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Advancing Accessible Tourism Through Awareness, Collaboration, and Inclusion

The #National #Secretariat for #Persons with #Disabilities (#NSPD) organised a programme at the #Ministry of #Social #Services, bringing together Government officials, representatives from private sector #tourism companies, and persons with disabilities to promote greater awareness of accessible tourism and the importance of creating #inclusive #travel experiences for everyone in October 2024.

The programme provided a valuable platform for participants to exchange knowledge, discuss current challenges, and explore practical approaches to improving accessibility across Sri Lanka's tourism sector. It highlighted the shared responsibility of government institutions, tourism service providers, and communities in ensuring that tourism is accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all.

A key feature of the programme was a presentation by #Manique Gunaratne on Accessible Tourism. The presentation focused on the principles of inclusive tourism and the importance of removing physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers that may prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in tourism activities. It also highlighted how accessible tourism benefits a wide range of travellers, including older persons, families with young children, and individuals with temporary mobility limitations, while strengthening the overall quality and sustainability of the tourism industry.

The event also included an engaging panel discussion where representatives from the public sector, the tourism industry, and the disability community shared perspectives on advancing accessibility in Sri Lanka. The discussion encouraged meaningful dialogue on improving infrastructure, enhancing service standards, strengthening policies, and fostering greater collaboration to create inclusive tourism experiences.

Adding a vibrant cultural dimension to the programme, persons with disabilities presented a series of performances that showcased their artistic talents, creativity, and diverse abilities. These performances highlighted the importance of recognising and celebrating the contributions of persons with disabilities while reinforcing the value of equal participation in cultural and public life.

The programme concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to work collaboratively towards a tourism sector that upholds accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunity. By encouraging awareness, knowledge sharing, and partnerships, the initiative represented another important step towards ensuring that Sri Lanka's tourism industry can be experienced and enjoyed by everyone with dignity, independence, and respect.


A group of people seated in wheelchairs in a conference room. They are arranged in a row of bright red chairs facing toward the front, with most people looking in the same direction as if listening to a speaker or presentation. The group includes men and women with brown skin, wearing casual clothing such as checked shirts, light-colored traditional dress, dark shirts, and a blue polo shirt. In front of them, on a low platform or table, there are several rectangular baskets filled with colorful flowers and green leaves, including yellow, white, pink, blue, and red blossoms. Behind the group, there are more attendees seated in rows, some wearing hats or headscarves. The back wall has two large windows covered with horizontal blinds that let in soft daylight, giving the room a formal but calm atmosphere.

Two women at a podium in a conference room. On the left, a projector screen is displaying a slide with the heading: “1. Physical Barriers” Below the heading, the text that is large enough to read clearly includes phrases such as: “… public spaces, limited accessible transportation, lack … ramps and elevators, inaccessible restrooms.” Near the bottom left of the slide, some more readable text includes the phrases: “… universal design principles, increase … ways in tourist sites, and install ramps, … restrooms in hotels and tourist …” Parts of the text are cut off by the podium or are too small and blurry to read accurately. In front of the screen there is a dark wooden podium decorated with a large floral arrangement made of pink roses and green leaves. A microphone is attached at the top of the podium. Behind the podium, slightly left of center, stands a woman with medium brown skin wearing a green and white sari. She is speaking into the microphone. On the right side of the image stands another woman with medium brown skin wearing a magenta sari with orange and gold edging over an orange blouse. She has short dark hair and is using hand gestures, likely signing or interpreting. The room has light-colored walls and a window blind behind the women.

A woman standing behind a wooden podium giving a presentation indoors. She is wearing a green and light yellow saree with short sleeves and has medium brown skin and dark hair tied back. On top of the podium there is a decorative arrangement of pink roses and green leaves, and a microphone is positioned in front of her mouth with a cable trailing down. Behind her there is a large projection screen displaying an image of houses with peaked roofs. To the right, a laptop sits on a small table, connected with a cable that runs upward. The room has light-colored walls, horizontal blinds on the windows, and a white tiled ceiling with recessed lighting.



#Kishara #Manique Gunaratne

Facebook Page: Kishara Trust 


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