Kerala for All conclave: Inclusive growth in key sectors will help hospitality segment, says Sminu Jindal

Enabling inclusive growth across tourism, sports, transport, and digital infrastructure will unlock huge potential for the hospitality sector along with increasing participation and productivity in those key sectors, Sminu Jindal, founder, Svayam, India’s leading accessibility organisation, has said.

Addressing a session on ‘Accessibility is not charity, it’s India’s $1 trillion GDP booster,’ held as part of the two-day conclave Kerala for All, jointly organised by Kerala Tourism and The Hindu here on Sunday, she said India’s domestic tourism market is pegged at $175 billion, while 191.8 million people with reduced mobility are excluded from the mainstream due to accessibility issues.

Considering the fact that travellers with reduced mobility spend 23.5% more per trip, the realisable economic value is $16.6 billion. In the sports sector, the current market size is estimated at $17.23 billion with 130 million active participants. Providing full accessibility will increase the participation by 98.2 million more, taking the total participation to 228 million, and the realisable economic value would be $12.38 billion. The accessibility gap also affects 201 million people in the transport sector, with each severely affected person losing around ₹52,274 annually due to the accessibility issue.

Similarly, around 262 million people face digital accessibility challenges, while giving full accessibility could boost engagement by about 37%, said Ms. Jindal.

Sminu Jindal, founder, Svayam, India’s leading accessibility organisation, addresses the Kerala for All conclave.
| Photo Credit:
Thulasi Kakkat

A significant number of foreign tourists start travelling after the age of 55. Scores of movies mention about how difficult it is for them to come to an Indian destination due to accessibility issues. “It is our duty to make sure India shines because hospitality and culture are ingrained in our DNA,” she said. “There are so many amongst us who do not look disabled but have some kind of hidden disability. They need to be thought of when we look at our infrastructure,” she said.

“As India is looking to host the Olympics in 2036 along with the Commonwealth Games in 2030, the footfall of foreigners will be increased in Indian destinations, and we must be ready to look at the financial opportunity. If we do not talk about our accessible features through ICT (information and communications technology), such as websites, or booking sites, and do not give a 360-degree view of the accessible bathroom and room, the amount of revenue loss would be high,” said Ms. Jindal.

Qutub Minar vs Red Fort

For instance, when Qutub Minar was made accessible for all, including for the disabled and the elderly, in 2008, it earned more revenue than Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb put together. Stressing the need for universal accessible design for all across the country including Kerala, she said Kerala is really God’s Own Country. “We’d like the God’s Own Country to be available just like God to each one of us,” she said.