The problem with Tourism for neurodiversity travel

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Hello Folks,

There seems to be some development in tourism providers to help with smoothing the way for
better travel experiences, but then you hear other stories where the provision is horrendous.
The world appearing strange and hostile in some cases.

I work in tourism so was hoping to hear stories that might help the cause for better inclusion.

Sounds a bit of a gimmick or aimed at parents of autistic children maybe.

Truth is most autistic people are unable to live independently so for them the prospects of getting on a plane and flying somewhere having to deal with all the stress of unexpected scenarios and sensory issues overload by themselves is not realistic.

Maybe some adults go on holiday with their parents which is the first point I made

The problem I find is that many autistic people have difficulty feeling comfortable in their own homes and own communities, let alone travelling somewhere new with all the variables that will include. Many of us feel like we need a guide or support personnel just to get through our daily lives, despite the fact we don't have them. I know I'd like an assistant here in my house.

My experience of "masking", self-coaching, decision-making, adaptive flexibility, change of routine, sensory hell, social anxiety, and outright vulnerability is never worth the benefit of travel, especially now when we have the internet and I can view these places safely from afar.

Having agoraphobia makes everything that much worse. If I could conquer putting my trash out without waiting until it's pitch dark or having a few mini-panic attacks beforehand, I'd consider it a successful trip.

"I work in tourism" is not very specific. Can you elaborate?

I got none. Because I barely able to leave my city of birth, let alone the country.

Safety is an issue first and foremost, regardless of neurotypes.
Whether to sheer physical accessibility, environment hazards, or dubious, hostile parties and criminal forces.

No amount of assistance can overcome dangerous terrains, no amount of preparation can avoid weather and natural disasters, no amount of socialization practices would prevent theft or worse...
That level of street smarts is not the norm like some autistics would assume.


Second is the transitions and transactions...
Which is mostly communication and spatial navigation.
Any issues with executive function would have trouble with this. Knowing where and where not to go.
A trusted in between person or assistant who can talk their way out would do enough in this area.

Last is anything else; sensory experiences, certain preferences, trigger warnings, equipments for mobility... This is individual.
Sure, sensory friendly and perks, or ramps and embossed plates is good and all -- but that's not enough.

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If you can't live alone or hold down a job then solo travel seems unwise.

As high-functioning I'm still travel-impaired. I don't like to fly. It's not a phobia; I just find the experience of waiting in lines and sitting in cramped seats for hours to be unpleasant. A better rail system would help. Fortunately I'm quite happy to drive many places.

Besides the physical experience, driving also makes the transition feel slower and smoother from one place to another. Change is gradual on the road, as opposed to a plane where you might as well be teleported from one place to another, abruptly thrown into unfamiliar territory.

I have little interest in traveling to a foreign country, and no desire to go by myself. The unfamiliarity and language barrier are unnerving.

When I go on a trip I meticulously plan my itinerary, with numerous revisions before the final version. This overpreparation makes me feel comfortable, minimizes improvisation, and makes me well prepared in case I do need to improvise.

I've travelled all over Europe and US for business and pleasure. Apart from all the general niggles of travelling that bother autistics and nt's alike, it's not a problem for me. We are all different. The only thing I find a real bother that nt's don't is the lack of clarity and the ambiguity and inconsistency of information. This occurs with, as an example example, connecting flights on multiple airlines. It annoys me that the airlines and hotels haven't thought things through logically from the point of view of a customer.

It's not just autistics that have issues with travel. My neurotypical wife freaks out when we travel and needs a detailed itinerary and doesn't like cutting it fine. For me, the level of anxiety I feel while travelling is just the same as when going shopping or socialising: high and normal.

I do however find the prospect of being on a plane with this family depressing.

https://movingmountainsdaily.com/flying ... %20travels.