Envoyage has backed Hands of the World in offering an Australian-first Auslan-guided tour to Japan, opening up accessible travel options for the Deaf community as part of Australia’s $29.2 billion accessible tourism sector.
Envoyage provided marketing and business development support to launch the group tour for Hands of the World, one of its independent travel network members, which was established to reduce barriers for Deaf and hard-of-hearing travellers in Australia.
The company’s inaugural Auslan-guided tour to Japan was purpose-designed to provide real-time access to information, culture and community in the travellers’ first language, Auslan.
The itinerary was tailored to the specific needs of Deaf travellers and included culturally immersive experiences, such as a visit to a Japanese Deaf café, allowing guests to connect directly with locals through sign language.
Hands of the World owner Tonya Kelly said: “Every Auslan-guided tour is supported by a qualified interpreter and support worker, ensuring access to information, public transport and meaningful engagement with the people and culture of each destination.”
Kelly said Envoyage’s support allowed the company to build awareness, trust and confidence in a new product among the Deaf community.
“It also meant we could focus on individual experiences and remove barriers that might otherwise have stopped people from participating.”
Envoyage Australia General Manager Nick Queale said the initiative aligned strongly with the global network’s commitment to inclusive and specialist travel.
“We have members operating in niche markets, whether that’s special-interest travel or serving specific demographics,” he said.
“Specialised businesses like these require more time and deeper client engagement to truly understand individual needs, and that’s where Envoyage’s support model delivers real value.”
Further Auslan-led group tours are already in development with a Sri Lanka departure scheduled for March 2026, followed by Vietnam and Cambodia tours later in the year.
Find out more at handsoftheworld.au
