by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 11:55 AM ET, Tue December 3, 2024
Tuesday, December 3, is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and we’re looking at the impact travelers with disabilities have on the global economy: and it’s a lot.
U.S. travelers with disabilities spent nearly $50 billion this year on travel, according to research conducted by the Open Doors Organization (ODO) and The Harris Poll. It’s the fifth iteration of the study since 2002.
When you include the economic impact of disabled travelers along with their companions, their impact doubled to over $100 billion a year. While the contribution is $9 billion less than it was in 2019, spending has shown that travelers with disabilities are traveling at a rate just under what they were pre-pandemic.
Inclusive tourism is estimated to be an $8 trillion market globally.
Beyond spending, the report found that 25.6 million travelers with disabilities took a combined 77 million trips from 2022 to 2024. Eighty-one percent of travelers with disabilities also used the Internet to help them book their travel: a record high reliance. This is no surprise, however, as travelers with disabilities must often research accessibility for accommodations, experiences and even the destinations they hope to visit.
How they’re traveling has changed, too.
They’re staying in hotels a bit less (84 percent in 2020 fell to 79 percent in 2024), signaling that those with disabilities might prefer different types of accommodations more accessible, or perhaps more affordable. Train travel increased 3 percent (from 10 to 13 percent).
Travelers with disabilities are turning to cruising more than ever before. Spending on cruises surged from 2020 to 2024 from $10.4 billion to $18.5 billion.
“Travelers with disabilities, including older adults, are a critical and growing part of the economy,” said Eric Lipp, ODO’s Executive Director. “This data provides the travel sector with information to create a business case that will help to justify and drive meaningful change.”
So what are some barriers travelers with disabilities might face?
Accessibility is a huge one: 81 percent of American travelers with disabilities face challenges with airlines, 84 percent face challenges with airports and 74 percent find challenges at hotels. Everything from heavy hotel doors to a hotel not having a shower bench can dramatically impact a traveler’s experience.
In October, the Federal Aviation Administration levied the largest fine in American history against American Airlines for violating laws that protected disabled passengers’ rights to a dignified and safe travel experience—at $50 million.
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