How the travel industry is sensitising staff to cater to autistic tourists

The growing frequency of autism diagnoses and the gap in travel services for those dealing with autism created an overlooked market

When Nicole Thibault had her first child, she imagined travelling everywhere with him. But by age 2, he would become upset by simply passing a restaurant that smelled of garlic. Waiting in line elicited tantrums and crowded places overwhelmed him. Autism was diagnosed within the year.

“I thought maybe our family dream of travel wouldn’t happen,” said Ms. Thibault, 46, of Fairport, NY, who now has three children. But she spent the next three years learning to prepare her son for travel by watching videos of future destinations and attractions so that he would know what to expect. The preparation helped