When thinking about a camping holiday, one imagines an experience immersed in nature and full of freedom, but also with many services to enjoy. This is certainly true for almost all campers – families with children, groups of friends, couples, and solo travelers – who easily adapt to the outdoor vacation lifestyle. However, this might not be the case for people with disabilities. In this regard, the outdoor vacation booking platform pitchup.com conducted a study in collaboration with Purple Goat, a leading marketing agency in the disability sector, to understand how inclusive camping really is.
The survey involved over 2,000 participants from the UK, of different ages and representative of all disability categories, divided between “campers” (those who have already experienced outdoor vacations) and “non-campers” (those who have never tried this type of experience).
The goal was to identify the critical issues of camping vacations for a person with disabilities – from structural obstacles (presence of steps or bathrooms and parking not easily accessible) to organizational obstacles (staff not adequately prepared to assist customers with disabilities) – and then suggest the best solutions to adopt and thus expand the market to this part of the clientele that has so far been discouraged and excluded from the outdoor experience.
Camping: how inaccessible is it to people with disabilities?
What factors influence the choice of a camping holiday for a person with disabilities? According to Pitchup.com’s study, the cost of the holiday is the most influential factor (indicated by 65% of respondents), followed by the location(60%) and “facilities and services” (indicated by about half of the respondents). Accessibility received 45% of the votes, while customer reviews are relevant for only 18% of the respondents.
What is interesting to note is that camping is perceived differently by people with disabilities depending on their past experiences: among those who have never been camping (non-campers), 44% believe that camping is inaccessible(and among these, 83% said t-hat accessibility concerns influenced their decision not to go camping); among those who have already experienced this type of holiday, only 16% share this view.
Those who are reluctant to book a camping holiday are mainly because they do not have clear and sufficient information about the accessibility of the vacation site. According to the study, 95% of people with disabilities would find detailed information on accessible bathrooms and showers, parking, entrances and exits, site access, and pitch location useful. They wonder, in practice, whether the accommodations are suitable for their needs and if they might encounter communication problems. In the absence of clear information, those with disabilities tend to forgo camping vacations.
Pitchup.com’s practical tips
To improve this aspect, much can be done. Some valuable suggestions come from Pitchup.com, which, in light of the results of its study, has drafted a guide with some practical tips on how to make the camping experience more accessible. From welcoming guests with trained staff to removing architectural barriers, each facility can make itself more attractive to those with disabilities.
It is important, for example, to welcome guests with a detailed tour of the facility and an overview of all the services offered. Of course, it is necessary to be able to accommodate all assistance dogs and have a trained staff capable of implementing first aid and evacuation procedures. Furthermore, to increase the guest’s safety and independence, parking spaces must be at least 2.4 meters wide, located on flat ground, and close to the entrance; but also provide clear maps and directions of the facility, offer quiet spaces immersed in nature for relaxation, place benches (ideally every 50 meters), use contrasting colors on surfaces to assist visually impaired guests, and finally, listen to customer feedback to improve the customer experience.
More filters for a simple and effective search
Another point where the Pitchup.com platform has intervened is the simplification of the search and booking phase. The study revealed that 39% of respondents would appreciate the presence of photos of accessibility features and user reviews, while 66% would like the search filters of a facility to include lighting along the paths.
In light of these indications, the platform has decided to introduce a series of new filters to simplify and speed up users’ searches. These filters include: step-free access; well-lit pathways; flat terrain; hearing aids; dedicated quiet spaces; wheelchair-accessible toilets; accessible parking and more.
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