How to open a tourist agency for the blind and deaf?
Setting up a tourist agency for the blind and deaf would be a very interesting business idea that can be very profitable because for the blind and deaf people, they can live the experience of climbing the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, walking cities; where they can perceive changes under their feet, walking narrow paths in forests, or in the open countryside, visiting temples; mosques and famous churches, touching walls, feeling the textures of walls in ancient spaces, perceiving the scents of markets, the hustle and bustle of cities, living with people and animals in those places, bargaining with vendors in others; can be unforgettable experiences that can interest you.
Here are the main tourism businesses
Keyword: tourism, blind and deaf
The first and foremost thing to open a tour operator for the blind and deaf is that you are educated and informed to understand the conditions of these people and have the motivation and breadth to deal with the blind and deaf, who are people as intelligent and capable as anyone else who does not have these conditions. The only thing is that they communicate using other means not usually used by other people.
It is also necessary to offer activities that stimulate the clients, such as rappelling, zip-lining, hanging bridges, horseback riding, interpretative tours, awareness raising, craft workshops, mythical experiences of the state where the business is established. Of course, do not forget to include gastronomic experiences where you can get to know and taste the delights of the business’ location.
This innovative business venture seeks to allow visitors to enjoy different aspects of the place from those offered to people with visual and hearing abilities, with tactile and sensory experiences and in a language that is as clear and simple as possible. It is also possible to adapt activities that people usually do such as walks on trails, visits to parks, informed tours to ruins and ancient spaces among others.
Steps to start an agency for people with physical limitations
If you are opening a tourism business for the blind and deaf, you should consider employing people with these disabilities. The latter is a way of perceiving the problems they face, as well as promoting their integration into the labour market. Staff should, where possible, be trained with courses in Braille, sign language, first aid and first aid. Through real simulations in which people with these disabilities participate.
Within your activity, you should include very descriptive programs and tours to make the tourist imagine the place he is visiting. You should also get information from the Ministry of Economy about support and inclusion programs for people with disabilities in the state or region. Remember to design and offer special packages for these people with low cost and low ecological impact options.
How a tourism agency works
This innovative business venture seeks to enable visitors to enjoy different aspects of the place from those offered to the visually impaired and the hearing impaired, with tactile and sensory experiences and in a language that is as clear and simple as possible. It is also possible to adapt activities that people usually do such as walks on trails, visits to parks, informed tours to ruins and ancient spaces among others.
You must bear in mind that an agency like this requires offering activities that stimulate clients, such as rappelling, zip-lining, hanging bridges, horseback riding, interpretive tours, awareness raising, craft workshops, among others. Of course, don’t forget to include gastronomic experiences where you can get to know and taste the delights of the business location.
Requirements to open a tourism agency for the blind and deaf
The first and foremost thing to open a tour operator for the blind and deaf is that you are educated and informed to understand the conditions of these people and have the motivation and breadth to deal with the blind and deaf, who are people as intelligent and capable as anyone else who does not have these conditions. The only thing is that they communicate using other means not usually used by other people.
On the other hand, it is key that you have the necessary operating licenses and permits to operate your business smoothly. To do this you must go to the entity in charge of your city, describe your business and register your company. Acquire all the necessary documentation to know the rules that govern this type of business and guarantee your clients total transparency.
These are some of the aspects that must be taken into consideration:
If you are going to open a tourism business for the blind and deaf, you should consider employing people with these disabilities. The latter is a way of perceiving the problems they face, as well as promoting their integration into the labour market.
Staff should, where possible, be trained with courses in Braille, sign language, first aid and first aid. Through real simulations in which people with these disabilities participate.
Include very descriptive programs and tours so that tourists can imagine the place they are visiting.
Get information from the Ministry of Economy about support and inclusion programs for people with disabilities in the state or region.
Design and offer special packages for these people with low cost and low ecological impact options.
Remember that your agency’s facilities must be accessible to all publics but especially to the blind and deaf who are your target customers. Rely on a specialized architecture company if possible.
Plan transportation, access to attractive restaurants, services and everything necessary for the comfort of blind and deaf clients.
To plan and offer sensory plans such as swimming with dolphins, art galleries and even specialized museums.
Investment costs to open the tourism agency for the blind and deaf
Invest in staff training, hiring of disabled staff, equipment, installation of a facility, permits and advertising.
Advantages of having a Tourist Agency for the Blind and Deaf
The advantage of this business is related to the offer of a service focused on people with different abilities, directed to obtain experiences that can be ecological and of recreation, being attractive due to the special tourist plans that are designed so that blind and deaf people can experience nature in another way, incorporating the emotions, challenges and fun, with the guarantee of safe environments.
Another advantage is that accessibility is worked on in this business because it drives innovation, making products and services that solve often unexpected problems. Also through this business, the efforts in diversity and inclusion that are so important for the success of a company are demonstrated and are promoted when there is an integrated commitment with the interests and needs of the target population.
It also has the advantage of insertion into the global disability marketplace that includes more than one billion people who have more than $6 trillion in purchasing power. In addition, it competes in a market that seeks to improve the experience for all users.
Success stories of Tourism Agency for the Blind and Deaf
Tlachtli (Querétaro), is one of the successful companies, which is located in Mexico, and invites the tourism of people with different abilities, which has a specialized and famous tour called “Sentir para ver”.
Adapta (Cancun, Queretaro, Mexico City), is also another successful company, which offers specialized tours for people with different abilities and the elderly. Adapting situations and spaces for these people, offering them special leisure experiences in which exclusive moments have been designed for this population.
Key tips for blind and deaf tourist agencies
An agency like this, implies a whole adaptation, from the plans we offer, to our facilities, staff and management, so the area where your agency is located must be accessible to all audiences, but especially to people who have visual impairment and deaf, who are your clients of recruitment. We recommend that, if possible, you rely on a specialized architecture company. You should plan transport, access to attractive restaurants, services and everything else necessary for the comfort of blind and deaf clients.
Within the plans that you organise with your tourist agency for blind and deaf people, you should also plan and offer sensory plans such as swimming with dolphins, art galleries and even specialised museums. Don’t forget: invest in staff training, hiring of disabled staff, equipment, installation of premises, permits and advertising.
Weaknesses: the idea of a tourist agency for the blind and deaf is a new one and not all cities in the countries respect the conditions of the spaces and the regulations for these people. Important advantages, security and integrity guarantees must be offered to capture the attention and interest of these potential clients.
Pros: Starting a project like this, besides allowing you to earn money and become your own boss, is a good way to include all this
population by creating specialized plans for them, where they can live their own experiences. In addition, you are opening a project in which you give work to other people, no doubt a rewarding project that will bring many joys.
You don’t need experience, but we recommend that you take the time to train yourself to know more about their needs and thus create plans that achieve complete satisfaction, as this is the objective of your business.
The recreation needs of people who have mobility restrictions or who suffer from some kind of visual, hearing or cognitive disability, is an opportunity to generate accessible plans and for tourism entrepreneurs to expand their market possibilities, attracting more travelers and encouraging, from their space, the culture of inclusion and respect.
Start your business today!
Problems that can occur when starting your tourism business
The idea of a tourist agency for the blind and deaf is a new one and not all cities in the countries respect the conditions of the spaces and the regulations for these people. Important advantages, security and integrity guarantees must be offered to capture the attention and interest of these potential clients.
Recommendations to make your tourism business successful
The recreational needs of people who have mobility restrictions or who suffer from some kind of visual, hearing or cognitive disability is an opportunity for the tourism sector to generate accessible plans and it is an opportunity for tourism entrepreneurs to expand their market possibilities, attracting more travelers and encouraging from their space the culture of inclusion and respect for these people.