Despite the high prevalence of hidden disabilities, only 17.9% of respondents repor ted travelling frequently to tourism and hospitality settings in Ireland. The majority (41.8%) travel occasionally, while 40.3% rarely or never travel, indicating significant barriers to accessibility and inclusion. Common reasons cited for limited travel include:
- Unpredictabilit y of new environments
- Lack of suitable facilities
- Fear of judgment from others
- Cost of specialized accommodations As one respondent explained: “We’d love to travel more, but the stress of managing unexpected situations in unfamiliar places often outweighs the benefits. We need to know that appropriate supports will be available.”
As one parent noted: “Having a child with sensory processing issues means we have to carefully plan every outing. It’s not as simple as just deciding to go somewhere on a whim.”
Another parent shared their experience with dining out: “Even something as simple as going to a restaurant becomes a major operation. The noise levels, waiting times, and reactions from other diners when my child becomes overwhelmed make us think twice about eating out. We often end up avoiding it altogether.”
