Accessible travel was as soon as regarded as a specialist phase of the trade, usually mentioned in phrases of compliance or infrastructure quite than business demand. Yet for a lot of travellers, issues round mobility, sensory wants, psychological well being, power sickness or caring duties usually are not occasional issues however a part of on a regular basis planning. They form vacation spot selection, transport selections and even whether or not reserving a visit feels possible in any respect.
A brand new YouGov study commissioned by Responsible Travel means that these issues are far more widespread than the trade tends to imagine. According to the survey, 41 per cent of UK adults travel with well being or entry wants in thoughts – a determine that features individuals with long-term situations in addition to these whose selections are influenced by a associate or member of the family’s necessities. The findings reposition accessible travel as a defining function of the modern travel landscape quite than a distinct segment concern.
About the analysis companions
The examine was commissioned by Responsible Travel, a UK-based tour operator specialising in sustainable and experience-led holidays. Founded in 2001, the corporate is involved with moral tourism, neighborhood profit and environmental accountability, and has more and more centered on accessibility as an extension of its wider work in moral tourism.
Fieldwork and knowledge evaluation have been carried out by YouGov, the worldwide analysis and analytics agency recognized for large-scale UK public polling throughout politics, client behaviour and social developments. YouGov is a member of the British Polling Council and adheres to established trade requirements round sampling, weighting and transparency.
All figures are drawn from analysis carried out by YouGov on behalf of Responsible Travel. The survey was carried out on-line between 16 and 19 January 2026, with a complete pattern of two,099 UK adults aged 18 and over. The knowledge was weighted to be consultant of the UK inhabitants.
Within the general pattern, 843 respondents have been categorised as travelling with entry or well being issues. This group included people with one or more long-term well being situations, sicknesses or impairments, in addition to unpaid carers or individuals whose travel decisions are influenced by another person’s wants.
For the needs of the survey, “health and access considerations” have been outlined broadly, encompassing mobility limitations, sensory impairments, psychological well being situations, neurodivergence, reminiscence or cognitive limitations, stamina or respiratory points and different long-term well being situations.
What the findings reveal
The survey makes clear that accessible travel is not a marginal subject. 41 per cent of UK adults say they travel with well being or entry issues in thoughts – together with these with long-term situations and people whose selections are formed by a associate or member of the family’s wants. That alone reframes accessibility as a part of mainstream travel behaviour.
Yet, participation doesn’t mirror that scale. Across six vacation classes, adults with entry or well being issues persistently travel much less incessantly than these with out. For lively holidays, participation falls from 36 per cent to 22 per cent. Cultural breaks drop from 47 per cent to 35 per cent. Nature-based holidays present the same sample, as do transport-and-accommodation-only journeys, which fall from 60 per cent amongst these with out entry must 44 per cent amongst these with them.
If this have been merely a matter of choice, the figures may finish there. Instead, curiosity ranges recommend in any other case. Among adults aged 18 to 54 with entry wants, 77 per cent specific curiosity in cultural holidays, whereas 53 per cent want to take lively journeys and 64 per cent present curiosity in nature-based travel. Despite 77 per cent not often or by no means taking lively holidays, more than half want to. The hole between participation and intention is vital.