VisitBritain Surveys Show Marked Increase in Accessible Travel Market

Chart showing Total Spending by UK Visitors with an impairment and their travelling companions in 2018 (VisitBritain/VisitEngland).

April 2020. VisitBritain publishes survey data from 2018 showing a marked increase in travel and day trips in England by visitors with disabilities and long-term health conditions, continuing the growth trend of recent years.

Visitor spending on day visits grew 3-fold between 2015 and 2018, reaching a total of 11.6 Billion Pounds Sterling, showing the power of the "Purple Pound". 

The purple pound is the spending power of disabled people.

VisitBritain/VisitEngland has estimated the value of the purple pound to the tourism industry by adding a question regarding health conditions and impairments to the three main UK tourism surveys. The data gathered allows an estimate of both the volume and value of the accessible tourism market and uncovers interesting trends.

Some key findings

Total spending:

• The total expenditure generated by those with an impairment or those travelling within a group where a member had an impairment is estimated to be £15.2 billion
• Inbound visitor spending by this group was £0.4 billion in 2018 
• Domestic overnight visitor spending by this group was £3.2 billion in 2015 
• Day visitor spending by this group was £11.6 billion in 2018.

Contribution to total volume of visitors.  Trips taken by those with an impairment and their travelling companions made up:

• 1.9% of all inbound trips in 2018
• 15% of domestic overnight trips in 2015
• 20% of day visits in 2018.

Age of traveller:

• Those aged over 65 made up 7% of all inbound visits, compared to 39% of trips taken by those with an impairment and their travelling companions.
• Those aged over 65 made up 16% of all domestic overnight trips, compared to 35% of trips taken by those with an impairment and their travelling companions.
• Those aged over 65 made up 17% of all day visits, compared to 26% of day visits taken by those with an impairment and their travelling companions.

For full details, visit the VisitBritain webpage: The value of the Purple Pound

This page was updated on 20/05/2020 with following corrections:

• Data refers only to trips taken in England
• Visitor spending on day visits grew 3-fold between 2015 and 2018.

VisitEngland and VisitWales are Associate Members of ENAT