Conference to throw spotlight on Accessible Tourism in Cumbria

The Accessible Cumbria Partnership has unveiled plans for a special conference highlighting the latest developments in accessibility and inclusive tourism on Thursday 26 January.

Described as a ‘must attend’ free event for tourism and hospitality businesses, the Accessibility Conference 2023 will be headlined by Cumbria Tourism and supported by United Utilities. Key issues will include tapping into the “Purple Pound” to drive economy recovery, becoming a disability-confident employer and the ‘Access to Work’ scheme.

The conference will feature a variety of headline speakers, including Gill Haigh of Cumbria Tourism, Ross Calladine from VisitEngland, Debbie North of Access Dales and Louise Birkett from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in round-table discussions and workshops, where they can share their training needs and discuss key barriers to business development. There will also be a chance to speak with partners one-on-one about developments and take a site tour of Fell Foot to see how more challenging sites can adapt for a wider range of needs.

Gemma Procter is the Sustainable Tourism Officer at Cumbria Tourism, which chairs the Accessible Cumbria Partnership. She comments, “We are thrilled to showcase the fantastic developments that have been made in recent years to improve accessibility in Cumbria, allowing for more shared adventures. This is a great opportunity for tourism and hospitality businesses to learn about the latest innovations and find out about becoming disability-confident employer.

“It’s vital that we amplify our collective efforts as a county and highlight the importance of accessibility in our landscapes. This conference will be an opportunity to not only showcase what’s on offer, but also a great way for businesses to learn, shape future plans, and further understand the importance of accessibility.”

The Accessibility Conference 2023 takes place on at the Active Base at Fell Foot Park in Newby Bridge on Thursday 26 January (9.30am-12.30). Businesses which would like to attend can reserve their FREE space here.