Croeso i Bawb

A new accessibility scheme for tourism and hospitality businesses in Wales

Croeso i Bawb is a new scheme. It will support tourism and hospitality businesses create more accessible and inclusive visitor environments.

The scheme will fund physical improvements that remove barriers for visitors. These changes can make visits easier for people with a wide range of needs.

The scheme encourages businesses to go beyond legal requirements. It supports practical changes that improve access and inclusion.

This scheme been created in collaboration with Wales-based not-for-profit PIWS. Davina Carey-Evans, from PIWS, said:

At PIWS, we are pleased to contribute our lived experience expertise to support the development of this scheme. The most effective accessibility improvements come from listening to disabled people and using their insight to create innovative, inclusive environments.Accessibility is not just a legal requirement; it is a strategic investment. By investing in accessible premises and facilities, tourism businesses can enhance customer satisfaction, support and retain staff, attract new markets, and generate a measurable return on investment, while helping to make Wales a truly welcoming destination for everyone.

Funding will be available for capital projects. These projects must improve access to tourism and hospitality facilities. The aim is to make tourism in Wales welcoming for everyone.

Why accessibility matters

Disabled visitors and their companions account for around one quarter of visitors to Wales.
More than £1.1bn visitor expenditure in 2024.
Accessible tourism could grow further if barriers are removed.
83% of disabled people have decided not to visit a business because it appeared inaccessible or unwelcoming.
Around 25% of overnight holiday trips to Wales include someone with an impairment or access need.

Accessibility is about more than physical access. Visitors have different needs. These may relate to mobility, sight, hearing, sensory processing or neurodiversity.

Croeso i Bawb encourages businesses to think about accessibility at every stage of the visitor journey. This includes finding information, making a booking, arriving, enjoying the experience and returning home.

Improving accessibility helps more people enjoy Wales with confidence, including:

disabled visitors,
older people,
families with young children, and
people recovering from illness or injury.

By improving accessibility, businesses can:

Reach new and growing visitor markets
Improve customer satisfaction and loyalty
Enhance their reputation as welcoming and inclusive destinations
Deliver benefits for both visitors and local communities

Discover practical guidance, inspiration and resources to help you create more inclusive experiences and ensure more people can enjoy everything Wales has to offer - Accessible tourism: Creating experiences for everyone | Industry

What could the scheme support?

We welcome bold and inventive ideas, as well as simple practical improvements, that can help make visitor experiences more accessible, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone. Examples of potential improvements may include:

Accessible bedrooms and bathrooms
Platform or stair lifts / Improved step-free access
Automatic or widened doorways
Accessible reception and service areas
Enhanced hearing support facilities
Changing Places toilets and associated facilities
Accessible outdoor seating, viewing areas and visitor routes
Enhanced wayfinding through clear, accessible signage, including tactile and high-contrast signage
Quiet or sensory-friendly spaces to support visitors who benefit from a calmer environment
Accessible picnic areas, visitor information points and interpretation features
Adaptations to leisure, activity or visitor experience areas to enable more people to take part and enjoy the experience
Accessible parking and improved routes between parking areas and visitor facilities
Physical improvements that support visitors with visual, hearing, mobility or neurodiverse access requirements
Other capital improvements that remove barriers and create a more inclusive visitor experience

The scheme will help businesses make practical, high-quality improvements. These changes will help more people access and enjoy tourism and hospitality experiences across Wales.

The Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, said:

A quarter of all visitors to Wales are disabled; if Wales says 'croeso' to the world, that word cannot come with small print - the welcome to Wales must be real for everyone.It must hold true for disabled visitors, neurodivergent visitors and people with hidden conditions and barriers. That's why we are launching Croeso i Bawb, to help tourism and hospitality businesses open their doors wider still.Accessibility is good business, but, more than that, it is simply what 'hospitality' means.

Further information can be found on the Croeso i Bawb section of the funding page: