example of inclusive tour

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• What is inclusive tour?

Welcome to our ultimate guide to all-inclusive travel! In this article, we will delve into the world of inclusive tours, understand what they are, and explore the benefits they offer. Whether you are a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, this guide will provide you with valuable insights and tips to make the most out of your inclusive tour experience.

Understanding Inclusive Tours

Benefits of inclusive tours, choosing the right inclusive tour package, tips for a successful inclusive tour, common inclusive tour mistakes to avoid, exploring inclusive tour destinations, how to book an inclusive tour, inclusive tour vs independent travel: pros and cons, what is an inclusive tour, are meals and drinks included in inclusive tours, can i customize an inclusive tour package, what should i pack for an inclusive tour.

An inclusive tour, also known as an all-inclusive tour, is a travel package that combines transportation, accommodation, meals, activities, and sometimes even drinks, all in one price. This means that once you book an inclusive tour, you don't have to worry about arranging individual components of your trip separately. Everything is taken care of for you, allowing you to relax and enjoy your vacation to the fullest.

There are several benefits to opting for an inclusive tour. Firstly, it provides convenience and saves time as all the necessary arrangements are made for you. Additionally, inclusive tours often offer great value for money as the cost of accommodation, meals, and activities are bundled together. Moreover, inclusive tours provide an opportunity to explore various destinations without the hassle of planning and organizing every aspect of your trip.

When selecting an inclusive tour package, it is essential to consider your preferences, budget, and desired destinations. Research different tour operators, compare packages, and read reviews to ensure that you choose a reputable and reliable company. Look for packages that align with your interests and provide a good balance between activities and leisure time.

• Research the destinations included in the tour package to ensure they match your interests and preferences.
• Check if there are any additional costs or optional activities not included in the package.
• Read reviews and testimonials from previous travelers to get an idea of the quality and experience offered by the tour operator.
• Pack essentials such as comfortable clothing, appropriate footwear, and any specific items required for the activities included in the tour.
• Keep a copy of your itinerary and important contact numbers handy.
• Stay open-minded and embrace new experiences during your inclusive tour.
• Not thoroughly researching the tour operator and their reputation.
• Overpacking or not packing essential items for the tour.
• Not reading the fine print and understanding the inclusions and exclusions of the tour package.
• Expecting everything to be perfect and not being flexible in case of any unexpected changes or challenges.
• Not taking advantage of the inclusive amenities and activities offered.

Inclusive tours can take you to a wide range of destinations, from tropical beach resorts to historical landmarks and cultural hotspots. Some popular inclusive tour destinations include Bali, Maldives, Rome, and Cancun. Depending on your preferences, you can choose a destination that suits your interests and offers the experiences you are looking for.

Booking an inclusive tour is relatively straightforward. Start by researching tour operators that specialize in inclusive tours to your desired destination. Visit their websites or contact them directly to explore their available packages. Once you have chosen a package, follow the booking instructions provided by the tour operator. Make sure to provide accurate information and clarify any doubts or questions you may have before finalizing your booking.

Both inclusive tours and independent travel have their own advantages and disadvantages. Inclusive tours provide convenience, cost savings, and a hassle-free experience. On the other hand, independent travel allows for more flexibility, personalized itineraries, and the ability to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations. Consider your travel preferences, budget, and desired level of control when deciding between an inclusive tour and independent travel.

Inclusive tours offer a fantastic way to explore various destinations without the stress of arranging every detail of your trip. With the convenience, value, and peace of mind they provide, inclusive tours are an excellent choice for travelers seeking a relaxing and enjoyable vacation experience. Remember to research, plan, and make informed decisions to ensure you have the best inclusive tour experience possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

An inclusive tour, also known as an all-inclusive tour, is a travel package that combines transportation, accommodation, meals, activities, and sometimes even drinks, all in one price.

Yes, meals and drinks are often included in inclusive tours. However, it is essential to read the package details to confirm the specific inclusions.

Some tour operators may offer customization options for their inclusive tour packages. However, not all packages may be customizable. It is best to check with the tour operator directly.

Packing essentials for an inclusive tour include comfortable clothing, appropriate footwear, toiletries, travel documents, and any specific items required for the activities included in the tour.

Are travel tours worth it?

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Five Ways to Make Your Trips More Inclusive

Guest post by prachi thakur on being inclusive..

Inclusion is the new buzzword, and everyone wants to get on board by making their trips inclusive.

As our industry stands on the selling point of diversity, it is essential that you incorporate a few minor changes to become more inclusive and be closer to that 5-star review!

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Five quick changes to make your tours more inclusive., 1. make your research inclusive..

Yes, you are an expert in your area, and know all the nooks and corners, but are you aware of clashing heritage issues?

Well, now is the time to check!

Before explaining, do a little digging on the participants (or even better, ask them about their heritage!) and make sure you are fully aware of the heritage relating to the sites – and see if it contrasts or collates with the heritage of one of your participants.

I know this one sounds very obvious, but we have been taught a tweaked history of many places, so doing a little more digging can go a long way. This will help you avoid negative sentiment; it will also help you bond better with your guests who share the same heritage.

Read more here about ethical storytelling .

2. Ask about accessibility during sign-ups.

You have planned an extensive tour with exotic stops; however, you discover at the tour start that a guest has arrived with a wheelchair.

What’s better than an on-the-spot plan change?

A prepared plan!

If you have people signing up for your tour through your website, phone or even a google form, make sure you have a clear option where people can list their accessibility levels. Not only is this going to help you plan a better trip, but it will also seal your 5 stars on that review because you didn’t leave the individual behind!

Also, a word of caution, be careful and mindful of how you ask.

The question should not give them a vibe that they will be left behind if they disclose their issues.

An excellent place to begin is to have a text box with the question, “Please mention if you have accessibility issues. We want to know this to make sure we give you the best experience on tour”.

3. Ask before calling someone out.

You went to a heritage site, and you had done digging on your participants. Turns out, one of them shared the story of heritage, and now you want to make it personal for them.

Well, on the surface, this might look like a good idea to call them out by asking, “Hey Karen, how are you feeling right now since we have come to Chinatown?” – don’t!

If you want to make it personal for them and others, please ask them privately, or before the trip if they would like to share their sentiment or participate in the show-and-tell.

4. Re-examine your jokes.

Who doesn’t like a funny guide?

Keeping your guests laughing is a great way to achieve a 5-star review, but the stakes can be high if the joke backfires.

It’s important to re-examine jokes (even ones that might have worked in the past).  Not because you alone are biased, and so at risk of causing microaggressions. I am just saying that we all are.

No matter how long you’ve been in the business, no matter how many 5-star ratings you’ve collected, do check your jokes regularly before you say them out loud.

A harmless sentence can carry ethnic sentiments, so avoid any potential assumptions or stereotypes.

5. Always ask before supporting.

If a guest came with crutches, or someone is heavily pregnant – don’t help without asking.

Yes, they need help, but if you give it without asking, they might be offended in thinking that they are weak.

What to do then?

“do you think it’ll be easier if I can help?”

“Would you like it if I help?”

No matter how good your intentions are, actions will always be perceived according to other’s sentiments.

Making these small changes on your tour will ensure that your guests feel the best while ensuring your 5-star rating! 

World Women Tourism Prachi on LinkedIn

Related articles:

How to Create Responsible Tours Even When Your Guests Take Buses and Planes.

Why Your Tour Branding Shouldn’t Stop Once Guests are on the Tour

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UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Ethics, culture and social responsibility.

• Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

Accessible Tourism

• Tourism and Culture
• Women’s Empowerment and Tourism

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023), 1.3 billion people - about 16% of the global population - experience significant disability. Accessibility for all to tourism facilities, products, and services should be a central part of any responsible and sustainable tourism policy. Accessibility is not only about human rights. It is a business opportunity for destinations and companies to embrace all visitors and enhance their revenues.

Did you know..? 

• Almost 50% of people aged more than 60 have a disability (UNDESA, 2022) 
• Travellers with disabilities tend to travel accompanied by 2 to 3 travel companions (Bowtell, 2015)
•  2/3 of people with disabilities in developed economies are likely to have means to travel (based on Bowtell, 2015)

This portal provides an insight into UN Tourism resources on accessibility. All resources were developed with key inputs from Organizations with Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), civil society and tourism sector stakeholders. The publications generally follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA).

International Accessible Tourism Forum - Asia & the Pacific 

Download here the Programme of the Forum .     

UN Tourism International Conference on Accessible Tourism 

The Conference discussed accessible tourism policies and product development, as well as international guidance tools applied to the tourism value chain. Good practices showcased innovative solutions in access to transportation, cultural heritage, nature areas, leisure, MICE and a wide range of tourism businesses. The UN Tourism & San Marino Action Agenda for the Future of Accessible Tourism 2030 outlines a series of public commitments to undertake specific accessibility improvements.  

Download here the Programme of the Conference . 

Download the San Marino Action Agenda  in English , Spanish , French and Arabic .  

Recommendations for managers of natural resources

A set of guidelines on accessibility targeting key players in the management of natural resources, was published by UN Tourism in October 2023. The document focuses on facilitating access to protected nature areas, beaches and parks. The WCPA Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) , acted as the expert reviewers. Their involvement was key in identifying the best actions geared towards a greater extent of accessibility and inclusiveness within nature areas, vis a vis tourism. 

The guidance tool, whose drafting was led by UN Tourism, the ONCE Foundation and UNE, is part of the promotion of ISO Standard 21902:2021 .

Download here the guidelines in English  and Spanish . 

Recommendations for cultural tourism key players   

Download here the English and Spanish version of the Recommendations.  

Recommendations for Accommodation, Food&Beverage and MICE companies 

Download the user-guide (January 2023) here:

Recommendations for governments and destinations 

Download the user-guide (December 2022) produced in collaboration with Turismo de Portugal, Turismo Argentina and European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT):

Accessibility Standards guiding the Recovery

You can click and download below the takeaway thoughts & conclusions (accessible PDF file) : ➥ Conclusions (in accessible PDF format) - English: Webinar ➥ Conclusions (in accessible PDF format)   - Spanish: Webinar

UN Tourism Inclusive Recovery Guide - Persons with Disabilities 

• Download full document

Reopening Tourism for Travellers with Disabilities

Accessible Tourism Destination

The ATD is an annual UN Tourism distinction based on an Expert Committee evaluation, which acknowledges destinations enabling a seamless experience to any tourist, regardless of their abilities . The first ATD was awarded in 2019 and has been temporarily put on hold, given the pandemic.  

Documents available for download:

• Expert Committee
• Accessible Tourism Destination award (First Edition)

Video "Change your destination"

The video “Change your destination” was issued by Fundación ONCE and UN Tourism by the occasion of the 2019 International Fair of Tourism (FITUR).

Facilitating travel for people with disabilities is an exceptional business opportunity. Yet, a change in mind-set and in the model of tourism services provision is needed in order to meet this major market demand. Accessible environments and services contribute to improve the quality of the tourism product and can create more job opportunities for people with disabilities.

Accessibility, therefore, must be an intrinsic part of any responsible and sustainable tourism policy and strategy.

World Tourism Day 2016: "Tourism for All - promoting universal accessibility"

While these examples provide a small sample of possible solutions regarding accessibility, they will hopefully inspire others to take steps towards broadening the availability of accessible offers in tourism destinations around the world. 

  Download full text: Tourism for All - promoting universal accessibility

UN Tourism Recommendations on Accessible Information in Tourism

Ensuring that the information is accessible,  is without any doubt a key to communicating successfully with visitors in all stages of their journey, particularly with regards to travelers with disabilities and special access requirements.

The  UNWTO Recommendations on Accessible Information in Tourism  have been developed with the support and collaboration of the ONCE Foundation for Cooperation and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT). They were adopted by the Resolution A/RES/669(XXI) of the General Assembly of UNWTO as a follow-up to the ‘Recommendations on Accessible Tourism for All’ of 2013. 

  Download full text: UNWTO Recommendations on Accessible Information in Tourism

UN Tourism Recommendations on Accessible Tourism for All

The Recommendations incorporate the most relevant aspects of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities of 2006 and the principles of Universal Design.

In the context of a trilateral agreement between UNWTO, ONCE and ENAT, the recommendations were adopted by UNWTO General Assembly Resolution A/RES/637(XX) of August 2013, updating the 2005 UNWTO Recommendations. 

  Download full text: UNWTO Recommendations on Accessible Tourism for All

Highlights of the 1st UN Tourism Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe  

In recognition of accessibility’s importance in the tourism sector, UNWTO and the Government of San Marino jointly organized the  1st UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe  (19 - 20 November 2014).

Drawing together policy makers, tourism destinations, the private sector and civil society, this landmark event addressed challenges in advancing quality, sustainability and competitiveness within the tourism sector through universal accessibility.

This publication features 14 good practices presented at the Conference which focus on accessibility of cultural heritage sites, policy frameworks and strategic actions to make accessible tourism a reality. 

  Download full text: Highlights of the 1st UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe

San Marino Declaration on Accessible Tourism 

The Declaration which resulted from the 1st UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe, held on 19-20 November 2014 in the Republic of San Marino, can be downloaded here:

Manuals on Accessible Tourism for All

One of the most significant outcomes of a major collaboration framework between UN Tourism and Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs), particularly the Spanish  ONCE Foundation  for the Cooperation and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities, the  European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) , and the Spanish  ACS Foundation , are the Manuals on Accessible Tourism for All.

The manuals are meant to assist tourism stakeholders in improving the accessibility of tourism destinations, facilities and services worldwide.

Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Public-Private Partnerships and Good Practices

Download full text: English | Spanish

Download Executive Summary: English | Français

Module I: Definition and Context 

  Download full text: Module I: Definition and Context

Module II: Accessibility Chain and Recommendations 

  Download full text: Module II: Accessibility Chain and Recommendations  (Español)

Module III: Principal Intervention Areas 

  Download full text: Module III: Principal Intervention Areas  (Español)

Module IV: Indicators for Assessing Accessibility in Tourism 

Module IV of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Best Practices , co-produced with the ONCE Foundation and ENAT, proposes a series of indicators developed for tourism destinations to assess, control, and manage their accessible tourism offer. Accompanied by a detailed methodology for their application, these indicators can serve as a practical tool not only to assess the current situation within destinations but also to consider further actions that may be required. Module IV is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

  Download full text: Module IV: Indicators for Assessing Accessibility in Tourism (Español)

Module V:  Good Practices of Accessible Tourism for All 

Module V of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: principles, tools and best practices , co-produced with the ONCE Foundation and ENAT, provides an overview of case studies and good practices which have proven a successful implementation of universal accessibility in different spheres of tourism, such as promotion, market research, travel agencies, transportation, accommodation, training & capacity building and destination management. The examples featured therein analyze a wide spectrum of conditions which were decisive in making accessible tourism a reality and are meant to inspire the key stakeholders to engage in similar initiatives in their respective areas of influence. Module V is available in both English and Spanish, in digital accessible versions. The publications have been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

  Download full text: Module V:  Good Practices of Accessible Tourism for All (English)   Download full text: Module V:  Good Practices of Accessible Tourism for All (Español)

Accessible Tourism for All: An Opportunity within Our Reach

The brochure "Accessible Tourism for All: An opportunity within Our Reach" features the major highlights of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All produced with the ONCE Foundation and ENAT .

It is aimed at making tourism stakeholders familiar with the content of the five modules of the Manual in a reader-friendly and summarized form.  The publication  has  been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

  Download full text: Accessible Tourism for All: An Opportunity within Our Reach

Expedia Group Media Solutions

New Inclusive Travel Insights Report: Why Welcoming All Travelers Matters    

By Jenn McCarthy

July 20, 2022

Travel—by its very nature—promotes a greater understanding of people from different walks of life. Yet while the travel industry has made some strides toward becoming more inclusive, diverse, and accessible, there’s still work to be done.

Expedia Group’s mission is to power global travel for everyone, everywhere. To help realize this vision, we started by looking inward to ensure that we are reflecting the diversity of our travelers and modeling the inclusive mindsets that make travel a force for good. We understand the importance of not only practicing inclusion, but also empowering our partners to do the same.   

That’s why we commissioned custom research to understand how consumers feel about inclusive travel, and how they believe the current travel landscape stacks up. Conducted with Wakefield Research, the study surveyed 11,000 representative consumers in 11 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, the UK, and the U.S. Our findings are included in a new Inclusive Travel Insights Report to help your brand practice inclusion better, promote diversity, and provide equal access to all travelers. Below is a snapshot of the report.  

Accessibility and diversity in travel   

One aspect of inclusion is ensuring equal access to all travelers. This is especially important as Baby Boomers are expected to be a growing traveler segment while also experiencing age-related health issues. Our research shows that 54% of this generation finds accessibility in travel is very important, 5% more than the general population. 

As for diversity, our research shows that 7 in 10 consumers would choose a destination, lodging, or transportation option that is more inclusive to all types of travelers, even if it’s more expensive. This means they are willing to spend more on travel that’s truly inclusive. 

Hotel advertising that can reach any traveler, anywhere

Travelers looking to book a hotel use multiple channels to find their ideal place to stay, from social media to travel websites, and more. This is why it’s imperative that you know when — and where — to reach the right traveler. Whether you’re trying to reach early-bird or last-minute bookers, our targeting capabilities can help you connect with the right traveler at the right time.  

Local culture and community in travel         

It’s also important for the travel industry to be inclusive of local cultures and communities, and for travelers to pay attention to their interactions with them. Indeed, our research shows that over 1 in 3 consumers are looking for information on ways to engage, recommendations for supporting indigenous cultures, and ways to spend time volunteering while traveling.  

In fact, 74% would choose a travel option that supports local cultures and communities, even if it was more expensive. 

Representation in travel marketing    

Clearly travel marketers have an opportunity to do better, to help all travelers and destination communities feel represented. This is important not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it’s better for business. 

According to our research, 78% of survey respondents said they have made a travel choice based on promotions or ads they felt represented them through messaging or visuals. For Millennials that figure is even higher – 84% have made a travel choice based on representation in travel advertising. 

Examples of inclusive travel marketing campaigns  

So what does representation in marketing look like? Here are a couple examples of partners that worked with us to help share their commitment to inclusion in their travel advertising.  

Visit Panamá’s “The Next Turn” Features Blind Adventurer   

Our research shows that 92% of consumers think it’s important for travel providers to meet the accessibility needs of all travelers. But travel shoppers may not know if a destination they are considering can accommodate them. 

That’s why Visit Panamá partnered with Expedia Group Media Solutions and our award-winning creative team on a new video series called “The Next Turn” to promote the destination. One episode features Amar, a blind traveler, who experiences a rainforest, volcano hike, and coffee farm in Panamá through his sense of hearing, smell, taste, and touch. This campaign showcases how travelers with different abilities can immerse themselves in the amazing experiences Panamá offers. 

Tourism Malaysia Promotes Local Culture  

Another way to practice inclusion is to respect local cultures and help improve the livelihoods of host communities.  

Tourism Malaysia knows this, which is why it worked with us to create a Travel Spotlight landing page. The Spotlight shows travelers how they can experience Malaysian culture by visiting historical sites such as Georgetown, Penang, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to one of the largest collections of pre-war buildings in Southeast Asia; or by observing a different way of life in Sarawak, which has traditional longhouses housing communities of up to 100 families; or by visiting the indigenous communities of Kadazan and Dusuns, where visitors can shop an array of traditional handicrafts.   

How your brand can be more inclusive 

When traveler shoppers feel understood and embraced, they’re more likely to book. So how can your brand be more inclusive? First, travel marketers can draw from our Inclusion & Diversity in Travel Advertising guidelines, which documents best practices on delivering marketing campaigns that represent and cater to all people. 

Next, be sure to download the full Inclusive Travel Insights Report for further findings from our custom research, and for additional examples of travel brands that are already fostering inclusion, diversity, and accessibility.  

Jenn McCarthy

Senior director, growth marketing.

Jenn McCarthy is the senior director of growth marketing at Expedia Group Media Solutions. Jenn previously led agency teams focused on technology PR for Microsoft at Waggener Edstrom and managed teams at leading PR agencies in New York, working with Nokia and Kodak. Jenn is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound, and lives in Seattle with her family.

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No barriers: the benefits of creating an inclusive experience

Words:  Steven Swaby

| 5 min read

Delivering inclusive design should be a key part of every project , not an afterthought

By  Steven Swaby ,  Sarner International

We are seeing a long-overdue increase in awareness of inclusivity in museums, theme parks and visitor experiences. But there is still more to do in order to reach a wider audience of visitors who might be feeling excluded.

Immersive storytelling offers more inclusive visitor experience s

Following recent consultations with the Gozo government and the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability and the Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility, Sarner International has upgraded its award-winning Cittadella Visitors’ Centre to improve accessibility for guests with hearing and visual impairments. This means that these visitors can now fully immerse themselves in this highly innovative heritage attraction.

Situated at the heart of the beautiful island of Gozo, Malta, the Visitors’ Centre uses the dramatic underground architecture of the Cittadella to interweave a narrative of history, legend and landscape via the latest immersive technologies. It connects past and present, people and place – storytelling that achieves emotional connections and doesn’t just present facts.

Working with audio-visual technology specialists tonwelt , the Sarner team added new custom multimedia guides that do more than just provide tailored accessible tours of the attraction, available in eight languages.

Sophisticated but user-friendly, the guides also extend the immersive experience in several other ways. A noise-reducing audio track automatically subdues the sound of the room, making speech clearer for people with hearing aids or impaired hearing. Subtitled content on the device screen also makes multimedia content more accessible. In addition, braille keyboards can access audio-descriptive versions of each exhibit for blind or partially sighted visitors.

This creative and cost-effective solution has enabled a wider audience to engage in the region’s remarkable history.

A toolkit for inclusive experiences

And the Cittadella Visitors’ Centre isn’t just an isolated example. The delivery of inclusive and innovative design should be a key objective in each and every project, ensuring that content solutions provide an equally rewarding experience for all visitors .

Sarner is continually exploring ways in which wider, better accessibility can be achieved. Over its 50 years of experience in the industry, it has developed a toolkit that allows it to help its clients welcome and engage with visitors of all backgrounds.

Designing smart

Sarner always aims to make its design fully accessible, looking at how to address the needs of the widest possible range of physical and mental conditions. It’s not always just about mobility and access, and neither is it necessarily a matter of budget, either. Technology and know-how have come a long way in providing cost-effective solutions.

Engaging the senses

By creating multisensory experiences, immersive design has a major advantage over limited, less inclusive traditional approaches. By connecting with touch, hearing, smell and even taste, a wider range of visitors can have a far more rewarding experience.

The Met in New York is an example of this. Their multisensory stations allow visitors to explore exhibits using all of the senses. Multisensory books, sculpture and audio paintings are an integral part of the museum experience.

In London, the V&A Museum has been offering tactile events for visually impaired visitors since the 1980s. And now 3D printing to make touchable replica objects is also being explored by many museums around the world.

Controlling the experience

Providing calm areas that allow for downtime, regrouping and contemplation are important for a wide range of visitors. But having greater control of show modes is also key for providing a better experience for visitors with special needs.

Tailored show control allows for session-by-session adjustment of sound volumes, image intensity and overall lighting levels, in the same way that some cinemas offer “autism-friendly screenings”. Having that sort of control at your fingertips allows attractions to deliver a far more adaptable and welcoming visitor experience for all.

Be seen, be heard

Better sightlines and larger text for visitors with limited vision and subtitles for the hearing impaired are simple considerations. But they go a long way in making more inclusive experiences.

Legibility at all stages of text design is standard good practice. It’s also worth remembering that contrast is more important than the size of the text. So, it isn’t just a case of making things bigger!

For hearing-impaired visitors, signed content delivered directly to a user’s device is also proving a popular and effective mode. For instance, The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre has developed a Jodi Award-winning app. Here, exhibit signposts trigger signed video content.

Thinking holistically

Diversity, equality and inclusion can be promoted seamlessly as part of the exhibition content and associated public programming.

Pre- and post-visit audience engagement can go a long way in achieving a better understanding of needs, expectations, what works and what could be improved. It can also build a closer relationship between audience and host. People tend to appreciate it if they feel they are being listened to. And who better to advise on enabling effective participation than the end-users!

Know your kit

Finally, staff training is essential for creating and maintaining smooth, welcoming and inclusive experiences. Operational staff should be familiar with the ins and outs of hand-held devices and show controls as well as other visitor experience tech. Awareness of special needs enables a more effective and rewarding experience for both visitors and staff alike. Proper training really does invest in everyone.

In conclusion, it is genuinely encouraging to see social responsibility becoming a guiding principle that is shaping exhibitions and attractions around the globe. The inclusive power of immersive storytelling is a fantastic resource, and it’s there to be tapped into.

• Visitor experience
• Accessibility
• Museum management
• Museum design
• Museum suppliers
• Museum technology

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Accessible & Inclusive Museums—How Small Measures Add Up

• Feb 14, 2020
• Arts & Culture

Issues related to accessibility, inclusion, and diversity are taking a forefront as museums seek out new ways to accommodate people with different needs. All institutions must, of course, comply with ADA guidelines. However, a stronger, more robust approach to inclusion requires taking a comprehensive look at the ways spaces can be made accessible to all visitors, regardless of disability, identity, or background.

Initiatives to improve equal access may require time, staff, and funding. But scalable, incremental efforts can form the basis for widespread inclusion. In this article, we look at some of the ways museums are using accessibility resources to include the widest possible audiences, and merging traditional efforts with language access. By considering the full range of diversity, your museum can enable more people to engage holistically with your offerings.

Promoting Equal Access and Inclusion in Museums

Making an institution welcoming to as many people as possible means removing barriers. We all have our own way of visiting a museum and interacting with content. To design an experience that reflects society’s pluralism, a museum must consider all the different ways visitors may participate.

Initiatives include:

• Quiet hours, social scripts, and sensory-friendly resources (noise-reducing headphones, fidget toys) for individuals on the autism spectrum
• Tactile exhibits and multisensory tours for the blind and visually impaired
• 3D printing to make touchable replicas of paintings
• Braille, large print, and tactile versions of museum floorplans and exhibition text
• ASL programs and tours for the deaf and hearing impaired
• Real-time captioning for events such as lectures and presentations
• Closed-captioned films with transcripts
• Assistive listening devices
• Activities, discussions, and art-making sessions for individuals with Alzheimer’s
• Family workshops for visitors with developmental or learning disabilities
• Barrier-free entrances/exits and access to galleries
• Wheelchairs and canes available for visitor use
• Themed tours and workshops for veterans
• Off-site programs for residents of nursing homes and retirement centers
• Disability awareness training to educate staff about best practices for assisting visitors

This is hardly a comprehensive list—and there are so many exciting initiatives that warrant more description. Here are a few:

The Smithsonian American Art Museum holds twice-monthly America InSight verbal description tours for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Led by specially trained docents, these interactive tours help visitors learn about the collection through rich verbal descriptions and sensory experiences.

The Whitney Museum introduced video blogs (vlogs) featuring deaf museum educators communicating in American Sign Language (ASL). The vlogs focus on topics in contemporary art or exhibitions past and present at the museum.

The Canadian Museum of Human Rights (CMHR) made inclusion a priority from the start. When still in its development phase, the museum set up an Inclusive Design Advisory Council comprising nine experts, advisors, and activists in the field of disability rights. One of the museum’s many inclusive features is the CMHR mobile app , which offers a fully accessible self-guided tour, using American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ), audio, images, text, and video. Using Bluetooth iBeacons, the app communicates with more than 120 Universal Access Points located throughout the museum—the first such use of this technology in Canada, and the largest installation in the world. The app also includes an interactive visitor “mood meter” that lets visitors share how they feel as they move through the Museum’s spaces. This feature—a first for any museum in the world—provides useful feedback about the visitor experience.

Increasing Access for Non-English Speakers

Language access doesn’t always get addressed in the larger discussion about accessibility. The U.S. is becoming more diverse–ethnically, culturally, and linguistically. Today, 20% of U.S. residents speak a language other than English at home, and that number continues to rise. When materials are available only in English, it means a large segment of the population cannot access the cultural benefits a museum provides, including education and access to information.

As it becomes more imperative that museums reflect a wider segment of society, many are embracing a multilingual approach . Following are a few ways museums can combine traditional accessibility resources with initiatives to improve language access. By layering efforts, museums can welcome broader audiences.

Captioning and Subtitling Multimedia Content

Captioning and subtitling can make video content more accessible to visitors, both in museum galleries and online. They are similar, but have different purposes.

Subtitling is the process of adding a film’s transcript to the screen, coinciding with the spoken dialogue. Museums may of course use English-language subtitles when source content is in another language, but also with English-language source material, for the following reasons:

• A film that is difficult to understand in a crowded gallery space.
• An alternative to headsets when a museum does not want audio in a gallery.
• Speakers with heavy accents.

Translated subtitles are commonly used to interpret the dialogue into another language. They enable non-English-speaking or English-as-a-second-language visitors to engage with film content in their preferred language.

Captioning is intended for individuals with hearing impairments. While subtitles include only dialogue, captions provide additional information such as sound effects or speaker identification. Closed captioning, which can be toggled on and off, is the most commonly used form for digital videos. Another option is open captioning, in which the captions cannot be turned off.

To make multimedia content fully accessible, it should include a transcript along with subtitles and captions. The video transcript is the text version of the video, which allows anyone who cannot access web audio or video to read the content.

How Audio Tours Increase Accessibility

Audio tours provide recorded spoken commentary, typically through a cell phone or other handheld device, offering narration and behind-the-scenes stories. They allow visitors the flexibility of experiencing an exhibit in their own way, at their own pace, while following their own path. When accompanied by transcripts with standard or large print, audio tours can offer accommodations for those who are hard of hearing, deaf, blind, or partially sighted. And when translated, the audio tours and transcripts make exhibits accessible to visitors in their preferred languages.

Audio tours can focus on select works from an institution’s permanent collection. They can also be created for specific exhibitions, in the language most appropriate to the content of the show or the demographics of the target audience.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers an impressive audio guide, consisting of more than 3,000 recordings, available in English along with nine other languages. In 2015, the museum conducted a survey that found that the audio guides were viewed positively by visitors. Almost all of the visitors who used the audio guide reported spending more time in front of the artworks and gaining a deeper understanding of what the artworks mean. Visitors who used an audio guide were exponentially more likely to report a better overall experience at the museum compared with those who chose not to use it. 1

Supporting Visually Impaired Guests With Audio Description

Museums are increasingly using audio description to help blind or visually impaired visitors access their collections. Audio description entails inserting concise, objective descriptions between portions of dialogue to help listeners understand important visual elements. For example, descriptions might communicate the appearance of an object, its size, shape, color, and texture, rather than focus on its history or authorship. Audio description can also be used to lead visitors through an exhibit.

Museums are incorporating audio description into planetarium presentations, audio tours, films, videos, arts performances, and theatrical productions. The descriptions are meant to augment the performance or presentation, not interfere with the content.

In a 1998 study, the American Foundation for the Blind found that the majority of people with visual impairments who had used audio description said they found it very helpful. They preferred using materials that had audio description over those that lacked it.

Expand Your Audience

Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment means offering people a choice. Providing a range of resources enables visitors to select the way in which they are most comfortable experiencing the museum.

It is of course hard to tackle everything at once and address every challenge. By implementing small measures, and finding ways to overlap traditional accessibility efforts with language access, a museum can create an inclusive environment in which all are welcome.

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Privacy Overview

Tour Package

Package holidays, popularly known as a tour package or simply the word ‘tour’ in the travel and tourism industry refers either to a package tour escorted or not escorted by the tourist guide.

When we say tour package, it means a pre-arrangement, prepaid trip that combines two or more travel components like airfare, airport transfer, accommodation, and other services . Practically, to define the tour package concept is complex one rather understand.

Holloway defines a tour package as “a total tourism product consisting of transportation from the market area to the destination, accommodation at the destination and recreational activities promoted by the tourists.”

According to Gregorg “a tour package is advertised journey including specific features, arranged and promoted with tour literature by a tour operator and paid for in full by the tourists  before starting the tour.”

Technically, a package tour/tour package is a total tourism product as it generally includes transport from the origin place to the destination, accommodation at an en route place or at the destination and other recreational or travel services. These components are purchased by an individual, firm or company called the ‘ tour operator ‘. He combines all the travel components in a package and sells them at all-inclusive prices to the clients.

History of Tour Package

The term ‘tour’ was in vogue as early as 1670. The Britishers traveled to widen their knowledge of the continent, especially to study the culture and social life. This practice was gradually adopted by other lovers of cultural centers.

The result of the process was that many European historic and cultural centers were opened to the British tourist. By the early 1730’s the small fishing resorts around the British coast begin to attract tourists seeking to their diseases by drinking the sea-water or by immersing themselves in it.

The introduction of a rail link between the major centers in 1830, had a profound impact on the pleasure travelers for the first time. Many entrepreneurs began to inspire rail travel by organizing excursions for the public at discounted offers.

However, to ‘the origin of package tour’ the credit goes to Mr. Thomas Cook in 1855 , Cook, extended his business operation to different countries by introducing the first ‘ inclusive tour ‘ to Paris.

Mr. Cook put together all the components of tourism products and sold them as ‘inclusive tour’ to the tourists. His pre-packaged tour inspired other tour organizations in the travel industry to organize similar tours to all parts of the globe.

Most of Cook’s tours were a linear tour i.e., the person went from place to place on a single destination. Basically, Mr. Cook developed the concept of ‘grand tour and escorted tour’, the concept which is still used.

Incidentally, World War II has tremendously developed the package tour concept because of the following reasons:

• Social and Economic Conditions
• Increase in Aircrafts
• Marketing Conditions
• Legal Requirements
• Integration took place.

Today, package tours are a vital segment of the world’s travel and tourism industry. According to WTTC, the package tour sales generate $25 billion annually in the United States, $18 billion in Europe, $19 billion in Britain, and $21 billion in Asia. Today tour sales represented 50 percent of all leisure travel sales and 35 percent of all travel agency revenues.

Types of Tour Packages

A travel agency/tour operator deals with variety of ‘tour packages,’ catering to the diverse needs of tourists such as adventure, beach, architecture, cultural, business, conference, incentive tours, ayurvedic packages, Buddhist, religious, incentive tour, special interest tours, cruise tour group tour, educational tour, heritage, monuments, wildlife lovers, etc. These are broadly classified into five categories :

• Independent Tours
• Escorted Tours

Hosted Tours

• Incentives Travel/Tours

Freedom Tours

Independent tour.

Independent tours are prepared/formulated for those tourists who want to travel independently. The components of such tours are air travel, air transfer, accommodation, travel documents, sightseeing, boat riding, entertainment, and other travel services.

However, in some cases, the tourists are free to purchase every single component separately. Thus, this type of tour provides the tourists considerable freedom to plan the activities according to their own choice.

An independent tour may or may not be an all-inclusive tour. Therefore, tour price varies depending on the type of air travel, air transfer, accommodation and is inclusive of other tour components. The foreign independent travel (FITs) and domestic independent travel (DITs) are examples of an independent tour.

Escorted Tour

When a travel agency includes the services of a well educated and trained tour manager in its package, the tour is called an escorted tour. Basically, escorted tours are meant for those travelers who are planning to visit a foreign country first time.

The escort’s responsibilities and duties are to provide comprehensive information and assistance to the group or individual traveler, at the origin, en route and the destination place. The excursion tours are the example of escorted tours.

A hosted tour means when an agency utilizes the services of another agency at a particular destination. Suppose a group of French tourists is coming to India. When the group arrives in India, they are greeted at the airports by TCI, which assists them in clearing their baggage and transfer them to the hotel.

Their tour-host (TCI) is available to offer device and information about the local attractions and entertainment. Further, when the group arrives at another designation in India, a different travel agency greets them at each tourist spot. Thus, a hosted tour provides the tourists maximum level of pre-arranged and personalized services.

Incentives Travel/Tour

It is a motivational programme or a fully paid holiday which is given to the employees by the enterprises as a reward. Mostly in medium and large-scale companies and usually too distant destinations to spur them in maintaining their track record, to increase output, improve the image and moreover to earn the long period loyalty of the employees.

There are a number of the other packages offered by a tour company such as a custom tour an excursion tour, an adventure, and special interest package tours.

Freedom tours are becoming very popular these days among the working class. These tours are designed as per the choice of tourists. The tourist is free to choose and plan how they want to travel and enjoy their holidays. These types of tours are meant for that kind of people who like to decide how, when, and where to travel.

This tourist may an individual, family, group holidays for families and group travel for business. These tours are promoted and developed by the ORBIT.

Components Of Tour Package

What is to be included in a package tour largely depends and varies from one tour organization to another, or from the one country to another, or from one destination to another and from one market to another market. But there are certain well-defined travel services which always turn a part of a package tour irrespective of the tour operator/travel agency, destination and even the market condition.

If we study and see the package tours offered by Thomas Cook and Sons Ltd., Cox and King Ltd., and other international travel companies, we find that a package tour has two major components. Therefore, a standard package tour has two basic components namely:

• Ground Arrangements

Travel industry experience has shown that the first component, i.e. ‘Travel’ is directly bought by the agency from the principal providers like airlines and transport operators and for ground arrangement, the travel agency management asks the ground operators.

The reason behind buying ground arrangement from a handling agency is that it represents as a ground operator at a particular destination for the numerous tour organizations. Secondly, the price offered by it are much lower than an individual agency obtain. Thirdly, it is very difficult to get credit from the supplier and finally, it ensures professional travel services.

Factor Affecting the Tour Package Formulation

Generally, the business of package tours involves great risk, high breakeven, high-quality product, and competitive prices. Therefore, the tour management requires in-depth tour planning and market survey. However, before a tour is designed the tour manager should take into consideration certain factors which are crucial in the formulation process.

These factors have a profound impact on the tourist’s satisfaction. The main factors are:

• Purpose of Tour
• Choice of Destinations
• Tourist Budget
• Legal Requirement
• Types of Tourist Accommodation
• Tour Period
• Departure and stay information
• Tour price; inflationary condition
• Tour Reference Tools
• Tour Features – political stability
• The relationship between the host and tourist generating nation

Tour Package Design and Selection Process

The quality of a package tour is entirely based on the above factors. Essentially, to design/formulate a travel product, the tour manager has to take the biggest responsibility, intuitiveness, imagination, and innovation coupled with a lot of business activities which range from finding new exotic destinations and planning, organizing or promoting such tour.

The following are the main stages in the tour design and selection process:

1. Initial Research

(i) the destination research.

The decision to develop and formulate a new package is a multi-stage process that involves various positive and negative points/steps. Normally, the idea for a new product comes either from the tour executive within the company due to a review of the questionnaire completed by the previous tour members because of the political, economic and social development in a particular area.

When a tour manager see that a large number of old clients are interested in taking a trip to particular destinations, naturally, those destinations become the nucleus of a new ‘tour concept’.

(ii) Market Research

Since tour package is a complete tourism product, obviously, before formulating/designing this product, market research needs to be analyzed and assessed in a systematic manner. Market  research provides us the answer to the following questions:

• What is the size of the tourism market?
• Who are the existing clients?
• Where do they live?
• Who will be their potential buyers?
• Who are their competitors – their strategy and area of business leisure?
• How many tourist ones want to cater?
• What price will the clients accept?
• What facilities are available and required?
• What are the constraints viz., license, permission, finance, restrictions, taxes, and others?

Once we know the basic components of the package tour, distribution channels, market conditions, constraints in the tourism market, we can develop the marketing strategy. It enables the smooth functioning of the agency and also offers a clear picture of the tour programme. Practically, market research is conducted by the private tour companies/ private tourism enterprises in order to penetrate the market.

2. Itinerary Preparation

By itinerary one means the designing of a programme which one wants to sell and it includes destinations, stopping points, number of days and the travel services that are to be included in the programme. Whether it is a lean season or an offseason, escorted or not escorted, consumer-oriented or readymade tour programme, the itinerary is prepared to identify the origin, destinations, stopping points, accommodations, sightseeing and other travel services on travelers’ trip.

3. Handling Agency or Destination Company

The appointment of handling agency not only ensure excellent travel services to the tourist but also make the operation smooth and profitable. It is a matter of great significance as the success of travel business largely depends upon the clients are actually taken care of during the tour.

It is a positive match between the promised services and tourist’s actual experiences or feelings. Thus, the tour operator should consider the experience of the handling travel agency in the business, the area of operation, reputation, credibility, professional staff, credit facilities and the competitive price in appointing a handling agency.

4. Negotiation

It is another important management decision area in tour designing and planning. Once the decision has been made regarding the destination’s concerning their date, duration and number of clients to be carried during the trip, the tour management starts negotiations with the principals’ suppliers for a normal contract.

Negotiation means talk between the travel companies and the principal suppliers for the terms, conditions, and prices of the components of a tour package. When both parties are satisfied, it leads to a formal or informal contract between them. The tour company negotiates with the following tour vendors/suppliers:

• Accommodation
• Transport Operations- Rail and Road
• Ground Operators
• Cruise Companies
• Car Rental Companies
• The overseas representatives
• Ancillary Service Organizations

5. Coasting and Pricing a Package Tour

The cost of a package tour encompasses the air ticket, the hotel room, car rental, entertainment charges, administrative costs, promotional costs, and other travel services. The confidential tariff helps the travel company in preparing the cost sheet which will enable the concern to determine its price strategy.

Tour pricing is a big factor in the success of the company’s tour programme. The price of a package tour is, whether it is an escorted, independent or hosted the tour, often lower than the combined costs of the same components purchased separately from the principals. However, the purchase price of a travel product is based on three factors: Cost, competition, and demand.

Every tour package sold by a vendor has a quantifiable cost. To produce profit the price paid by the tourists must be greater than the agency’s cost.

6. Tour Brochure

The tour package is an intangible product which has to be purchased by the tourists/clients without inspection and sometimes even without adequate knowledge. In these circumstances, the brochure becomes the principal instrument to perform the major tasks to inform the clients about the products and to pursue them to purchase it.

Designing, printing, and distributions of tour brochures require necessary skills and knowledge about the components of the tour package. Basically, in the era of specialization and intense competition, tour brochure creates awareness and provides the description of the holiday programme.

Thus, tour management should consider various pros and cons while preparing a tour brochure. A brochure should contain the following information:

• Name of the Travel Company
• Means of transport
• Details about destinations
• Accommodation, types, location, meals
• Name of the overseas representative
• Duration of each tour
• Booking, reservation and cancellation conditions
• Details of other services – insurance, currency, entertainmentTravel documents required
• Details of price

7. Development of Reservation System

The next step in tour formulation process is reservation system. The agency management in order to put a package into operation must develop and implement a scientific reservation system. The system depends on whether the reservation is to be handled manually or with a computer working on the distribution method.

Whatever method the agency may adopt, the agency management should always keep in mind the sole objective of the reservation system.

8. Marketing of Tour Package

Once a tour package is ready, travel agency management has to make a careful decision regarding promotion and marketing of the particular package tour. The basic objective of management is to make a tour package widely known to make it more and more attractive.

To achieve these objectives, the management must consider the budget available, promotion mix, potential market, easiest and most effective media, campaigning through the international, regional or the public/private sector etc.

The promotion of a package tour means increasing its sales potential and creating an awareness of the existing and potential markets. The following methods are commonly used to promote package tours:

• Middlemen – Retail Travel Agents, GSA, consolidators
• Familiarization tours
• Building Brand Loyalty
• Encouraging Potential Buyers
• Competitive Market

9. Tour Handling/Actual Tour Operation

After the successful marketing and achieving target sales, the next and final step in the process of tour designing is tour handling. It means an actual operation of tours, which generally includes administrative work and passenger handling like maintaining reservations, handling deposits, sending advice to ground operators, arranging travel representation, analyzing the feedback received from clients/escorts/ground operator and so on.

All this is not an easy task. At every stage, one has to face different types of queries and problems due to lack of coordination and communication.

Significances of Tour Package

Tour package is beneficial to travel companies, travelers, destinations and other organizations which are directly or indirectly involved in the tourism business. The main benefits are:

• Increase the seasonality of a destination cost/price
• Earn foreign currency
• Better quality of products professional services
• Wide-variety of the tour package
• Provide bulk business to organizers

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• All arrangements and publicity for concerts and performances, including exchanges with local groups; singing during services/mass; informal/impromptu performances; participation in Festivals
• Group airfares to and from destination; deviation arrangements pending airline policy
• Group accommodations in any hotels categories decided in consultation with the group leader. Limited number of single rooms available for a surcharge. If requested possible accommodation in youth hostel or students housing. All rooms with private facility.
• Standard contract include breakfasts plus one other meal including a welcome and Farewell Dinner. Any adjustments can be made in consultation with the group leader
• Private, deluxe air-conditioned coach transportation for all scheduled group activities and transfers.
• A local English-speaking tour escort throughout the tour
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• All hotel, coach, and group meal taxes. Airline taxes, fuel surcharges and fees are included and per airline industry practices are subject to change by the airlines until ticketing. Any increases will be passed on to the group.

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ESCORTED, INDEPENDENT AND HOSTED TOURS AND KNOWING WHAT COMES WITH THESE KINDS OF PACKAGES

When it comes to a world tour, it means to go and explore. There are a number of tours which exist and you will need to understand what each one of them really means. There is the hosted, independent, and escorted tour. The independent tour means that you are travelling on your own. This is where the travel company only takes the initiative to book your hotel and then seating on your own for any train or boat rides. When you land in the country you are going to, you will have to find your way to the hotel and make arrangements of what and where you want to go and see on your own. You will also have to book the type of transport to move from one area to the other of your choice. You can opt for this package if you want to travel and do not have a lot of money to spend on tour companies.

Hosted is another tour package and is different from escorted tours and independent tours as well. This is a kind of tour package where you will just need a little hand to help. There will be a person who will be available to help you, but for only during specific hours. If you happen to be travelling to various cities, then everything will be arranged as far as transport and hotel arrangement are concerned, but you will have plenty of time to plan on your own. Escorted tours are preferred to be the best and this is because they come with a number of advantages. This is where you will have someone by your side who will be able to guide you all through whatever you need. The hotel as well as a means of transport to and from will be arranged by the company which you have hired. Escorted tour come with a lot of packages which are referred to as escorted tour packages.

The escorted tour packages have many advantages and this is where they will make sure you will not, at any point, miss any activity or attraction. This is where all of your days will be full of adventures and excitement, while your evenings will be for relaxing. This also means the type of transport you will use is your preference. So, with escorted tours you will be able to enjoy more than you can with other types of packages.

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• Eco-Tours Only (Private Tour)
• Testimonials
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Tour Inclusions – Complete Land Arrangement

Tour Inclusions

• Accommodation
• Batan North Private Tour
• Batan South Private Tour
• Sabtang Island Joiner Tour (4D/3N, 5d/4N and special 3D/2N package)
• Full Board Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
• Airport Transfers
• Land Transport
• Boat Transfers (For Sabtang Island Tour)
• Tour Guide (Provincial and DOT Accredited Guides)
• Municipal Fees
• Tax Included
• Eco-Tourism Fee

* Lunch and dinner meals during free days are on pax account.

Tour Package Conditions

• Package is non-refundable
• Package re-bookable with respective charges
• Package is transferable

Hotels + Eco-Tours Package

• Amboy’s Hometel
• Bernardo’s Hotel
• Bernardo’s Lantia Hotel
• Midtown Inn
• Dive Batanes
• Fundacion Pacita
• Residencia Du Basco
• Shanedel’s Inn
• Villa Hontomin

Homestay + Eco-Tours Package

• Abengaña’s Guesthouse
• Baletin Hometel
• Casa Feliciano

Batanes Eco-Tour Guide

• Tour Itineraries
• Tour Inclusions – Complete Land Arrangement
• Payment Option
• Calendar of Events
• Batanes Videos
• Reminders Before Arrival
• Optional Activities

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• Terms & Conditions

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