Tourism operators 2027: how to become an accessible provider? Toerisme Vlaanderen A/A+ label, audit flow, subsidies and marketing

6 min read

Belgium's accessible tourism target group is more substantial than employers typically think: approx. 15% of the population has a disability, and together with companions + older travellers they represent 20-25% of the travel market. Yet accessible provision in Belgium is fragmented — and that is precisely where operators who position themselves as accessible can build a substantial competitive advantage.

This pillar is the complete deepdive for Belgian tourism operators.

📊 The business case — what is accessible tourism really worth?

Belgian figures

  • ~1.4 million people with a disability in Belgium
  • Together with companions: 2.5+ million active travel market consumers
  • Grey travel market (60+): overlapping accessibility needs, growing rapidly demographically
  • Cross-border: accessible travellers from the Netherlands, Germany, UK gladly visit Belgium as an accessible-friendly destination

Economic impact

  • Accessible visitors rarely travel alone — on average 2-4 people per booking
  • Higher average spending — more overnight stays, more attention to quality over price
  • Repeat bookings — if a stay is accessible + good, they return and also recommend within the accessible community
  • Lower seasonal peak — accessible travellers often avoid peak season (school holidays) → fills your shoulder season

🏷️ Toerisme Vlaanderen "Accessible label" A / A+

What is the label?

Toerisme Vlaanderen has an official Accessible label with two levels:

  • A (Accessible): suitable for wheelchair users who are independent — limited assistance possible
  • A+ (Fully accessible): suitable for wheelchair users who need additional assistance — higher standard

See toerismevlaanderen.be/toegankelijk for the complete criteria.

Audit process

Step 1: application to Toerisme Vlaanderen Step 2: professional on-site audit by a specialised auditor — measures physical accessibility (door widths, thresholds, sanitary facilities, parking, ramps) Step 3: report with mandatory adaptations for the label + recommended adaptations Step 4: carry out adaptations Step 5: re-audit → label awarded Step 6: inclusion in the official Toerisme Vlaanderen database

Audit cost: typically eligible for subsidy via the Toerisme Vlaanderen programmes themselves.

Walloon equivalent — Access-i

Wallonia has a comparable system via Access-i — access-i.be — with multi-disability classification (wheelchair, blind, deaf, cognitive).

💰 Subsidies for adaptation works

Flanders — Toerisme Vlaanderen subsidies

  • Adaptation subsidies for hotels/B&Bs/attractions that make their facilities accessible
  • Amount: variable per project — check current call at toerismevlaanderen.be
  • Also: subsidies for communication around accessible provision

Wallonia — CGT (Commissariat Général au Tourisme)

  • CGT subsidies for tourism operators implementing accessible projects
  • Combinable with AVIQ contributions if relevant

Federal + regional — VLAIO / SPW-économie

  • VLAIO (Flemish Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship) has an SME portfolio — usable for accessibility consultancy
  • SPW-économie (Wallonia) has comparable SME instruments

Tax deduction

  • Investment deduction for accessibility adaptations — ask advice from your accountant
  • 6% VAT rate for renovations (general rate) — often applicable to accessibility works

🏨 Concrete adaptations per sector

Hotel / B&B

  • Accessible room — minimum 1 per 20 rooms for hotels (legal standard). Features:
    • Door ≥ 90 cm wide
    • Turning circle 150 cm
    • Bed at wheelchair transfer height (45-50 cm)
    • Accessible bathroom: roll-in shower, grab bars, alarm cord, adjusted-height washbasin
    • Alarm cord reaching the floor
  • Accessible reception area — reception desk at wheelchair height
  • Accessible breakfast area — table height, buffet height
  • Accessible parking — minimum 1 accessible space

Restaurant / Hospitality

  • Accessible entrance — no threshold or ramp
  • Accessible tables — height + leg room for wheelchair
  • Accessible toilet — VAPH/Toerisme Vlaanderen standards
  • Accessible terrace (if applicable) — level, no high threshold at transition

Attraction / Museum

  • Accessible entrance + accessible ticket desk
  • Accessible route through the attraction
  • Accessible lift to multiple floors
  • Accessible seating along the way
  • Assistive tech — audio tour, tactile tour, sign language video, easy-read versions

Campsite / Holiday park

  • Accessible chalets/tent pitches with level access
  • Accessible sanitary blocks (not only general sanitary facilities)
  • Accessible swimming pool (if applicable) — lift, ramp
  • Accessible paths throughout the site

🎯 Marketing — how do you communicate your accessible provision?

1. Listing on Drempelvrij.be

2. Toerisme Vlaanderen / Access-i / Visit Wallonia

  • Accessible label = automatic inclusion in the official Toerisme Vlaanderen database
  • Access-i does the same for Wallonia
  • Great visibility for accessible travellers consulting official channels

3. Booking platforms

  • Booking.com has accessibility filters — fill them in with all details
  • Airbnb has accessibility verification for B&Bs
  • Expedia, Hotels.com, TripAdvisor — all have accessibility flags

4. Sector-specific platforms

  • Handitour, Access Guide, Wheelmap — international accessible-travel platforms
  • Dutch platforms (the Dutch are a large accessible travel market for Belgium): NOC-NSF, RolActief, etc.

5. Own website + SEO

  • Clear accessible page with specific details (not "accessible" without specifics):
    • Door widths, turning circles, sanitary details
    • Photos of accessible facilities
    • PRM parking plan
  • SEO optimisation for "accessible hotel [region]", "wheelchair B&B [city]", etc.
  • Blog posts about accessible experiences at your venue

6. Social media

  • Actively tag the accessible community (RolActief, Handicap International, etc.)
  • Testimonials from satisfied accessible guests
  • Before + after photos of adaptation works

👥 Staff training

Why essential

  • Physical facilities without customer-friendly staff = incomplete experience
  • Small details (offering assistance without patronising, talking to the person and not to the companion, knowing where accessible facilities are) make a big difference

Training options

  • Toerisme Vlaanderen offers staff training on hosting accessible guests
  • AVIQ and PHARE have comparable offerings in Wallonia/Brussels
  • Unia (federal): awareness materials + training
  • Internal training by accessibility consultants — ask Toerisme Vlaanderen for recommendations

📚 Toolkits for operators

🎯 Concrete steps — where to start?

Step 1: Self-audit (basics)

  • Entrance: threshold-free? Door wide enough?
  • Sanitary: accessible toilet present? Meets standards?
  • Rooms/tables: accessible available?
  • Parking: accessible space?

Step 2: Professional audit

  • Contact Toerisme Vlaanderen / Access-i / private auditor
  • Report with concrete adaptation priorities

Step 3: Budget + subsidy application

  • Apply for subsidies before adaptation works — this is generally a requirement
  • Combine multiple programmes (Toerisme Vlaanderen + VLAIO + tax)

Step 4: Carry out adaptation works

  • Work with contractors experienced in accessibility
  • Keep all invoices for subsidy processing

Step 5: Re-audit + certification

  • Toerisme Vlaanderen audit → label
  • Access-i audit → certification

Step 6: Marketing campaign

  • Update website, booking platforms, social media
  • Communicate your new label + accessible facilities
  • Add your business to Drempelvrij.be

Step 7: Staff training

  • Reception training for front desk + floor staff
  • Regular refresher sessions

🏆 Belgian best-practice examples

Hotels/B&Bs with strong accessible practice

See our Accessible B&Bs Flanders deepdive and Ardennes-Wallonia accommodation pillar for Belgian best practices.

Attractions with strong accessible practice

Our Museums per province deepdive shows which Belgian museums score excellently.

Combine with other pillars

Finally

Accessible tourism in Belgium is a substantial market with limited provision — this makes it a competitive advantage for operators who position themselves early. The Toerisme Vlaanderen A/A+ label + Access-i in Wallonia provide official recognition with additional visibility.

Our recommendation for tourism operators wanting to start: do a self-audit + contact Toerisme Vlaanderen or Access-i for a professional audit. The path to accessible certification is achievable, eligible for subsidy and pays off through a growing + loyal accessible target group.

Are you an operator with an accessible story to share? Let us know — we'll gladly add you to our database and help with communication towards the accessible community.

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