Sports Event Holidays – 2017 (01.10.16)

This week marked World Tourism Day on 27 September under the slogan ‘Promoting Universal Accessibility’. It seems particularly apt coming so soon after the world successfully embraced and celebrated the Rio Paralympics earlier in the month.

london-paralympics-copyrigh

As the world’s tourism industry expands (reaching over 1.1 billion international travel journeys a year), the importance of encouraging and facilitating people with difficulty accessing some sites – the millions of travellers who are disabled, young or old – becomes more and more obvious. The good news is that in many holiday destinations, accessibility has improved. We at Nomadic Thoughts for example, have enjoyed sending disabled clients on African safaris, European cultural excursions, Asian train holidays and many previously under-supported historical monument tours.

wheelchair-holidays-copyrig

In addition, as people broaden their desire for activity holidays and adventure experiences we have constantly tried to open up opportunities to send younger children and their families to the remoter wilderness areas, be it on wide-ranging cultural awareness trips or all-action sporting holidays. We are also very proud of our record in assisting the older generation to continue with their travels. Examples of this include climbing mountains, exploring jungles, touching glaciers, riding rivers, immersing themselves in new religions as well as learning new skills from cooking and painting to sports and photography.

We have also celebrated the news that we have managed to send clients previously nervous about travelling, on overseas trips they thought they would never be able to undertake.

Often leaving the front door and making it to the airport is a journey enough. So when one is able to successfully plan and put into action a holiday for a client who previously could not fathom travelling further afield, it can be one of the most rewarding aspects behind offering a personalised travel service.

airport-departures-copyrigh

That people of all ages, disabilities and accessibility issues should have the best opportunities to participate in tourism activities wherever possible, is of paramount importance to us at Nomadic Thoughts. The complexity of a person’s physical and mental difficulties should not restrict their ability to enjoy their trip.

Sport is just one area that has embraced both the participant’s and observer’s ability to enjoy themselves.

So, inspired by this month’s Paralympics I am highlighting my month-on-month hit list of next year’s top sporting occasions. Certainly they are worth planning a holiday around, whether as a short break or an extended trip, a fan, or participant.

london-olympics-flowers-cop

One of my fondest Nomadic Thoughts memories was talking to a client whose trip we had arranged to China. The main purpose of this had been to support their son in his first Paralympic games, in Beijing eight years ago. The excitement of a family embarking on such an extraordinary sporting experience, with added mega-bonus of a trip to such a wonderful destination was thrilling to hear about.

2017 Sporting Events – To Plan a Holiday Around:

Although the March and September events focus on participants with disability and accessibility issues, the other sporting occasions do also offer excellent supporter facilities, with easy-access fan-disability support.

January (26-29^th) Australian Open Melbourne

australian-open-copyright-j