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In the past few years, more and more water leisure operators are looking at how to make their websites, facilities and staff more accessible and welcoming to guests with disabilities. It makes sense that inclusive tourism has become a trending term because, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), “over a billion people live with some form of disability; this corresponds to about 15 percent of the world’s population.”
So what is inclusive tourism?
As defined by Push Adventures (pushadventures.com.au), an inclusive tourism consultancy in South Australia, “inclusive tourism is about reducing uncertainty around what to expect from a destination or service. It creates increased participation in tourism activities and embraces the entire community of travellers, regardless of ability.”
One waterpark that’s already introduced a robust “access for all” approach is Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool, UK. Starting with its website, which has a helpful “plan your visit” section, Sandcastle enables anyone to visit, whatever their physical or cognitive impairment.
For the Sandcastle team, it’s about the total guest experience –from pre-visit to visit to post-visit. The waterpark has a variety of inclusive services and trains staff to treat each guest, regardless of ability, with care and understanding. To learn more about their accessibility programming, visit sandcastle-waterpark.co.uk.
As Push Adventures says, inclusive tourism is more than providing a ramp. “Not all disabilities are visible and every person is unique. Small details can make the world of difference to a person’s travel experience.”
Aleatha Ezra, director of park member development, WWA
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Industry Opinion: Waterparks
More water leisure operators are investing in becoming more accessible, writes WWA's Aleatha Ezra
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
Species survival expert Bill Robichaud shares the trials of the saola and what zoos are doing to save this near-extinct creature
Interview: Bob White
Bob White, COO of Village Roadshow, on
weathering a dip in attendance and keeping
his eyes on investment and expansion
Inclusivity: Open to All
Kath Hudson reports on some inspiring
initiatives to help include people who
face physical, social or economic
obstacles to visiting attractions
Heritage: Lofty Ideals
Westminster Abbey is getting an attic
conversion of sorts. We found out more
Waterparks: Under the Weather
Meet the team who helped bring
Epic Waters to fruition – an undercover
Texas waterpark on an epic scale
Profile: Andreas Andersen
IAAPA’s new chair Andreas Andersen sat
down with Tom Anstey to talk about industry
growth, sustainability – and queueing
Theme Parks: Think Big
Liseberg CEO Andreas Andersen reveals
details of the park’s €200m expansion
Themed design: The Story Builders
Disney’s Joe Rohde and Scott Trowbridge
and Universal’s Thierry Coup reveal the
secrets of their trade – well, some of them!
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our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
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In the past few years, more and more water leisure operators are looking at how to make their websites, facilities and staff more accessible and welcoming to guests with disabilities. It makes sense that inclusive tourism has become a trending term because, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), “over a billion people live with some form of disability; this corresponds to about 15 percent of the world’s population.”
So what is inclusive tourism?
As defined by Push Adventures (pushadventures.com.au), an inclusive tourism consultancy in South Australia, “inclusive tourism is about reducing uncertainty around what to expect from a destination or service. It creates increased participation in tourism activities and embraces the entire community of travellers, regardless of ability.”
One waterpark that’s already introduced a robust “access for all” approach is Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool, UK. Starting with its website, which has a helpful “plan your visit” section, Sandcastle enables anyone to visit, whatever their physical or cognitive impairment.
For the Sandcastle team, it’s about the total guest experience –from pre-visit to visit to post-visit. The waterpark has a variety of inclusive services and trains staff to treat each guest, regardless of ability, with care and understanding. To learn more about their accessibility programming, visit sandcastle-waterpark.co.uk.
As Push Adventures says, inclusive tourism is more than providing a ramp. “Not all disabilities are visible and every person is unique. Small details can make the world of difference to a person’s travel experience.”
Aleatha Ezra, director of park member development, WWA
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Industry Opinion: Waterparks
More water leisure operators are investing in becoming more accessible, writes WWA's Aleatha Ezra
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
Species survival expert Bill Robichaud shares the trials of the saola and what zoos are doing to save this near-extinct creature
Interview: Bob White
Bob White, COO of Village Roadshow, on
weathering a dip in attendance and keeping
his eyes on investment and expansion
Inclusivity: Open to All
Kath Hudson reports on some inspiring
initiatives to help include people who
face physical, social or economic
obstacles to visiting attractions
Heritage: Lofty Ideals
Westminster Abbey is getting an attic
conversion of sorts. We found out more
Waterparks: Under the Weather
Meet the team who helped bring
Epic Waters to fruition – an undercover
Texas waterpark on an epic scale
Profile: Andreas Andersen
IAAPA’s new chair Andreas Andersen sat
down with Tom Anstey to talk about industry
growth, sustainability – and queueing
Theme Parks: Think Big
Liseberg CEO Andreas Andersen reveals
details of the park’s €200m expansion
Themed design: The Story Builders
Disney’s Joe Rohde and Scott Trowbridge
and Universal’s Thierry Coup reveal the
secrets of their trade – well, some of them!
People taking GLP-1 weight loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound
may be losing weight, but they’re also becoming less physically active, according to new
research presented at the ENDO 2026 annual meeting of the Endocrine Society
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Global retreat trade show, Synergy The Retreat Show, has launched a resource called The
Source, which hosts an open-access online Transformation Series programme.
The Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC) charity has announced its first five-
day Living with Cancer and Beyond retreat, which will be held at Carden Park Hotel and Spa in
Cheshire, UK, between 1 and 5 September.
Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, has opened in Greece, with a renovated and
rebranded wellness offering called Ansana Wellness and Spa.
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an Autograph Collection property in Hawaii, US, has opened its
22,000 sq ft indoor-outdoor Spa at Mauna Kea as the final step in the property’s overall
renovation, which has cost more than US$180 million (€166 million, £140 mill
The UK spa review and discovery platform for consumers, the Good Spa Guide, has announced
it will host the Good Spa Guide Awards 2026 during an event on 16 November at Sopwell House
Hotel in St Albans, UK.
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this
percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of
Wellness 2026 research report.
Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of
a luxury resort by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Bioline Jatò Bioline Jatò is a family Italian company
operating in the professional skincare
industry since 197 [more...]
