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The
information highway intersects with the open road with the introduction
of a new travel web site dedicated to finding destinations that
accommodate diverse travelers with needs that are often neglected
by the tourism industry.
The
Ample
Traveler provides a forum where travelers can share
information about their travel experiences and where the travel
industry can interact with often neglected traveling market segments,
travelers with particular needs.
"There
is room for everyone," is the motto of The Ample Traveler.
"When
businesses and organizations try to anticipate diverse needs,
they often concentrate on categories such as 'disabled', 'plus-sized',
or 'retired,'" explains Dr. Pattie Thomas, spokesperson
for The Ample Traveler. "We prefer to think in terms of
functionality. It is irrelevant why a travel needs a larger
chair or a smooth surface to enter a building. What matters
is that an industry that prides itself on making people more
comfortable should do so for everyone."
The
concept behind The Ample Traveler has three parts. Every month
a new destination is to be featured on the web site, highlighting
positive experiences on the road with restaurants, camping facilities,
motels, entertainment opportunities and so forth. Travelers
can share their own experiences via a travelers' forum called
Ample Ramblings. Membership is the forum is free.
The
long-term goal of the site is to create an innovative conversation
between travelers and the travel industry. Industry members
will be able to pose specific questions to the forum in order
to better understand the market and to provide more diverse
accommodations.
"Tourism
has suffered in the wake of recent recessions," says Thomas.
"Expanding the market to provide universal accessibility
for a diverse group of travelers is an opportunity for forward-thinking
tourism businesses that want to rebuild their market share.
We want to provide the place where the industry meets the market.
This is the great opportunity of the Internet. Businesses can
meet customers from around the world without leaving their office.
Customers can share information with each other and tell businesses
exactly what works and doesn't work for them"
(Source:
The
Ample Traveler)
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