Bermuda will be more accessible for travelers with access needs
Bermuda is a UK overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Bermuda is famous for its pink beaches, mysterious by the so-called “Bermuda Triangle”, and as early as in 2021 the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final will be held here. The islands are very popular with travelers sailing on cruise ships, yachts or arriving by air - in 2018, they were visited by a record 770,000 tourists, mostly from the USA, Canada, and the UK. In 2020 and 2021 years, Bermuda is preparing to host even more guests, including participants of inclusive sports competitions - blind and reduced mobility athletes.
To prepare the infrastructure of Bermuda for these events, a special Accessibility Working Group was created under the auspices of the tourist authorities of the islands (Bermuda Tourism Authority). The goal of the working group is to release a strategy for the adaptation of tourist facilities, including transport and hotels, for the people with limited mobility by 2021.
“Our approach is to leverage the triathlon events to focus the country’s attention on solving a longstanding deficiency in our infrastructure. And once the triathlon is over, Bermuda should have the legacy benefit of a more accessible society - for residents and travelers,” said MP Tinee Furbert, the chairperson of the Accessibility Working Group.
The members of the Working Group will begin with a survey of local entrepreneurs - hotel and restaurant owners, in order to collect information on the existing level of an accessible environment in Bermuda. The survey will show which sights and infrastructure are ready to accept travelers with access needs, and which of them to be adapted for the comfortable accommodation of the triathlon participants in two years.
In addition to hotels and restaurants, there’s a plan to conduct an inventory review of transport and vacation rentals, attractions and excursions.
“As we focus the industry’s attention on accessibility, we really want our stakeholders to understand that a more accessible visitor infrastructure equals more visitors,” said Glenn Jones, chief experience development officer at the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “If local businesses lay out the welcome mat for this audience they will come, they will spend money and they will bring their families. But if there are barriers to a good experience for one member of the family in a wheelchair, the whole family chooses to go elsewhere.”
The Bermuda Tourism Authority plans to use the survey results of the working group to highlight accessible establishments more clearly on the GoToBermuda.com website and in other marketing materials.