Accessible tourism is currently one of the fastest-growing segments in the global industry, with a market of travelers with disabilities that, according to the World Tourism Organization, exceeds one billion people worldwide. Panama possesses the assets to lead the region—biodiversity, vibrant culture and geographic proximity.
Preparing the Experience for Travelers with Disabilities from the United Kingdom
Developing and creating an accessible coffee experience for people with disabilities requires special preparation. Six months before the arrival in Boquete of a group of 15 travelers from the United Kingdom—11 of whom are blind, have low vision, or are blind with autism—Ana Maria de Lindsay was there, literally, with her hands in the soil.
All with one objective: to confirm whether the experience of a coffee farm could be “expressed” and understood through the senses. The working method that has made Travel Panama Accesible one of the leading operators in inclusive tourism experiences in Latin America.
Guaranteeing the Success of the Touristic Activity
When the Seable Holidays group toured the selected farm, the experience flowed with a naturalness that only rigorous design allows. The day concluded with an immersive tasting of freshly milled coffee, guided by descriptors that never relied on a simple “look at this”.
“The fluidity wasn’t intuition. It was the result of a thorough inspection, accessibility, and an adapted design”, summarizes Ana Maria. At Travel Panama Accesible, they have developed their own multisensory evaluation methodology with which they audit each destination based on real-world stimuli and the proprioceptive-vestibular system—balance, spatial orientation, and safe mobility on uneven terrain.
Seable Holidays: “Panama is one of the Most Accessible Destinations”
The result speaks for itself, according to those who have evaluated accessibility destinations for over a decade: “I have been extremely impressed by the level of preparedness regarding accessibility for our blind clients. Tactile models, sensory experiences, hands-on workshops, friendly people, and a beautiful country and culture. One of the most accessible destinations we have been to in 13 years of operation”, says Damiano La Rocca, founder of Seable Holidays.
16-Day Tour Across Panama
Coffee was one of several activities within a 16-day tour through various provinces of Panama. The Travel Panama Accessible team sensorially adapted the traditional Cutarra workshop, restructured the Embera, Congo and folk dances to make them perceptible without sight, and designed the sea turtle watching in Mata Oscura under the same criteria of continuous accessibility.
Photos courtesy: Ana Maria Lindsay – Travel Panama Accesible