Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has launched Singapore’s first accessible beach track and a series of inclusive tours led by persons with disabilities (PwDs), marking a significant milestone in its commitment to becoming a more inclusive tourist destination.
The accessible beach track and inclusive tours are part of SDC’s broader vision to be an inclusive tourism destination and workplace that caters to the diverse needs of all visitors and colleagues. It also aligns with SDC’s accessibility approach to holistically consider island infrastructure, offerings and programming to the specialised training of employees to assimilate guests and colleagues who are differently abled.
The new accessible beach track is designed to welcome visitors with mobility challenges. It features a 23-metre-long slip-resistant and sturdy surface that extends from Emerald Pavilion across the picturesque Siloso Beach, ensuring that guests of all abilities, including strollers, can have a means to access the beach and the sand. Accessible restrooms and amenities are placed along the route.
The track will be trialled from now until October 31, 2024. Visitor feedback will be collected via a QR code located near the track, which will help SDC to further assess its feasibility of scaling up on other beaches on the island.
Complementing the island’s first accessible beach track, SDC also recently introduced the Sentosa Wheel Venture Accessibility Tour, a five-hour adventure designed for and led by persons with disabilities. This first-of-its-kind tour, conducted in collaboration with local tour operator Tribe Tours, includes an accessible route to various attractions, such as Sentosa Nature Discovery and SkyHelix Sentosa.
Developments on Sentosa currently include accessible entrances, pathways and lifts across more than 30 locations on the island. Its latest attraction, Sentosa Sensoryscape, which made its public debut on March 14, incorporates low-gradient walks and lifts that benefit wheelchair users and parents with baby prams. These features are aligned with Universal Design guidelines.
The island destination also offers other inclusive activities, such as stand-up paddling at Ola Beach Club for persons with autism.
