Discover Who We Are,
Our Mission and Vision
What Drives Us
& Where We Are Headed
We align leading travel and event organizations around practical accessibility principles, shared tools, and coordinated action to transform how inclusive experiences are delivered.
Through this collective effort, we are building a global travel industry where accessibility is seamlessly integrated into every journey, enabling everyone to explore with confidence, dignity, and independence.
About GATA
The Global Accessible Travel Alliance (GATA) is a collaborative alliance of leading organizations across the global travel and events ecosystems working together to accelerate progress in accessible travel.
Around the world, significant work is already underway to improve accessibility. Industry associations, destinations, cruise lines, hotels, airports, tour operators, convention centers, event organizers, 'governments, and accessibility experts are each making important contributions.
However, many of these efforts occur independently. GATA exists to provide a forum where organizations can collaborate, align initiatives where appropriate, share knowledge, reduce unnecessary duplication, and identify opportunities to achieve greater impact together.
GATA is not intended to replace existing organizations or standards. Instead, it seeks to strengthen the work already being done by connecting leaders across sectors.
Why GATA?
Accessible travel represents one of the largest underserved opportunities within global tourism. More than 1.3 billion people worldwide live with disabilities, while hundreds of millions more experience temporary, age-related, or situational access needs. As populations age, demand for accessible travel continues to grow.
corporations, event organizers, investors, and travelers themselves.
Despite this momentum, many challenges remain:
- Accessibility information is inconsistent.
- Standards vary across sectors.
- Organizations often solve similar problems independently.
- Best practices are not widely shared.
- Travelers continue to encounter unnecessary barriers throughout their journeys.
Focus Areas
Alignment &
Frameworks
Standardizing accessibility guidelines and aligning practices across the global travel ecosystem.
Awareness &
Education
Fostering industry-wide understanding and capacity building through shared knowledge.⠀⠀
Research &
Intelligence
Quantifying the global market opportunity and gathering data-driven insights.⠀⠀⠀⠀
Innovation &
Implementation
Testing practical solutions, pilot programs, and enhancing events accessibility.ㅤ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Assurance &
Recognition
Establishing global benchmarking frameworks and celebrating leadership in accessibility.
More to
Come
Paving the way for upcoming projects, partnerships, and new focus areas.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Industry Collaboration
GATA is engaging in discussions across tourism, business travel, MICE, hospitality, cruise, and sustainability to encourage greater accessibility awareness, collaboration, and industry alignment.
The initiative is focused on supporting practical progress and stronger accessibility awareness throughout the global travel ecosystem.
A Global Opportunity
Accessibility is not only about compliance. It is also about improving traveler confidence, usability, customer experience, and long term industry growth.
As accessibility awareness continues to grow globally, collaboration across sectors will play an important role in shaping more inclusive and seamless travel experiences.
Founding Members
World Travel & Tourism Council | Travel and Tourism
The World Travel & Tourism Council represents the global private sector across Travel & Tourism and promotes the sector’s economic and social contribution. WTTC brings GATA the leadership, reach, and influence needed to establish accessibility as a global travel priority and business opportunity.
Global Sustainable Tourism Council | Sustainability
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council establishes and manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism. GSTC brings the expertise needed to position accessibility within the broader sustainability conversation and connect it with responsible destination management, community impact, and long-term tourism development.
World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance | Hospitality
The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance brings together leading hotel companies and partners from across the global hospitality industry. Its industry reach and experience driving collective action can help integrate accessibility into responsible hospitality practices throughout the guest journey.
Accessible Travel Solutions
Accessible Travel Solutions is a global accessibility consultancy founded by accessible travel expert and wheelchair user John Sage. ATS convened GATA to unite the travel and events industries around practical solutions that make accessibility easier to understand, implement, and communicate.