From Personal Experience to Purpose-Driven Innovation

For many people, travel is a way to create memories, but for millions of people with disabilities, it often remains an inaccessible dream. Neha Arora, Founder of Planet Abled, is changing that reality by building a travel company that makes tourism inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable for people of all abilities.

Born to parents with different disabilities, Neha grew up understanding the everyday challenges of accessibility firsthand. While working in the IT and telecom industry, she realized that despite financial independence, her family still couldn’t travel comfortably because destinations lacked proper accessibility. This realization became the foundation of Planet Abled.

Building India’s First Inclusive Travel Ecosystem

Founded over a decade ago, Planet Abled designs customized travel experiences for people with disabilities, senior citizens, and mixed groups of disabled and non-disabled travelers. Unlike traditional travel companies that focus on a single disability, Planet Abled caters to every accessibility need, from wheelchair users and visually impaired travelers to people with autism, ADHD, dementia, and other hidden disabilities.

Today, the company operates globally with travelers exploring destinations across India, Europe, Japan, South America, and beyond.

Accessibility Means Much More Than Ramps

One of the biggest misconceptions, according to Neha, is that accessibility only means wheelchair-friendly infrastructure.

True accessibility includes physical infrastructure, digital platforms, communication systems, information accessibility, trained staff, and inclusive experiences. Every traveler has unique needs, making personalized planning essential.

Planet Abled audits destinations, trains hotels, guides, drivers, and tourism professionals to ensure every journey is safe, comfortable, and enjoyable.

Turning Challenges into a Global Mission

Building Planet Abled wasn’t easy. Neha left a successful corporate career without a backup plan, learned the travel industry from scratch, and bootstrapped the business through years of experimentation.

Despite funding challenges, Planet Abled has now served thousands of travelers worldwide and earned global recognition through referrals, international conferences, and prestigious tourism awards.

The company’s long-term vision extends beyond organizing trips. It aims to make destinations “accessible by design” through consulting and training, enabling the tourism industry to become naturally inclusive rather than dependent on specialized travel providers.

Technology Can Scale Inclusive Tourism

Neha believes technology will play a transformative role in accessible tourism. She envisions an intelligent platform that matches travelers with destinations based on their specific accessibility requirements, making travel planning seamless without requiring manual assistance.

To achieve this vision, Planet Abled is actively working toward raising funding for scalable technology solutions that can serve millions globally.

Lessons Every Founder Should Learn

Neha’s advice to entrepreneurs is simple but powerful: start with the “why.”

Instead of creating products and searching for problems, founders should solve real-world challenges they deeply understand. She also encourages businesses to design products and services with accessibility in mind from day one. Inclusive design not only benefits people with disabilities but also improves experiences for families, elderly travelers, and every customer.

Planet Abled demonstrates that purpose-driven entrepreneurship can create both meaningful social impact and sustainable business opportunities. By making travel accessible for everyone, Neha Arora is proving that inclusion isn’t charity—it’s innovation.

Featured on The Startup Caffe

In an inspiring conversation with The Startup Caffe, Neha Arora shares how Planet Abled is transforming accessible tourism through innovation, purpose, and inclusive design. Watch the full podcast to discover why accessibility is the future of travel and entrepreneurship.