The Open Doors Organization (ODO), in conjunction with the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), recently released the findings of its 2005 market research. The poll, conducted by Harris Interactive, is a follow-up to ODO’s groundbreaking study of 2002 on the spending trends and market scope of U.S. adults with disabilities.
The data showed once again how strong the disability travel market really is, with 21 million adults with disabilities traveling for business and/or pleasure in the past two years. While the volume of travel was roughly the same as in 2002, there was a jump of 50 percent in the average number of hotel stays and leisure trips. There continues to be a subgroup of frequent travelers in the disability community—20 percent of all adults with disabilities travel at least six times every two years.
The 2002 ODO study quantified how much adults with disabilities were spending on travel—approximately $13.6 billion annually—and suggested that revenues from this market could easily double if certain needs were met and obstacles removed. The 2005 ODO study, which employed an identical methodology, revealed the extent and types of barriers the majority of travelers with disabilities still experience. Among those adults with disabilities who have traveled by air, 84 percent said they faced obstacles when interacting with airlines and 82 percent said they encountered obstacles at airports.
Among those who stayed overnight in hotels or other lodgings, 60 percent encountered obstacles, either physical barriers (48 percent), problems with customer service (45 percent) or communication barriers (15 percent). On the positive side, many of the most common complaints identified by the study, such as heavy doors and lack of knowledge among staff, would not be costly to resolve.
In terms of restaurants, the study indicated that 71 percent of adults with disabilities dine out at least once a week and also showed a 6 percent increase in casual dining from 2002. Among those who eat out, 64 percent encountered barriers, the most common complaint being lack of space between tables.
The 2005 ODO study covered a new area of travel: car rental. It found that 20 percent of adults with disabilities rented a car for travel in the past two years. But a staggering 50 percent said they would be more inclined to rent a car if it were delivered to and picked up from them, while 36 percent would be willing to pay more for this service.
Figures on Internet use and on which destinations are most popular among travelers with disabilities will be released shortly. Neither topic has previously been explored, so it will be interesting to find out how patterns among travelers with disabilities differ from the general population. The ODO survey was conducted both online and by telephone between February 8-25, 2005, among a national sample of 1,373 adults aged 18 or over.
To learn more or to order a copy of the 2005 study, visit the Open Doors Organization Web site at www.opendoorsnfp.org.
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