Accessible Tourism: growing opportunity for Wanneroo’s visitor economy

Tourism Research Australia has released its Accessible Tourism in Australia report; the first to capture a full year of data on accessible travel across the country. The findings highlight a growing market with strong alignment to the City of Wanneroo’s visitor strengths. With 21% of Australians living with disability and an ageing population (source: ABS), demand for inclusive experiences is set to grow.

Some key findings from the report include:

  • Eating out/dining at a restaurant remains the most popular activity for all traveller types
  • Shopping, going to the beach, sightseeing, and bushwalking are all in the top 10 activities, aligning strongly with Wanneroo’s unique natural offering
  • Visiting friends and family remains a core driver of domestic travel, meaning people are often looking for inclusive experiences they can enjoy together.

Wanneroo’s spectacular coastline, thriving food scene, lush bush reserves and trails, and vibrant activity centres all lend themselves to accessible tourism investment, from bush, to beach and beyond. By developing inclusive experiences, businesses can tap into demand from a significant and often underserved segment of the market.

The City’s recently released Discover Wanneroo Visitor Economy Strategy identifies accessible tourism as a key focus. One of its guiding principles is inclusion, striving to “be an inclusive destination, one that is accessible and welcoming to all.”

Backed by this commitment, the City supports local businesses to implement inclusive and accessible initiatives to ensure all visitors feel welcome, comfortable, and inspired to explore everything our region has to offer.

With national, state, and global trends all pointing toward the growing importance of accessible travel, the Wanneroo region is well placed to lead in this space. Local businesses investing in accessible and inclusive infrastructure, experiences and services today will be better equipped to thrive in tomorrow’s tourism landscape.

For more information, read the City’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2025 – 2030, the Investment Attraction Prospectus, or contact [email protected]