Infographics are on an upward trend on TV and media, but often not accessible to visually impaired readers. It is therefore important to keep alternative formats in mind
Infographics are everywhere: The bite-sized pieces of information are served on a wide range of topics, with eye-catching illustrations, stats and diagrams to make the information more digestible. That's fine, unless your readers are visually impaired. Then they miss the whole message.
As an accessible tourism supplier, you might create an infographic about your accomodation or service, or the region you are based in. When doing so, you should pay attention to providing alternative formats, with voice and/or text-based versions.
It takes hardly any effort to place a link to a text file. You probably have the text written down in a digital format anyway, so make it available to those who cannot see your graphic!
A text version is also searchable by search engines - graphics are not so easily recognised, so you will reach more audiences with text.
Screen readers, which are technical tools used by people with visual impairments, can read text but not graphics so, again, an alternative text version makes sense.
When ENAT - the European Network for Accessible Tourism - received the infographic "What kind of a City Break Traveller Are You?" from SunSearchHolidays.ie (depicted above), it had no alternative text. Therefore, they asked its Director, Peter Corcoran, if he would be ready to send a text-only version, to get the message across to everyone. He was happy to do so, writing:
"Thank you for coming back to me and it is lovely to be dealing with you. I really appreciate you taking the time to point this out to me and yes, absolutely, we can provide a text only version of this infographic. Please find this attached in plain text on a word doc. I do hope this is suitable for your readers."
Below you can find the transcript:
What Kind of City Break Traveller Are You?
An infographic representation of the best European city breaks in 2015 broken down by personal interest including the history lover, foodie, fashionista, architecture lover, sun worshipper and culture vulture. Compiled by Sunsearch Holidays.
The beauty of a city break is that it can be different things for different people.
History Lover
You long to stroll through the streets of a city to discover famous landmarks that you previously only read about…
Where to travel for 2015…Berlin, Germany
Why? Berlin has many sights to take in and you may need more than a weekend.
Great photo opportunity...For a photo opp that captures a slice of Berlin history, head for the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall, which runs parallel to the river Spree along Mühlenstraße.
Top Tip! A walking tour is one of the best ways to see the sights – the Berlin Wall, stand above the site of Hitler’s bunker, walk through the Brandenburg Gate and stroll through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
Foodie
Where to travel for 2015…Lyon, France
Why? Paul Bocuse, the pioneer of nouvelle cuisine is a dominant presence in Lyon and it makes the city the gastronomic capital of France.
Great photo opportunity…Fourviére Hill. The original Lyon was founded by the Romans on Fourviere Hill. At its height it was probably the major Roman city outside the Italian peninsula.
Top Tip! Stock up on cheese, charcuterie and praline tarts at the weekend food market on Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse.
Fashionista
Where to travel for 2015…Milan, Italy
Why? It is known as Italy’s fashion and design capital.
Great photo opportunity…The Duomo, Milan's magnificent Gothic cathedral is the third biggest church in Europe.
Top Tip! If you limit yourself to the city centre, you’ll find it very compact and easy to walk around to many places.
Architecture Lover
Where to travel for 2015…Seville, Spain
Why? Easily explored on foot, Seville is peppered with spectacular architecture.
Great photo opportunity…Anywhere along the Guadalquivir river which flows through the heart of the city
Top Tip! It is said that the small tasty bites known as tapas were invented in Seville, so definitely test them out.
Sun Worshipper
Where to travel for 2015…Venice, Italy
Why? Most tourists don’t realise the beautiful beaches that lie close to the floating city.
Great photo opportunity…Who wouldn’t want a photo in a gondola!
Top Tip! At Venice Lido, sandy beaches take up about half the Adriatic side of the island. The majority are private and hotel-owned but there are free beaches at the northern and southern ends.
Culture Vulture
Where to travel for 2015…Amsterdam, Holland
Why? The names of Van Gogh and Anne Frank are synonymous with the city. Van Gogh is celebrated with an art museum by his name containing many works by the famous artist.
Great photo opportunity…The Golden Bend, the classic stretch of the canal, is flanked by classic Dutch architecture.
Top Tip! The Modern Art Museum and Rijksmuseum are a must for art lovers.
Sources of information:
AOL Travel News
The Telegraph
Virtual Tourist
The Independent
TNT Magazine
Travel Supermarket.
[End].
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