Quick Win 24 – Accessibility

During this webinar, Claire McCollum discussed the critical importance of making tourism services accessible through digital platforms. She emphasised the need for websites and social media to include features such as alt text for images, video captions, audio descriptions, and clear, simple language to enhance accessibility. Claire shared that these adjustments are not just about compliance but are essential for reaching a broader audience, including those with disabilities, which can significantly expand a business’s market reach.

The webinar also highlighted the importance of an accessibility page on business websites, detailing what services are accessible and to what extent. Claire explained how this transparency not only builds trust with potential customers but also ensures that all visitors can have a clear understanding of what to expect, enhancing their overall experience. This section of the training was particularly focused on how businesses can implement practical measures to communicate their accessibility features effectively.

Towards the end, practical steps and resources for improving accessibility were discussed. Claire pointed out that many best practices for accessibility also improve SEO, illustrating this with examples like using descriptive link text and optimising page titles and meta descriptions for accessibility. The session aimed to equip tourism operators with the knowledge to make informed changes to their digital assets, making them more inclusive and accessible while also improving their online visibility and customer engagement.

You can grab the handout here.