Austrade highlights iFLY’s success as an accessible attraction

February 23, 2023

Karen Sweaney

Access / Attractions / Tourism /

During 2022, the Accessible Tourism Mentoring Pilot Project managed by Austrade, helped tourism operators explore practical ways to improve inclusiveness. The pilot project received joint Commonwealth, State and Territory funding.

iFLY was one of the businesses involved in the pilot.

Improving the accessibility of tourism destinations and experiences is a priority of THRIVE 2030, the national long-term strategy for the visitor economy.

Barbara McCarthy, Head of Sales at iFLY says the pilot helped identify ways to further improve inclusiveness across the business.

McCarthy notes “one thing was diversity of employment, which we’ve already improved on. I hired an agency and we’ve brought someone on board who has a disability. She’s been amazing.

“We have invested in new flight suits with two full-length zippers. These are much easier for wheelchair users to put on. We’re also looking into hoists to further help this process.”

People with disability can attend any iFLY session. iFLY also holds tailored all-abilities events on the last Sunday of each month. They are very popular, attracting up to 30 people per session.

McCarthy adds “when people book, I always email and ask if there’s anything I need to do to make it a better experience for them. It might be turning down the music or lighting. It could be providing a quiet space to get changed into the flight suits. Whatever it is, I work with them.”

She also works with iFLY’s instructors to refine the experience for people with disability explaining “I get the instructors involved because they’re the people who actually fly with our guests. Their input is really important.”

iFLY has appointed an All-Abilities Ambassador to show there are no limits to who can fly. Greg Pinson has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. He has been flying since January 2022.

Pinson shares “I wanted to prove to myself that I could still have fun and do all kinds of activities despite being in a wheelchair. All the staff [at iFLY] were friendly, very helpful, and considerate of my and others’ needs.”

As an iFLY Ambassador, Pinson attends disability expos where he shares his insights into the experience.

Austrade note that supporting visitors with disability can give your business access to a growing market. Total domestic spend for accessible tourism groups was $13.5 billion in 2021. (Source: Tourism Research Australia.)

Accessibility is a key focus of THRIVE 2030 – Australia’s national strategy for the long-term sustainable growth of the visitor economy.

Image. Credit: iFLY

About the author

Karen Sweaney

Co-founder and Editor, Australasian Leisure Management

Artist, geoscientist and specialist writer on the leisure industry, Karen Sweaney is Editor and co-founder of Australasian Leisure Management.

Based in Sydney, Australia, her specific areas of interest include the arts, entertainment, the environment, fitness, tourism and wellness.

She has degrees in Fine Arts from the University of Sydney and Geological Oceanography from UNSW.

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