• Caritas Macau established Accessible Travel Agency in 2021, introducing accessible buses.
• As of June this year, Healthy Travel Agency has rented out accessible transportation 77 times, serving over 500 passengers.

As an international tourist city, creating a barrier-free travelling environment has become an important part of perfecting the development of Macau’s tourism industry. In addition to the government’s promotion, Caritas Macau also established a social enterprise project, “Accessible Travel Agency”, in 2021 to introduce accessible buses to provide thoughtful services for residents and tourists. This initiative fully supports Macau’s goal of becoming an accessible tourism city.

“Conventional tourist buses cannot meet the needs of these groups, while Accessible Travel Agency focuses on accessible buses and combines local multicultural elements to offer unique tourist routes, allowing more people to experience Macau’s unique charm,” said Ben Wong, Development Supervisor of Accessible Travel Agency.

Wong added that accessible tourism has been one of Macau’s key development priorities in recent years, particularly targeting elderly individuals with mobility challenges and people with disabilities.

Founded nearly four years ago, Accessible Travel Agency primarily provides information on suitable accessible tour routes and, based on customer needs, offers transportation services such as booking tour vehicles, hotels, restaurants and similar venues.

Wong pointed out that Accessible Travel Agency not only serves tourists from neighboring areas such as Zhuhai and Hong Kong but also actively provides tourism services to local residents.

As of June this year, Accessible Travel Agency has rented out accessible transportation vehicles 77 times, accommodated 23 tour groups and served over 500 passengers. Last month, the agency also organized a tour to Hainan for elderly and disabled individuals affiliated with Caritas.

“Accessible Travel Agency plans to strengthen cooperation with various sectors in Macau to further enhance its visibility and attract more people to learn about and utilize accessible tourism services,” Wong said.

Looking ahead, Wong said he hopes more people will become aware of Accessible Travel Agency’s services, enabling individuals with mobility challenges to explore Macau with ease and enjoy the joys of travel.