New OpenBritain website helps make tourism accessible for all

A new website was launched last month which aims to help make tourism accessible to all people, particularly those who require extra help to do so. Whether holidaymakers are looking for self catering cottages with walk in showers and baths or are searching for useful information on travel insurance, OpenBritain has been created to help those with all kinds of disabilities.

Following feedback from the Paralympic Games in 2012, OpenBritain was created to help visitors find all the information they need on accessibility. The website was created through the combined efforts of VisitEngland, Tourism for All and DisabledGo, who sought to create an informative website which would help everyone from grandparents who need accommodation that has supportive handrails, to diabetics who are looking for food establishments which can cater to their needs.

The OpenBritain website was launched on 19 March and provides users with one easy-to-access location for them to find lots of useful information, contacts and suggestions for attraction, accommodation, shops and restaurants. There are a number of tabs that users can search under: Places to Go, Regions, Offers, Useful Info and News.

The search options within each tab are straightforward and easy to use, with plenty of filters for various different issues that people have, helping users to find out what they need to know quickly and easily. The Offers tab gives users the opportunity to make some great savings with various travel and tourism related companies which OpenBritain can recommend, and the Useful Info tab contains plenty of advice that could make all the difference when it comes to having a holiday that is memorable for all the right reasons. From information on accessible toilets to advice on travelling with medication, OpenBritain has plenty of guidance to give.

The businesses that can be found on OpenBritain are given their very own log-in to the Guestlink system used by the website, allowing them to update their information as and when necessary, such as if their prices change or if they have the pleasure of announcing that they have recently installed stair lifts.

The OpenBritain website has already been well-received by users and industry professionals. Robin Tuffley, marketing manager for Clos-o-Mat, has said that the number of people with mobility and other accessibility issues is growing, so it is important that there is a resource available to people which can help them plan a day trip, weekend break or longer holiday. He praised OpenBritain as being a resource which can help people "enjoy life to the full, now and in the future".

To take a look at the website and start planning your trip, just follow the link here.

Image Credit: qnr (flickr.com)