Is your tour and activity website unintentionally driving customers away? The European Accessibility Act (EAA), enforceable since late June 2025, is prompting professionals in our sector to reconsider their approach. Rather than viewing it as merely another regulatory requirement, consider the EAA a strategic opening to fling your digital doors wider than ever. It’s a genuine opportunity to expand your customer base, improve the online experience for all visitors, and ensure your business is prepared for an increasingly inclusive world.
To many, “accessibility legislation” may sound daunting, if not boring. But what if embracing the EAA could be a brilliant business move, potentially unlocking a market of an estimated 135 million people with disabilities in the EU?
In this guide, we aim to provide you with:
- Answers to common queries, from the EAA’s applicability in specific regions to the implications of non-compliance.
- A straightforward explanation of what the Act entails for tour and activity providers.
- Clear, actionable steps and best practices to help you meet EAA standards.
- An insight into how innovative tools – such as Regiondo’s EAA-compliant booking widgets and website builder – can help you achieve compliance quickly and easily.
Curious to learn more? Let’s jump right in! 
European Accessibility Act: All Your Questions Answered
What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The EAA, an EU directive established in 2019, is a common set of accessibility rules for all member states. Think of it as a “single accessibility rulebook” for the EU. Its core mission is twofold: ensuring that people with disabilities can seamlessly use everyday products and services (including websites, booking platforms, devices, and apps), and simplifying regulation by harmonising differing national standards.
Who does the European Accessibility Act 2025 apply to?
The Act casts a wide net, covering products and services that are essential for people with disabilities. For the tour and activity sector, the spotlight is on your consumer-facing online platforms. This means that your booking websites and mobile booking apps are directly within the scope of the EAA.
Generally speaking, the EAA applies to companies offering these products or services to consumers within the EU, regardless of the business’s location. This is a crucial point: If you market to EU customers online, the EAA is relevant to you.
Does the European Accessibility Act 2025 Apply to the UK?
This is a common question, and the answer has a few layers. The premise is that post-Brexit, the UK is not legally required to incorporate the EAA into its domestic law. Instead, the UK has its own accessibility legislation, primarily the Equality Act of 2010 and the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations of 2018.
However, the situation becomes more complex for UK-based tour and activity operators who serve EU customers. As mentioned in the previous section, if your company sells tours or activities to EU consumers online, you must comply with the EAA for those services. The EAA is concerned with where your consumers are located, not where your headquarters are. Maintaining two different website standards would be impractical, and adopting EAA guidelines benefits all users while aligning with the spirit of UK equality laws.
Does the EAA apply to other non-EU countries (e.g., US, Canada, Australia)?
Yes, it does. The same principle that applies to UK-based businesses extends to any company offering services to EU residents, regardless of the company’s headquarters location.
If your tour and activity business is based in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or any other non-EU country, and you market and sell your services to EU consumers, those services must comply with the European Accessibility Act. In essence, the scope of the EAA is determined by your customers’ location, not your own.
Are small businesses required to comply with the European Accessibility Act?
The EAA offers an exemption for microenterprises, specifically service providers with fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover of less than two million euros. This means that if your business fits this description, it is not required to meet the EAA’s accessibility requirements. However, note that EU countries may include microenterprises in their national legislation. In addition, even if you are exempt, it is wise to voluntarily comply, as doing so enhances the user experience and allows you to tap into a broader customer base.
When does the European Accessibility Act apply?
The critical date for your calendar is June 28, 2025. From this day, products and services introduced to the market or offered to consumers in the EU must meet the EAA’s accessibility standards. There’s no indication of any last-minute extensions; businesses have had since 2019 to prepare.
Is there a grace period for the EU Accessibility Act?
The primary enforcement date of June 28, 2025, is firm for new or updated services. However, the EAA includes some transitional provisions.
- Existing services (pre-June 2025): If your service or platform was operational before June 28, 2025, and hasn’t been significantly updated, you may continue using it until it’s updated or until June 28, 2030, whichever comes first. This five-year extension applies only if no major changes are made; any substantive update after June 2025 triggers immediate compliance needs.
- Legacy self-service terminals: Physical kiosks (like ticket machines) installed before 2025 have a much longer grace period, until 2045 or their end-of-life, due to long replacement cycles. This is unlikely to affect most tour operators.
It’s important to note that this “grace period” for existing services does not mean you can ignore accessibility. Most businesses will update their websites well before 2030, so proactive incorporation of accessibility features is the most sensible strategy.
What are the penalties for not complying with the European Accessibility Act?
Honestly, not complying isn’t worth the risk. In fact, each EU country will establish its own enforcement bodies and penalties. These can include:
- Fines: These can vary significantly by country, potentially ranging from a few thousand euros to €50,000 or even €100,000+ for serious violations.
- Recurring penalties: Daily fines may be imposed for failure to rectify issues, sometimes up to €1,000 per day.
- Percentage-of-revenue fines: For larger companies, some countries might levy fines based on annual turnover, potentially up to 5%.
- Other measures: Public notices of infringement (naming and shaming), orders to stop offering the non-compliant service, or even temporary operational prohibitions are possible.
Beyond direct financial penalties, be aware of the reputational damage and legal risks of lawsuits from advocacy groups or individuals. Moreover, an inaccessible website can deter a significant customer segment and send the wrong message.
EAA Compliance for Websites and Digital Services: Key Principles
The European Accessibility Act aims to ensure that your online services are easily accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. How can you tell if your website meets this goal?
Rather than creating a new, complicated rulebook, the EAA refers to an existing set of internationally recognised guidelines known as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which serve as a “how-to” guide for making web content accessible.
The EAA’s target is WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Note that these guidelines are updated periodically, and an update to WCAG 2.2 is anticipated. The EU has an official standard, EN 301 549, that essentially gives WCAG its seal of approval as the technical benchmark for the EAA.
In plain English: If your website adheres to the WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines, it will meet the EAA’s web accessibility requirements. It’s the most straightforward path to compliance.
Here’s a breakdown of what that means for your tour or activity website:
- Perceivability: Information must be presented in a way that can be perceived by all users. For example, descriptive alt text makes images accessible to people who use screen readers. Other examples include providing captions or transcripts for videos and ensuring that colour-coded text is not the only means of conveying information.
- Operability: All interactive elements and navigation interfaces must be usable by everyone. Full keyboard accessibility is paramount. For instance, ask yourself if users can book a tour without a mouse. Other considerations include providing clear labels for the forms within your website, and text error messages for screen readers.
- Understandability: Your website’s content and interface must be easy to understand and predictable. We recommend using plain language and ensuring consistent navigation. If your booking process involves multiple steps, guide users with unambiguous prompts.
- Robustness: Your site or app should function reliably with various devices and assistive technologies, such as screen readers and voice input. Adhering to modern web standards (HTML5, ARIA roles) is key here.
Additionally, the EAA has one specific, practical requirement: the Accessibility Statement. This is typically a separate page on your website where you publicly declare your site’s level of compliance with accessibility standards (such as “WCAG 2.1 AA”), detail any limitations, and provide contact information for reporting accessibility issues.
Best Practices for Digital Accessibility: Tips for Tour and Activity Providers
Let’s reiterate for emphasis: Meeting EAA standards means more than just complying with a regulation; it’s about providing superior customer service. Below is a brief checklist on how to make your digital offerings truly accessible, largely based on the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines:
- Describe images and media: Write short descriptions (“alt text”) for all images. Add on-screen text (captions) for videos, as well as written transcripts for audio content.
- Ensure sufficient colour contrast: It is essential to ensure that the text has good contrast with its background, making it easy to read. Do not rely on colour alone to convey important information.
- Allow keyboard-only use: Ensure that your entire website is accessible using only a keyboard for those who cannot use a mouse. Clearly indicate what is selected with the keyboard, and prevent users from getting stuck.
- Make forms user-friendly: Label all form fields (e.g., “Name,” “Email”). Provide clear instructions, and use text-based error messages to make it easy to identify and fix errors.
- Structure content with headings: Use headings and subheadings to organise your page content like an outline. This makes it easier for everyone to understand and navigate the information.
- Keep the design consistent: Use a consistent layout and menu style across all pages of your site. This helps users feel comfortable and find what they need without getting confused.
- Make special features accessible: Ensure that interactive elements, such as date pickers, photo slideshows, and maps, are easy for everyone to use. Provide keyboard alternatives and controls (e.g., pause/play) for any moving content.
- Be mindful of time and auto-play: Give users enough time to complete online tasks, or offer ways to extend time limits. Avoid using sounds or videos that play automatically. If you must use them, provide clear stop controls.
- Test your site: Use online tools to check for accessibility issues. Also, try using your site with only a keyboard or with a screen reader, which is software that reads web pages aloud. The most valuable feedback comes directly from users with disabilities.
- Keep learning and improving: Website accessibility isn’t a one-time fix; it’s an ongoing effort. Stay updated on accessibility guidelines, such as WCAG, and regularly work on improving your site.
EAA Compliance with Regiondo: An Easy Solution for Tour and Activity Operators
Feeling overwhelmed? The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. Regiondo is an all-in-one booking solution for tour and activity providers that is committed to making EAA compliance as painless as possible.
- Regiondo Booking Widgets are natively EAA-compliant: Unlike other booking systems still struggling to adapt, our embeddable booking widgets are built with accessibility at their core. We’re currently the only provider offering a booking experience that’s fully aligned with EAA requirements out of the box: from proper form labels and seamless keyboard navigation to clean, readable fonts and high-contrast design, every detail complies with modern accessibility standards. With Regiondo, your booking process is future-ready.
- Build accessible websites with ease thanks to the Regiondo Website Builder: If you use Regiondo’s website builder, you have a significant head start. Our templates and CMS follow accessibility best practices, enabling you to build an EAA-compliant website without being a coding expert. Features like proper heading structures and easy alt text implementation are already built in.
- Continuous updates and dedicated support: As accessibility standards evolve, Regiondo updates its widgets and templates to ensure ongoing compliance. Additionally, our support team can guide you in overcoming all your accessibility-related issues.
In short, with Regiondo’s EAA-compliant solutions, you can save time and resources while focusing on providing unforgettable experiences, as we handle the technical aspects of establishing an inclusive online presence.
Conclusion
With the European Accessibility Act actively shaping the digital tourism experience, operators have a distinct opportunity to prioritize inclusivity. Proactively incorporating accessibility into your online presence ensures compliance, avoids fines, and significantly expands your audience while enhancing your business’s reputation.
Ready to embrace a more accessible future? Here’s your action plan:
- Audit your current website: Evaluate it against the EAA/WCAG 2.1 AA criteria. Address any gaps before the June 28, 2025, deadline.
- Leverage Regiondo’s EAA-ready solution: See how our booking widget and website builder can simplify your path to compliance.
- Stay informed and continuously improve: Accessibility is an ongoing commitment. Keep learning and gathering user feedback.
With the European Accessibility Act in effect, now is the perfect time to ensure that your tours and activities are truly open and accessible to everyone. Regiondo is here to support you every step of the way, from providing compliant technology to offering expert assistance. Would you like to see our EAA-compatible solutions in action? Schedule your free demo today, and discover how we can empower you to create better experiences for all your customers.
