Academics say visually impaired tourists let down in UK

Report by Kirsten Bowling

THE UK tourism industry is letting down visually impaired people by not supplying large print or braille on timetables and pricing information.

Research carried out by the University of Westminster revealed more than 50% of hotels, ferry and coach companies are failing to provide different timetable formats on request.

University of Westminster tourism lecturer Graham Miller said: "We were shocked by how many companies failed to provide the information they were required to by law, as part of the 1995 Disabilities Discrimination Act.”

One third of the hotels contacted were not able to provide any response for a visually impaired customer and out of those that did reply, 70% did not have any information in a format that could be used.

"We are hoping that more vigorous enforcement of the act will see companies reacting to the threat of punishment,” added Miller.