Accessible Tourism: Find funding to level the playing field at your attraction

Tourism is about connection and welcoming people into places, stories and experiences that leave a lasting impression. To truly live up to that promise, tourism experiences must be accessible for everyone.

Accessibility is often framed in terms of compliance, but at its heart, it’s about inclusion. It’s about recognizing that people experience the world in different ways and ensuring that visitors, employees and community members can participate fully. For Manitoba’s tourism industry, accessibility is not only a legal responsibility, it’s an opportunity to strengthen experiences, reach new audiences and reflect the values that make this province such a welcoming place to visit.

Accessibility refers to the design of spaces, services, communications and experiences so they can be used by people of all abilities. This includes people who are blind or have low vision, Deaf or hard of hearing, people with mobility challenges, cognitive disabilities, sensory sensitivities and many others.

Accessible design often leads to better experiences for everyone. Clear signage, intuitive websites, well-trained staff and thoughtfully designed spaces benefit all visitors, not just those with disabilities. In many cases, accessibility improvements also increase operational efficiency, improve customer satisfaction and build trust with audiences.

In Manitoba, accessibility is also guided by legislation. The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) outlines standards for workplaces, customer service, transportation, information and communication and the design of outdoor public spaces. These standards exist to remove barriers and ensure people of all abilities can participate fully in daily life, including travel and tourism experiences.

For many tourism businesses and organizations, questions about cost, technical requirements or where to start can feel overwhelming. The Manitoba Accessibility Fund (MAF) is available to Manitoba businesses and has provided more than $3 million in funding to 142 projects across the province since it began in 2021, helping organizations improve compliance with the Accessibility for Manitobans Act and remove barriers for people with disabilities.

The Manitoba Accessibility Fund offers one-time, project-based grants to municipalities, non-profit organizations and businesses. Funded projects can include:

• Website and digital accessibility improvements
• Tools and technology to improve access to information and communication
• Programs and events that raise awareness about accessibility barriers
• Training, resources and capacity-building initiatives
• Projects that support compliance with AMA standards
• These investments are helping tourism operators move from intention to action.

The Accessibility Fund will officially open and the intake will run January 12-February 20, 2026 allowing tourism operators an opportunity to apply for funding to move accessibility projects forward with a maximum request of up to $50,000 per project.

Full program details and updates can be found here.

Across the province, organizations of all sizes are using Manitoba Accessibility Fund support to make meaningful, lasting improvements and tourism attractions are no different. While smaller non-profits like Friends of Dalnavert Museum and the Living Prairie Museum have benefitted from the program in 2025, larger institutions are also demonstrating what’s possible when accessibility is embedded into long-term planning. Here are two examples of tourism operations that are prioritizing accessibility for all.

The Manitoba Museum

Non-profit organization | Funding: $41,800

The Manitoba Museum is taking a multi-faceted approach to accessibility that enhances inclusion across both visitor experience and workplace practices. The project introduces the Aira app and digital wayfinding tools to support blind and low-vision visitors, improves website compatibility with assistive technologies, strengthens staff and volunteer training and embeds more inclusive hiring practices to build accessibility from within the organization. Together, these initiatives aim to remove barriers and foster a welcoming environment for visitors, employees and volunteers alike.

Winnipeg Airports Authority

Non-profit organization | Funding: $22,550

As a key gateway to Manitoba, Winnipeg’s James Richardson International Airport plays a critical role in shaping first and lasting impressions for visitors.

With support from the Manitoba Accessibility Fund, the Winnipeg Airports Authority is conducting a comprehensive accessibility audit to identify barriers and develop strategic, long-term solutions. This process includes engagement with staff, decision-makers and the mYWG Accessibility Committee, which brings together representatives from Manitoba Possible, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, St. Amant, Inclusion Winnipeg and individuals with lived experience.

The resulting report will guide ongoing accessibility improvements across airport operations and serve as a resource that other organizations across Manitoba can learn from.

AI was used in the creation of this blog