A new online training programme has been set up to help Scotland’s hotels, visitor attractions, pubs and restaurants better cater for the requirements of people with access needs during this summer’s Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014.

Scottish minister for tourism Fergus Ewing officially launched the first phase of the e-learning Accessible Tourism Course during a visit to Glasgow this week. With just a month to go until the Games, VisitScotland and its partners believe the programme will ensure all visitors to the city, regardless of their access needs, receive a world-class welcome.

Available free of charge, the initiative will be open to all Scottish businesses and is intended to make sites more user friendly for those with physical, sensory or learning disabilities, elderly visitors and parents with small children. Ryder Cup Europe has already agreed to use the course as part of its customer service training for marshalls and access buddies ahead of the global event taking place this September at Gleneagles Golf Course.

As well as promoting good practice, the training, which is split into four categories – accommodation, visitor attractions, restaurants and catering, and pubs and bars – will provide users with a better understanding of the requirements of this growing market.

Accessible tourism was recently valued at more than £370m (US$628m, €462m) to the Scottish economy, an increase of £37m (US$62.8m, €46.2m) since 2009. The rise demonstrates the huge potential economic benefits to hundreds of businesses and services across the country of catering for this market.

“This new online training programme will ensure we are fit for purpose and have services available that can accommodate all visitors to our country,” said tourism minister Fergus Ewing.

“Improving accessibility has real potential to help achieve tourism industry growth ambitions and boost the wider economy, as well as enhancing social equalities.”