When it comes to travel, it’s often hard to know where to begin with helping plus size travellers feel as though they belong. From the ever-shrinking small seats on planes to weight restrictions for excursions, there are a lot of ways in which plus size passengers are not made to feel welcome in the travel industry. Believe me, I have experienced it first-hand more times than I could possibly count.
While I don’t personally know all of the answers when it comes to making the travel industry more accessible to plus size travellers, I do know that there is a lot of work to be done.
Is technology the answer?
In a world that relies heavily on technology, I believe that it is going to play a huge part in making the plus size travel industry accessible in both the near and far future. We see glimpses of it now with plus size friendly transport options developed by various different automotive vision systems and seat guidance on sites like SeatGuru, so it’s clear that technology is already becoming a great tool for plus size travellers.
But what do I think technology could do for us? Well, honestly, the possibilities are endless. While I could talk for HOURS about this, I thought I would share some of the ways in which I think technology could help us in the future.
Weight-Limits
One of the most common issues plus size people have when it comes to travel is knowing the weight limits for certain excursions. From the rides at Disneyland to surfing lessons in Cornwall, there’s definitely not enough information available to those that need it. Technology, however, could help create a universal system that allows people to easily find out the weight limit of an activity, adding a little bit of consistency when it comes to these numbers. While not all kayak companies will have the same weight limits, it will be a great way to have an idea of what to expect before you arrive at your destination, helping relieve some of the anxiety you may be feeling.
Plus Size Friendly Products
I swear by plus size friendly products and most of them are technology based. From my handy neck fan to my cooling towel, I’m always carrying gadgets around that are designed to help me feel much more comfortable when I travel.
While there are already a number of things on the market that I recommend to plus size travellers every time they ask, I can only see this list increasing as the technology sector starts to grow. I don’t *quite* know what products it would bring, but I do know that more and more gadgets are going to become available to us as the years go on.
More Information
While this isn’t quite a form of technology, I think over the next few years there will be a rise in resources for plus size travellers. For years there has been only a small amount of information available online and as the industry starts to grow, the amount of people sharing their experiences and advice.
What do you think technology could do for the plus size travel industry? Do you think it will help it or hinder it?
