Are all tourist dependant businesses meeting their statutory obligations and taking full advantage of the entire economic value of the tourist budget
(An investigation into statutory compliance for providing reasonable adjustment to facilitate equal access for disabled customers to goods and services)

McLean, SN

Abstract

The paper identifies the economic impact of excluding disabled customers from goods and services offered at locations which are dependent upon tourist income. The economic value and spending power of disabled members of society is established. Statutory obligation to provide reasonable adjustments to property thus facilitating equal access to goods and services for disabled persons is noted. Failure to make reasonable adjustment is identified as risking a reduction in potential sales income, and/or punitive financial punishment for non-compliance with statutory obligations. These are cited as being potentially severe economic consequences for goods and service providers. A small town which currently attracts tourists and looks to the development of its tourist income is proposed and justified as a case study, for assessing current accessibility for disabled people. From a baseline of a reasonable adjustment compliant retail unit, and using the standards for providing access contained within BS8300, the author undertakes a series of simple access audits of businesses which would expect to attract tourist custom. This establishes if these businesses, and the town, are maximising all the potential tourist derived income, and complying with current statute, by providing equal access to disabled customers. Findings strongly indicate that this is not the case. With alternative venues offering a similar themed experience, a lack of accessible facilities is cited as being a potential hinderence to development of tourism income.

Citation

McLean, S. (2015). Are all tourist dependant businesses meeting their statutory obligations and taking full advantage of the entire economic value of the tourist budget
(An investigation into statutory compliance for providing reasonable adjustment to facilitate equal access for disabled customers to goods and services). Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal and Valuation, 4(3),

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 29, 2015
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Nov 6, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Journal of building surveying appraisal and valuation
• Print ISSN: 2046-9594
• Electronic ISSN: 2046-9608
• Publisher: Henry Stewart Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 3
• Publisher URL: http://www.henrystewartpublications.com/jbsav