Svayam, KPMG Whitepaper Highlights $191 Billion Accessibility Market
Svayam, India’s leading accessibility organization, in collaboration with KPMG, has released a new whitepaper titled “Does Accessibility Make Economic Sense?” examining how accessibility can drive economic value across tourism, sports, transport, and information and communication technology (ICT).
The report identifies accessibility as a key economic factor, emphasizing that nearly 34 percent of India's population—more than 486 million individuals—face mobility challenges, which encompass not just individuals with disabilities but also seniors, caregivers, and those with temporary or situational constraints. When examined at the household level, the effect reaches almost half the population, highlighting the magnitude of the problem.
It estimates that $ 191 billion (Rs.16.08 lakh crore) in economic value remains unrealised across the four sectors analysed, driven by gaps in infrastructure, services, transport systems, and digital access.
Across sectors, the findings point to clear economic upside. In tourism, 191.8 million people face barriers to travel, translating into an additional $ 16.6 billion (Rs.1.39 lakh crore) in potential revenue if accessibility improves.
The report further highlights that structured inclusion of accessible rooms as a defined category, along with reliable and standardized data on accessibility features across hotels, tourist attractions, and religious destinations, can significantly strengthen tourism demand. Limited availability of such information continues to deter travel for people with reduced mobility, who often avoids destinations due to uncertainty around facilities and services.
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The whitepaper highlights that accessibility should not be limited to a restrictive definition solely associated with disability.
Naveen Aggarwal, Partner, KPMG, builds on the economic significance of accessibility, noting, “Accessibility at its core is an economic enabler. When everyday systems are designed to include everyone, nearly 34 percent of Indians can participate more fully in economic life, as workers, consumers, and contributors. That means better productivity, stronger demand, and infrastructure that delivers for more people."
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"At this scale, accessibility shapes how India grows and who gets to grow with it. Embedding it into national planning is essential to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, one that works for people as they are, at every stage of life and in every part of the country,” adds Naveen.
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Tina Mathur, Associate Partner, G&PS, KPMG, adds to this perspective the broader development impact, adding, “Investing in accessibility creates shared progress across the Sustainable Development Goals. When infrastructure, services, and digital systems are accessible, more people can work, travel, learn, and contribute productively. This expands livelihoods across age groups and communities, strengthens workforce participation, and improves the returns on public and private investment. Accessibility, when planned upfront, becomes a powerful driver of inclusive and resilient growth.”