By Bora Kim, University of Surrey, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
In 2021/2022, approximately 16 million people in the UK, or 24% of the population, experienced a disability. This significant figure highlights the societal impact, with roughly one in four individuals facing varying degrees of impairment. As of February 2023, 6.3 million people in Great Britain were claiming extra cost disability benefits, representing 9 to 10% of the population, according to Commons Library Research Briefings. Notably, nearly 25% of individuals with disabilities are of working age (See Fig. 1).
This demographic change emphasisesthe importance of recognising the potential of this substantial market segment. It underscores the urgent need for discussions on social inclusion, particularly focusing on strategies to integrate people with disabilities into the workforce.
In light of this, it is critical for sectors such as hospitality and tourism to actively participate in dialogues aboutsocial inclusion and to strive to create environmentsthat are inclusive and cater to the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities.
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