accessible."

Web sites a great way to put up your accessibility info. Many places do, as I have mentioned before. And the Web is a powerful tool, as I wrote previously. I don't know how people planned vacations before them -- especially those with disabilities.
But there are still deficiencies.
Travel-related business folks, let people know about your accessibility. It won't take up much cyber space and it just might bring in some customers. No, it definitely will.

Photo via morgueFile