2021 is going to be the year for the disabled community to explore, dream and discover.
Everyone’s wanderlust is now reaching peak levels after the past year of lockdowns and travel restrictions, and we’ve been seeing unparalleled sales of holidays already this year.
In rather unique circumstances, the majority of our customers are those with disabilities who are a priority for the Covid vaccine.
Added to the fact disabled people have been among the most isolated groups during the Covid pandemic, having to shield for the majority of the time, it seems this community is now desperate to break free from the shackles of lockdown and ensure they have a holiday to remember in 2021.
For us at Limitless Travel, it’s looking like 2021 is already shaping up to be a year for embracing new adventures, ticking off travel highlights that have been on your to-do list for years.
Now people with disabilities are getting the vaccine, we’re confident there are sunnier times ahead for all of us. After a year of staying at home, we want our customers to feel that magic of travel again.
Travel is much more than just a change of scenery, it has the power to change people’s lives with multiple mental health benefits, which is much needed after the anxiety and stress of the past year.
Our accessible and safe holidays reduce the isolation felt by many people with disabilities and their carers who sometimes haven’t been on holiday for years due to their disabilities.
Our new South African Safari is already 2021’s best-seller; a tangible indication people are actually opting to push the boat out on bucket list trips after a year of isolation.
Typically, UK trips account for the majority of our holidays sold; for 2021, long-haul trips are more popular. Within the UK, our new Bath Spa Retreat trip is getting the most interest.
After I was diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy at the age of 22, I was told that my mobility would decline over the next few years until one day I’d need a wheelchair.
Despite this news, I was determined to experience the best of what the world had to offer, quit my job in investment banking in London, and set off with my wife to explore 35 new countries.
On our trip, I got to experience first-hand, the many challenges travellers with disabilities can face, and I was determined travel should not be exclusive to the able-boded.
On returning to the UK, I founded Limitless Travel, with the goal of empowering people with mobility restrictions and disabilities to have incredible, unforgettable experiences just like mine.
Since we launched, I’ve built a passionate team of people with disabilities, as well as people who have specialist knowledge about disabilities and the care industry, so our customers are not only listened to but also understood first hand.
Angus Drummond is the founder and chief executive of accessible and wheelchair-friendly operator Limitless Travel.