Accessible tourism

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Nehantic Trail - Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail entrance and Wheelchair-accessible sign Nehantic Trail - Rhododentron Sanctuary Trail entrance sign.jpg
Nehantic Trail - Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail entrance and Wheelchair-accessible sign

Accessible tourism is the ongoing endeavor to ensure tourist destinations, products, and services are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical or intellectual limitations, disabilities or age. [1] It encompasses publicly and privately owned and operated tourist locations. The goal of accessible tourism is to create inclusivity of all including those traveling with children, people with disabilities, as well as seniors. This allows those with access requirements to be able to function as an independent using products following the universal design principle, a variety of services, and different environments. [2]

Contents

Background

Overview

This motorised water access chair on the Greek island of Syros offers a way for wheelchair users to enter and exit the water Disabled beach access on Syros - a way for wheelchair users to enter and exit the water.jpg
This motorised water access chair on the Greek island of Syros offers a way for wheelchair users to enter and exit the water

Accessible tourism is defined as a way of making tourist locations more accessible to all populations. It does not just encompass those with disability, but it includes people of all populations including those with children and the elderly. [3] The tourism industry is continuously evolving which has led to a need for accessibility. Because of this, it has also led to an increased market for accessible tourism. [4] With the rise of the independent living movement, seen in places such as Berkeley, California, it has also raised questions about the definition of the landscape and the people within it. The rise of this movement in turn created a demand from the population to modify the city to allow for greater and equal access for everyone. [5]

Modern society is increasingly aware of the concept of integration of people with disabilities. Issues such as accessibility and universal design [6] are featured in the international symposia of bodies such as the European Commission. [7] Steps have been taken to promote guidelines and best practices, and major resources are now dedicated to this field.

A greater understanding of the accessible tourism market has been promoted through research commissioned by the European Commission where a stakeholder analysis has provided an insight into the complexities of accessible tourism. [8] Similarly, the Australian Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre funded an Accessible Tourism Research Agenda [9] that sought to outline a research base on which to develop the supply, demand and coordination/regulation information required to develop the market segment. The research agenda has now seen three other funded projects contribute towards a research base on which the tourism industry and government marketing authorities can make more informed decisions. [10] [11] [12]

As of 2020, approximately 15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability, with one-fifth of the total, or between 110 million and 190 million people, living with a disability that affects daily life. [13] Based on a report in 2011 by World Health Organization and the World Bank, over 1 billion of people in the world had some disability, with 200 million of those who have experienced severe difficulty in functioning. [14]

In addition to the social and health benefits, [15] the market represents an opportunity for new investment and new service requirements, rarely provided by key players in the tourism sector.

According to ENAT, the European Network for Accessible Tourism, accessible tourism includes but is not limited to: [16]

The shift from the medical model to the social model of disability had a major contribution in the development of the concept of accessible tourism. With the Disability Rights Movement in full swing in the mid to late-1900s, the traditional view of disability that focuses on the individuals' impairments and the medical interventions to fix those impairments was significantly challenged. [17] The newly emerged social model of disability postulates that disability is not constructed solely by a medical condition a person has but rather by the social environments that impose various kinds of barriers on people with impairments. [18] With the influence of the social model, the general understanding of disability has been expanded to place greater emphasis on removing the socially imposed barriers and achieving greater accessibility for individuals with disability and various access needs. This endeavor to create a more inclusive environment for all people led to the emergence of the concept of Universal Design, which is the design of products and environments that can be easily accessed, understood, and used by anyone, regardless of one's ability. In 1997, the 7 principles of universal design were developed. [19] These principles include:

The principles of universal design provided important conceptual foundation and guidelines for the tourism industry on how to design tourism products and services that have the value of inclusivity at their center. [20]

Today, Europe and the United States of America are home to the majority of the existing companies in the accessible tourism industry. However, companies worldwide are starting to appear as the result of a growing need, largely driven by senior tourism, due to increasing life expectancy in developed countries. The United States requires ADA compliant ramp access to virtually all businesses and public places. [21] Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and other northern European countries are increasingly prepared to receive tourists in wheelchairs, and to provide disability equipment and wheelchair accessible transport.

With the growth of the internet, online travel planning is also becoming more common, leading to the rise of online accessibility maps. For example, starting in 2016, Lonely Planet started offering online accessibility resources by country. [22] As for the future of accessibility tourism, b predicts that, "emerging field of study will influence tourism destination competitiveness in the future, whether that be from a human rights, emerging market segment or service delivery perspective" (Michopoulou, Darcy, Ambrose, & Buhalis, 2015).

Regulations

Many individual countries have legislation designed to support the needs of people with disabilities, but the closest thing to an international standard for accessible tourism would be Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Since its adoption on December 13, 2006, the CRPD has gained 164 signatories and was the fastest human rights treaty to be enacted. The convention was designed to combat many of the challenges that people with disabilities face through legal protections of rights and freedoms, increased access to services that facilitate independent living, decreased discrimination and stigmatization, and raised awareness of disability-related issues. Article 9 focuses specifically on accessibility and what is required to provide people with disabilities with equal access and opportunities to participate in every aspect of society. Not only do these accommodations benefit the disabled citizens of the countries that are a part of the CRPD, but they also improve the experiences of disabled travelers and tourists.

Typical accommodations that are beginning to become implemented globally to improve accessible tourism include, but are not limited to:

Specific accommodations

Although this is not an exhaustive list of possible accommodations related to accessible tourism, the examples below demonstrate some solutions to common problems that people with disabilities experience while traveling.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disability</span> Impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions

Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, sensory, or a combination of multiple factors. Disabilities can be present from birth or can be acquired during a person's lifetime. Historically, disabilities have only been recognized based on a narrow set of criteria—however, disabilities are not binary and can be present in unique characteristics depending on the individual. A disability may be readily visible, or invisible in nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accessibility</span> Modes of usability for people with disabilities

Accessibility is the design of products, devices, services, vehicles, or environments so as to be usable by people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design and practice of accessible development ensures both "direct access" and "indirect access" meaning compatibility with a person's assistive technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social model of disability</span> Societal failure to adapt to disabilities

The social model of disability identifies systemic barriers, derogatory attitudes, and social exclusion, which make it difficult or impossible for disabled people to attain their valued functionings. The social model of disability diverges from the dominant medical model of disability, which is a functional analysis of the body as a machine to be fixed in order to conform with normative values. As the medical model of disability carries with it a negative connotation, with negative labels associated with disabled people. The social model of disability seeks to challenge power imbalances within society between differently-abled people and seeks to redefine what disability means as a diverse expression of human life. While physical, sensory, intellectual, or psychological variations may result in individual functional differences, these do not necessarily have to lead to disability unless society fails to take account of and include people intentionally with respect to their individual needs. The origin of the approach can be traced to the 1960s, and the specific term emerged from the United Kingdom in the 1980s.

Universal design is the design of buildings, products or environments to make them accessible to people, regardless of ageism, disability or other factors. It emerged as a rights-based, anti-discrimination measure, which seeks to create design for all abilities. Evaluating material and structures that can be utilized by all. It addresses common barriers to participation by creating things that can be used by the maximum number of people possible. “When disabling mechanisms are to be replaced with mechanisms for inclusion, different kinds of knowledge are relevant for different purposes. As a practical strategy for inclusion, Universal Design involves dilemmas and often difficult priorities.” Curb cuts or sidewalk ramps, which are essential for people in wheelchairs but also used by all, are a common example of universal design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheelchair ramp</span> Incline allowing wheelchair users to move between areas of different height

A wheelchair ramp is an inclined plane installed in addition to or instead of stairs. Ramps permit wheelchair users, as well as people pushing strollers, carts, or other wheeled objects, to more easily access a building, or navigate between areas of different height. Ramps for accessibility may predate the wheelchair and are found in ancient Greece.

In 2003 and following years, initiatives were instituted to improve internet access for people with disabilities in the Philippines. These measures were inspired by the UNESCAP "Asia-Pacific Decade for Disabled Persons" (1993–2002). Key organizations included the government body National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (Philippines) and the private sector body Philippine Web Accessibility Group (PWAG). The "Disabled Friendly Website Awards" were launched to encourage web designers to incorporate universal access. Since 2009 unhampered access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has been in the second National Human Rights Action Plan of the Philippine government.

Visitability is the design approach for new housing such that anyone who uses a wheelchair or other mobility device should be able to visit. A social visit requires the ability to get into the house, to pass through interior doorways, and enter a bathroom to use the toilet. Visitability stresses specific accessibility features from a social reform perspective, and counters social isolation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bright Future Group for People with Disabilities</span> Vietnamese self-help organization

Bright Future Group for People with Disabilities, also known as Bright Future Group, is a Vietnamese non-profit organization of people with mobility impairments, who work as volunteers for people with disabilities. Established in 1988 by former students in Hanoi, it is one of the first grassroots organizations of people with disabilities in Vietnam, and celebrated its 20th anniversary on November 16, 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities</span> Treaty of the United Nations

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international human rights treaty of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Parties to the convention are required to promote, protect, and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities and ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy full equality under the law. The Convention serves as a major catalyst in the global disability rights movement enabling a shift from viewing persons with disabilities as objects of charity, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing them as full and equal members of society, with human rights. The convention was the first U.N. human rights treaty of the twenty-first century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheelchair</span> Chair with wheels used by people with mobility deficiencies

A wheelchair is a mobilized form of chair using 2 or more wheels, a footrest and armrest usually cushioned. It is used when walking is difficult or impossible to do due to illnesses, injury, disabilities, or age related health conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Symbol of Access</span> Symbol denoting the removal of environmental barriers

The International Symbol of Access (ISA), also known as the International Wheelchair Symbol, denotes areas where access has been improved, mostly for those with disabilities. It consists of a usually blue square overlaid in white with a stylized image of a person in a wheelchair. It is maintained as the international standard ISO 7001, image of the International Commission on Technology and Accessibility (ICTA), a committee of Rehabilitation International (RI).

South Africans with disabilities constitute a sizeable proportion of the population, and their status in society is extremely varied in a developing nation with socio-economic inequality and a history of apartheid. Wealthy city dwellers have access to a wide range of assistance, whereas the poor struggle for even the basic necessities of life.

Disability in the United Kingdom covers a wide range of conditions and experiences, deeply impacting the lives of millions of people. Defined by the Equality Act 2010 as a physical or mental impairment with a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, it encompasses various aspects of life, including demographics, legislation, healthcare, employment, and culture. Despite numerous advancements in policy and social attitudes, individuals with disabilities often encounter unique challenges and disparities.

In Japan, a person with a disability is defined as: "a person whose daily life or life in society is substantially limited over the long term due to a physical disability or mental disability". Japan ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 20 January 2014.

Scott Rains was an American travel writer, consultant, and advocate for disabled people. He was New Mobility magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2009.

Sensory tourism is a form of tourism, that caters for people with vision impairment. Those suffering from vision impairment face many difficulties based around mainstream tourism such as access to information, navigation, safety and the knowledge of others around them. This has caused the visionless members of society to travel much less than those with no vision impairment. Combining the theories behind tourism in terms of its psychology and its relation to the senses, an inclusive experience for the visually disabled was developed. Sensory tourism engages the physical and multi-sensory aspects of tourism, enhancing the tourism experience specifically for those with, but also benefitting those without vision impairment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planet Abled</span> Travel company based in New Delhi, India

Planet Abled is a travel company based in New Delhi, India. The company provides travel to people with disabilities and the elderly. It has been recognized as one of the social innovators in travel space by Forbes.

Under Italian Law 104/1992, "disability" is defined as a loss of the ability of the person to perform basic daily activities unaided."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disability and climate change</span>

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) are connected through their common goals of addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development through policies and international cooperation.

Japanese Sign Language (JSL), also known as Nihon Shuwa, is the unofficial but most predominantly used sign language used by nearly 57,000 native signers as their primary language. It is a convergent, Deaf community sign language developed in the late 19th century.

References

  1. ↑ "Promoting accessible tourism for all | United Nations Enable". www.un.org. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  2. ↑ Darcy, Simon; Dickson, Tracey J. (January 2009). "A Whole-of-Life Approach to Tourism: The Case for Accessible Tourism Experiences". Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management. 16 (1): 32–44. doi:10.1375/jhtm.16.1.32. hdl: 10453/10091 .
  3. ↑ Souca Maria Luiza, 2010. "Accessible Tourism – The Ignored Opportunity," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(2), pages 1154-1157, December.
  4. ↑ Alén, Elisa; Dominguez, Trinidad; Losada, Nieves (January 1, 2012). New opportunities for the tourism market: Senior tourism and accessible tourism. pp. 139–166.
  5. ↑ Williamson, Bess (2018). Accessible America : A History of Disability and Design.
  6. ↑ Preiser, W. F. E., & Ostroff, E. (2001). Universal Design Handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  7. ↑ European and International Associations at the European Commission's Enterprise and Industry Tourism web page Archived January 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine .
  8. ↑ Buhalis, D.; Eichhorn, E.; Michopoulou, E.; Miller, G. (October 20, 2005). "Accessibility Market and Stakeholder Analysis- One-Stop-Shop for Accessible Tourism in Europe" (PDF). University of Surrey, United Kingdom.
  9. ↑ Darcy, S. (2006). Setting a Research Agenda for Accessible Tourism. STCRC Technical Report Series, Gold Coast - Australia. Available from http://www.crctourism.com.au/BookShop/BookDetail.aspx?d=473
  10. ↑ Darcy, S., Cameron, B., Pegg, S., & Packer, T. (2008). Technical Report 90042: Developing Business Cases for Accessible Tourism, STCRC technical report Available from http://www.crctourism.com.au/BookShop/BookDetail.aspx?d=582 Archived 2010-03-23 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Darcy, S., Cameron, B., Dwyer, L., Taylor, T., Wong, E., & Thomson, A. (2008). Technical Report 90064: Visitor accessibility in urban centrespp. 75). Available from http://www.crctourism.com.au/BookShop/BookDetail.aspx?d=626 Archived 2010-03-23 at the Wayback Machine at
  12. ↑ Packer, T., Small, J., & Darcy, S. (2008). Technical Report 90044: Tourist Experiences of Individuals with Vision Impairment STCRC Technical Report Available from http://www.crctourism.com.au/BookShop/BookDetail.aspx?d=602 Archived 2010-03-23 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ "World Report on Disability". www.who.int. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  14. ↑ "World Report On Disability 2011" (PDF).
  15. ↑ Southall, Jo (2016-05-31). "Benefits of Leisure for Disabled and Elderly". Limitless Travel. Archived from the original on 2021-05-15. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  16. ↑ "ENAT - European Network for Accessible Tourism". Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  17. ↑ Winter, Jerry Alan (2003-01-15). "The Development of the Disability Rights Movement as a Social Problem Solver". Disability Studies Quarterly. 23 (1). doi: 10.18061/dsq.v23i1.399 . ISSN   2159-8371.
  18. ↑ Haegele, Justin Anthony; Hodge, Samuel (2016-03-09). "Disability Discourse: Overview and Critiques of the Medical and Social Models". Quest. 68 (2): 193–206. doi:10.1080/00336297.2016.1143849. ISSN   0033-6297.
  19. ↑ "The 7 Principles | Centre for Excellence in Universal Design". universaldesign.ie. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  20. ↑ Darcy, S.; Buhalis, D. (2010-12-31), "Chapter 1. Introduction: From Disabled Tourists to Accessible Tourism", Accessible Tourism, Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters, pp. 1–20, doi:10.21832/9781845411626-004, ISBN   978-1-84541-162-6 , retrieved 2020-12-15
  21. ↑ "ADA Specifications for Wheelchair use" . Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  22. ↑ "Lonely Planet US". shop.lonelyplanet.com. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
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