‘We could be best in the world’: calls to invest in tourism for disabled
Entrepreneurs and disability space innovators see an untapped market in providing tailored tourism to “high end” disabled and elderly visitors in the Far North.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Some of the region’s entrepreneurs and disability innovators have say there is an untapped market providing tourism to “high end” disabled and the elderly visitors in the Far North.
Richard Hole knows all about making opportunities with what you’ve got.
In 1998, he was driving back from his parents house just outside of Tolga when an unconscious diabetic driver who hadn’t taken his medication drove onto the wrong side of the street and crashed into his car.
His right leg was badly damaged in the crush.
When he woke, the doctors told him that he could either live with a life of near constant pain or they could remove his leg.
He choose to become an amputee.
But Mr Hole was always an innovator and liked to create new things.
Seeing things from the perspective of someone with a disability has allowed him to see the world in a different way.
Now he says he has a vision for the Far North: viewing towers and state of the art walking tracks.
He said the region should install “easily accessible paths” at its major tourism sites to become a world leader in attracting disabled tourists.
“A rope hand rail possibly partly supported by trees could save costs. Some local examples include these tracks to a ridge near Saddle Mountain and to one of the highest points of the Mount Whitfield range overlooking Cairns City,” he said.
“Also the highest points near Atherton and Tinaroo. Mount Fisher is the third highest in Queensland where mountains can be seen up to 160km away.
“You could also have narrow viewing towers protruding above the trees on the highest mountains that are close to roads and where not a lot of walking is needed to access them.”
He went on to explain that “trees block views from the above locations”.
“Therefore, a viewing tower could be built at their summits where people could safely climb and take photographs of views that are much better than can be seen from other easily accessible places. High quality online sky cameras and weather stations could also be mounted on them.”
Mr Hole added it could “save the health system billions of dollars, help tourism and improve many people’s lives”.
His proposal comes as businessman Kevin Fields expressed hope that his Far North disabled travel group Out There Travel Care company – the region’s only tourism group for disabled tourists – will find a buyer so it can re-open after being shut down during the pandemic.
Mr Fields, CEO of Ten Years Younger Home Care, who has worked in tourism for 30 years, started the company several years ago “because I saw there was no high end aged care and disability travel going on here”.
“Our idea was to target the disabled or elderly coming from affluent areas within Sydney and Melbourne,” he said.
“We provide support, transportation and respite care. We commissioned a feasibility study and found revenue was being lost. The disabled and the elderly were coming here but unable to take the majority of tours and cruises because there wasn't the support there for them.”
Mr Fields said the company opened just before Covid hit, which meant it hit an almost instant standstill.
He said he hoped another company would purchase the business and get it running again soon.
“The feasibility study uncovered a business case worth millions,” he said.
“The study indicated that the current market size for domestic ‘assisted care’ for travellers to TNQ could employ around 50 full-time additional staff at full capacity.”
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘We could be best in the world’: calls to invest in tourism for disabled
Hwy reopened, three hospitalised following multi-vehicle crash
The Kennedy Highway has been reopened to traffic following multi-vehicle crash, which left three people hospitalised, on Thursday afternoon.
‘Hectic wildfire season’: Deliberately lit bushfires
A Far North Queensland-based firefighter has warned many homes are not prepared for fire-season as crews contain fires claimed to be deliberately lit.