Inclusive tourism is a growing trend in tourism that has gained a lot of traction in recent years. Inclusion entails ensuring that the necessary conditions are in place for senior passengers, children, and individuals with impairments.
In general, inclusive tourism emphasizes the development of a pleasant infrastructure, although this is simply the first layer of the concept. Making Trax founder Jezza Williams states, “Inclusive tourism is about the experience, not the infrastructure.” Jezza Williams used his accident and subsequent disability as an opportunity for disabled individuals to participate in extreme tourism. Jezza thinks that nothing is impossible. Anyone can be adventurous, enjoy traveling, and have a soul-renewing experience, regardless of their physical condition.
Jezza Williams is the first tetraplegic from New Zealand to obtain a PG2 paraglider license and complete the 26,000-kilometer Mongol Rally from London to Mongolia via Eurasia and Russia.
Jezza was a mad traveler before his injury. He was a river, canyon, mountaineering, skiing, and other extreme tourism guide on a global scale. When he was in an accident and knew he would never be able to walk again, he began researching New Zealand’s disabled outdoor sector.
Jezza noticed that this industry in New Zealand is utterly undeveloped. This astounded him, but it also served as a big drive. He decided to launch his own project and began enlisting the help of old pals who were rafting, skydiving, and paragliding in Queenstown, among other sport activities. He began to develop a new identity. Gradually resuming an active lifestyle, he recognized what he desired: to make people like him able to venture into new territory in their lives.
If I can do it, then anybody can do it. If it’s not possible, I’ll make it possible. And if somebody says “no” then I will defy what they think and I’ll make sure that they go “ok”.
Inclusive tourism is about the actual activity. It does not mean toilets, ramps, infrastructure, all this carry on, which is fantastic and it’d be amazing if everybody had this, but it’s not really needed for inclusive tourism. What we’re going to be talking about today is more about everybody being on the same page, whether that’s through information, whether that’s through education, it’s more about cooperation.
Jezza believes that New Zealand is currently falling behind in terms of accessible tourism: there isn’t enough affordable housing, and there isn’t enough transportation between cities. New Zealand, on the other hand, is a country built on adventure. People don’t come here for the convenience of using the restroom; they come for the experience.
Rafting, horseback riding, skydiving, fishing, and jeep trips are among the activities provided. Any activity may become a true experience if a corporation understands its clients and knows how to communicate with them. The most important thing to mention is that the company provides the necessary equipment and training.
Jezza organized and completed all of the activities that Making Trax provides. He and his associates designed rafting harnesses, foot-lifting harnesses, and a ski chair for a glacier in France. Anyone who wants to climb a glacier can now do so from the comfort of a helicopter. They’ve also launched a slew of new sea kayaking tours.
Inclusive tourism takes into account a person’s ability. Everyone has unique abilities. For example, someone who can’t walk and someone who has never traveled overseas before, doesn’t know the local language, and can’t swim are both customer insights, and inclusive tourism is all about them. It’s not easy to understand the customer and their skills; you’ll need an intermediary who can bring both sides together.
The disabled sector is about treating people as people, not making things available to them. It’s about treating people as Humans, and it’s about opening up your awareness to what is possible.
