When someone is deciding whether to visit Liverpool City Region, are we giving them full confidence they’ll be able to enjoy it?
For many people, that decision is not just about what is on offer. It is about whether they will be able to navigate it, experience it, and feel genuinely welcome.
First established in 2012, Global Accessibility Awareness Day was created to encourage people to think more deeply about digital accessibility and inclusion, and to better understand the barriers many people still face when using websites, apps and online services. Each year, it provides a moment for organisations to reflect, learn and take practical steps towards creating more inclusive experiences for all.
That gap, between interest and confidence, is where opportunity lies.
Global Accessibility Awareness Day, to be held on Thursday 21 May 2026, is often framed around digital inclusion, websites, apps, content. But for a place like Liverpool City Region, it is much bigger than that.
Accessibility shapes the entire visitor journey. It starts with how easy it is to find clear, honest information. It continues through booking, getting here, moving around, and experiencing what is on offer. It ultimately determines whether someone leaves with a good memory or decides not to come at all.
For a sector built on experience, that matters.
There is a tendency to frame accessibility as the “right thing to do”, and it is. But it is also one of the clearest commercial opportunities in the market.
The numbers are well understood across the sector, the UK disability tourism market alone is worth around £14.6 billion each year, according to VisitBritain and industry research, the wider spending power of disabled people and their households runs into the hundreds of billions, and yet a significant number of people still do not travel because the risks, practical and emotional, feel too high.
For Liverpool City Region, where the visitor economy welcomed 57.07 million visitors and generated £6.251 billion in 2024, according to the latest STEAM research, even small shifts in accessibility can unlock meaningful growth.
But this is not just about attracting new audiences. It is about retaining them, encouraging longer stays, and building loyalty in a market that is often underserved.
When you strip it back, accessibility is about confidence.
It is the confidence to book without having to make multiple calls.
The confidence to turn up without worrying about what you will find.
The confidence that you will not have to ask for help for something that should have been thought through.
Too often, that confidence does not exist. And when it does not, people simply choose somewhere else, or do not travel at all.
That is the gap Liverpool City Region has the opportunity to close.
It is also worth saying this, accessibility is not just for disabled visitors.
The changes that make a place accessible, from clearer information and thoughtful design to well-trained teams, also create a better experience for families with young children, older visitors, international guests navigating unfamiliar environments, and anyone who simply wants a smoother, more relaxed visit.
In other words, accessibility is not a niche improvement. It is a quality improvement.
Liverpool City Region has already signalled its intent to lead on this.
There is a growing, collective effort across the visitor economy to improve standards, share knowledge and move the conversation forward, from forums and collaboration to practical tools that support businesses in making changes.
This kind of shared approach matters, because accessibility is not something one part of the sector can fix alone. It is shaped by the whole visitor journey.
Natalie Wyatt, Managing Director of Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, said:
“Global Accessibility Awareness Day is an important reminder that accessibility isn’t a bolt-on, it’s fundamental to the future of our visitor economy.
“Every day, people are making decisions about where they feel welcome, where they feel confident, and where they feel included. When we remove barriers, whether physical, digital or perceptual, we don’t just improve accessibility, we open our doors to new audiences and create better experiences for everyone.
“Here in Liverpool City Region, we’ve been working closely with partners across the sector to turn that ambition into action. Through initiatives like our Accessibility Toolkit and wider industry collaboration, we’re supporting businesses with the practical tools, guidance and insight they need to make meaningful improvements.
“We’re already seeing real momentum across the region, but there is more we can all do. Whether you are just starting out or looking to build on existing work, taking that next step on your accessibility journey is one of the most meaningful, and commercially impactful, decisions you can make.
“Quite simply, a more accessible visitor economy is a stronger, more inclusive and more successful one, for our businesses, our communities, and every visitor who chooses to spend their time here.”
This brings us back to that opening question:
Are we giving people full confidence they will be able to enjoy what Liverpool City Region has to offer?
If the answer is not always “yes”, then that is where the work, and the opportunity, sits.
And the businesses that move on this now will not just be doing the right thing. They will be strengthening their offer, widening their reach, and helping shape a visitor economy that works better for everyone.
To start, or take the next meaningful step, businesses can explore practical guidance, tools and support through Liverpool City Region’s Accessibility Toolkit HERE and contact bmoorcroft@liverpoolcityregiondp.com to find out about joining the newly established Liverpool City Region Accessibility Taskforce.
LCRDP has today announced a new ‘Accessibility for All’ Forum event, creating a space for businesses and partners to come together, share ideas and drive meaningful change. It marks another step forward in ensuring Liverpool City Region is a place where every visitor feels confident, included and welcome. Find out more about the event and RSVP HERE.
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Let’s make Liverpool City Region somewhere everyone can experience with confidence, dignity and joy.