Darcy, S. (2010, 2-4 June). Plenary Address - Accessible tourism: A question of trust, strategic knowledge management and a commitment to sustainability. Paper presented at the 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED) - Sustainable Transport and Travel for All, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Drawing on the last 15 years of research, policy and industry engagement, a way forward for accessible tourism is presented. The solution is based on the development of strategic knowledge management to provide a reliable foundation for trust on which to make informed choices for accessible destination experiences. First, demand research is examined to understand what consumers with disabilities seek when planning their trips and the experiences they desire when travelling. Second, the plenary connects the demand requirements of consumers with disabilities to that of the supply-side approaches of the industry and suggests that government coordination roles at national and regional levels have very important roles to play in developing a triple bottom line approach to accessible tourism. Lastly, an argument is presented that suggests that only by understanding accessible tourism as part of social and environmental sustainability can a sound foundation be put in place to develop the economic potential of this group.
The Purpose of a Conference on Inclusive TourismScott Rains
A conference on inclusive tourism has the dual responsibility of applying best practices in meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) while also modeling full participation for people of all abilities. Such a conference aims to showcase inclusive practices and provide a venue for improving them by directly engaging people with disabilities. It also works to promote universal human rights to cultural participation as affirmed in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Effective data collection on travelers with disabilities and collaboration between industry and disability advocacy groups is needed to better understand this important market segment.
Travel & Disability Address to the Carlo Besta InstituteScott Rains
Travel & Disability Address to the Carlo Besta Institute Neurology in the Third Millennium: From disability to social reinsertion, April 17, 2009 by Dr. Scott Rains,
1) The document discusses accessible tourism and accessibility for disabled persons in Greece. It covers categories of disabilities, barriers to accessibility, and characteristics of accessible tourism.
2) Accessible destinations can have a competitive advantage through high occupancy and prices by appealing to disabled tourists and their families/friends.
3) The document proposes a methodology for evaluating accessibility, developing accessibility plans, and improving accessibility in destinations like transportation, buildings, and public areas.
This document discusses making Indian heritage and cultural sites more accessible to the elderly and disabled. It notes that while India receives millions of tourists annually, many disabled individuals cannot fully access or enjoy sites due to physical barriers. The document outlines efforts by the Ministry of Tourism to improve accessibility, such as installing ramps, railings, and accessible restrooms at popular sites like Qutub Minar. These changes have increased visitor numbers and revenue. The document argues for an inclusive approach to tourism that allows everyone to experience heritage sites through universal design standards that consider all abilities.
Chapter 3 Planning Methods (Tourism Planning and Development)Md Shaifullar Rabbi
Planning Methods discusses standards of provision and criteria for recognizing provisions. A provision is a liability of uncertain timing or amount that arises from past events where settlement is expected to result in an outflow of resources. A provision will be recognized if an entity has a present obligation from a past event, an outflow of benefits is probable to settle the obligation, and the amount can be reliably estimated. Tourism provision defines services in the tourism sector and conditions under which public institutions, health facilities, cultural institutions, associations and individuals can provide certain tourism services. The document outlines advantages like economic and job opportunities and disadvantages such as environmental damage, commercialization of culture, and economic dependence on tourism.
This document discusses several key issues regarding responsible tourism as a tool for sustainable development. It notes that there are many overlapping terms used in the tourism market like sustainable tourism, ecotourism, and fair trade tourism. Responsible tourism is presented as focusing more on attitudes, while sustainable tourism focuses more on continuity of actions. The document also highlights challenges like lack of local skills and resources, difficulties balancing tourism and local culture, and need for coordination among different organizations. It concludes presenting some working approaches like community-based models and permanent adjustment based on market feedback.
The Purpose of a Conference on Inclusive TourismScott Rains
A conference on inclusive tourism has the dual responsibility of applying best practices in meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) while also modeling full participation for people of all abilities. Such a conference aims to showcase inclusive practices and provide a venue for improving them by directly engaging people with disabilities. It also works to promote universal human rights to cultural participation as affirmed in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Effective data collection on travelers with disabilities and collaboration between industry and disability advocacy groups is needed to better understand this important market segment.
Travel & Disability Address to the Carlo Besta InstituteScott Rains
Travel & Disability Address to the Carlo Besta Institute Neurology in the Third Millennium: From disability to social reinsertion, April 17, 2009 by Dr. Scott Rains,
1) The document discusses accessible tourism and accessibility for disabled persons in Greece. It covers categories of disabilities, barriers to accessibility, and characteristics of accessible tourism.
2) Accessible destinations can have a competitive advantage through high occupancy and prices by appealing to disabled tourists and their families/friends.
3) The document proposes a methodology for evaluating accessibility, developing accessibility plans, and improving accessibility in destinations like transportation, buildings, and public areas.
This document discusses making Indian heritage and cultural sites more accessible to the elderly and disabled. It notes that while India receives millions of tourists annually, many disabled individuals cannot fully access or enjoy sites due to physical barriers. The document outlines efforts by the Ministry of Tourism to improve accessibility, such as installing ramps, railings, and accessible restrooms at popular sites like Qutub Minar. These changes have increased visitor numbers and revenue. The document argues for an inclusive approach to tourism that allows everyone to experience heritage sites through universal design standards that consider all abilities.
Chapter 3 Planning Methods (Tourism Planning and Development)Md Shaifullar Rabbi
Planning Methods discusses standards of provision and criteria for recognizing provisions. A provision is a liability of uncertain timing or amount that arises from past events where settlement is expected to result in an outflow of resources. A provision will be recognized if an entity has a present obligation from a past event, an outflow of benefits is probable to settle the obligation, and the amount can be reliably estimated. Tourism provision defines services in the tourism sector and conditions under which public institutions, health facilities, cultural institutions, associations and individuals can provide certain tourism services. The document outlines advantages like economic and job opportunities and disadvantages such as environmental damage, commercialization of culture, and economic dependence on tourism.
This document discusses several key issues regarding responsible tourism as a tool for sustainable development. It notes that there are many overlapping terms used in the tourism market like sustainable tourism, ecotourism, and fair trade tourism. Responsible tourism is presented as focusing more on attitudes, while sustainable tourism focuses more on continuity of actions. The document also highlights challenges like lack of local skills and resources, difficulties balancing tourism and local culture, and need for coordination among different organizations. It concludes presenting some working approaches like community-based models and permanent adjustment based on market feedback.
This book by Anna Spenceley and Andrew Rylance is designed to help you understand how to travel responsibly. It provides a step-by-step guide on how to find and book holidays and trips that benefit the local environment and the people who live there.
The World Bank Group has recently published Part One of a ‘Tourism Concessioning Toolkit in Protected Areas’, authored by Anna Spenceley, Hermione Nevill, Carla Faustiano Coelho and Michelle Souto.
The work was led by the World Bank Group's Tourism and Competitiveness Global Practice, and the International Finance Corporation's Public-Private Partnership Transaction Advisory Department (C3P), drawing from experience in Mozambique, South Africa, and other parts of the world. This document sets out the stage and core principles to be taken into consideration when designing concessioning programs.
Overview:
Governments and Protected Areas Authorities are under increasing pressure to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of their beaches, parks, and pristine natural sites, while also growing tourism activity.
Tourism concessioning is one solution. Delivering successful tourism concessioning programs, however, is challenging and depends on the right mix of characteristics, technical expertise, and institutional experience.
The World Bank Group presents 14 key characteristics displayed in most successful tourism concessioning programs.
Chapter 1 Tourist Destination Development (Destination Management)Md Shaifullar Rabbi
The document discusses various topics related to tourism destination development including inventory of tourist attractions, types of tourism products, phases of tourism product development, challenges in developing new tourism products, tourism master plan guidelines, resort development process, tourism destination area development, and types of tourism destinations. It provides information on cultural, religious, scenic, and entertainment attractions. It also outlines the conceptualization, design, feasibility analysis, commitment, and management phases of resort planning and development.
The OSD deck presents the problem we aim to solve, the manner in which we intend to do so, and the overall thesis of change we propose for pushing the Travel & TOurism industry, one of the world's most dominant economic forces, into a position of sustainability and net-positive social impact.
This document discusses sustainable tourism development. It begins by noting that tourism is a major global industry that can positively or negatively impact destinations. Sustainable tourism aims to balance environmental, economic, and cultural factors to improve host communities' quality of life. The document then reviews definitions of sustainable tourism and discusses its goals of improving host communities while preserving natural and cultural resources. It also examines sustainable tourism's socio-cultural, environmental, and economic impacts and carrying capacities. Issues with and trends in sustainable tourism development are also reviewed.
Destinations for All: How Far Have We Come?Scott Rains
This document summarizes the key points of the Destinations For All World Summit held in Montreal, Canada from 19-22 October 2014. The summit brought together experts from around the world to help develop universal accessibility and inclusion standards for tourism destinations. Speakers discussed improving the availability of accessible tourism information and the need to provide disability awareness training for tourism industry workers. Smaller destinations that have successfully embraced inclusive tourism practices were highlighted as examples. The summit aimed to establish international accessibility standards and norms to help destinations provide seamless, enjoyable travel experiences for all travelers, including the one billion people living with disabilities.
Accessible Tourism: A question of trust, strategic knowledge management and a...Simon Darcy
Darcy, S. (2010, 2-4 June). Plenary Address - Accessible tourism: A question of trust, strategic knowledge management and a commitment to sustainability. Paper presented at the 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED) - Sustainable Transport and Travel for All, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Drawing on the last 15 years of research, policy and industry engagement, a way forward for accessible tourism is presented. The solution is based on the development of strategic knowledge management to provide a reliable foundation for trust on which to make informed choices for accessible destination experiences. First, demand research is examined to understand what consumers with disabilities seek when planning their trips and the experiences they desire when travelling. Second, the plenary connects the demand requirements of consumers with disabilities to that of the supply-side approaches of the industry and suggests that government coordination roles at national and regional levels have very important roles to play in developing a triple bottom line approach to accessible tourism. Lastly, an argument is presented that suggests that only by understanding accessible tourism as part of social and environmental sustainability can a sound foundation be put in place to develop the economic potential of this group.
This document discusses sociology in tourism and its effects. It covers:
1) The sociology of tourism examines tourists' motivations, roles, relationships, and how tourism impacts both visitors and host societies.
2) Travel experiences significantly impact individuals, families, and societies by exposing them to new cultures in memorable ways.
3) However, large numbers of tourists can also negatively impact host societies by changing local customs and increasing crime rates targeted at visitors.
4) Sociological factors like life stage, income, education, and disabilities all influence people's travel preferences and patterns in predictable ways.
The document discusses the sociology of tourism. It begins by outlining the learning objectives which are to appreciate the social impacts of travel, recognize how local populations can resent visitors, discover how travel patterns change with life characteristics and social class, become familiar with social tourism, and understand travel preferences. It then defines sociology and the sociology of tourism. The rest of the document discusses the effects of tourism on individuals, families, society, and how travel patterns are related to age, income, education, and more. It also covers social tourism, barriers to travel, and dark tourism.
Turismo Accesible. Recomendaciones de la OMT 2013 (inglés)Turismo Accesible
La Organización Mundial del Turismo (OMT) realizó unas recomendaciones para adoptar las buenas prácticas para el desarrollo del turismo accesible en el mundo. Fueron presentadas en Septiembre del 2013.
Geotourism Means Accessible & InclusiveScott Rains
The document provides a list of questions for geotourism projects to consider regarding inclusiveness for travelers with disabilities. It asks if information is provided in accessible formats, if websites follow accessibility standards, if activities can be inclusive of all abilities, if marketing portrays people with disabilities respectfully, if employees with disabilities are hired in mainstream roles, and if universal design principles are followed to ensure accessibility for all. The questions also address legal obligations under the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and how sustainable tourism criteria can enhance experiences for travelers, employees and local residents with disabilities.
This document discusses a proposed study on the competitiveness of tour guides in Bicol Region in the Philippines as a basis for developing a training plan. It provides background information on tourism and the role of tour guides. The study aims to determine tour guides' profiles, assess their performance in terms of knowledge, skills and attitude, and identify challenges they face. The results will be used to propose ways to enhance tour guide performance in the region. A descriptive research method will be employed using questionnaires distributed to 380 tour guides and tourists. Data will be analyzed using weighted mean and Likert scales to understand tour guide competitiveness and inform the development of a training plan.
What Is Inclusive Tourism? by Scott RainsScott Rains
1) Inclusive tourism aims to ensure full social participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in travel. It applies the principles of universal design to make tourism accessible to all.
2) Universal design is a framework for designing places, information, and policies to be usable by everyone without needing special adaptation. It is human-centered design that considers people's abilities.
3) For tourism to be truly inclusive, it must consider travelers' needs at every stage of planning, development, and delivery of services. Industry attitudes and policies must also promote inclusion and accessibility.
What Is Inclusive Tourism - Scott Rainsguest6390726
1) Inclusive tourism aims to ensure full social participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in travel. It applies the principles of universal design to make tourism accessible to all.
2) Universal design is a framework for designing places, information, and policies to be usable by everyone without needing special adaptation. It is human-centered design that considers people's abilities.
3) For tourism to be truly inclusive, it must consider travelers' needs at every stage of planning, development, and delivery through open communication between all stakeholders.
2013 World Tourism Organization Accessible Tourism UpdateScott Rains
1. The document discusses updating UNWTO recommendations on accessible tourism for all persons with disabilities. It defines key terms like disability, accessible tourism, and universal design.
2. Accessibility should be considered throughout the tourism chain, including destinations, information/booking, transportation, accommodations, cultural activities, and more. Destinations should have an accessible tourism strategy and infrastructure to serve persons with disabilities.
3. Tourism information and websites should clearly indicate accessible facilities and services using international symbols. Reservations systems should provide accessibility information and be accessible to all.
Accessible tourism and sustainability a discussion and case study.pdfShannon Green
This summary provides an overview of a journal article that explores the concept of accessible tourism and its links to triple bottom line sustainability. The article begins by defining accessible tourism and reviewing its key features such as universal design. It then examines the triple bottom line framework and how accessible tourism relates to the financial, environmental and social aspects of sustainability. The article presents the results of a case study that revealed accessible tourism forms an interdependent network beyond just businesses. It argues a more sophisticated understanding of accessible experiences is needed and that accessible tourism aligns well with sustainability goals.
Inclusive tourism aims to ensure that destinations and related services are accessible to all people regardless of impairment. While physical accessibility is important, inclusive tourism must also meet the needs of people with sensory or intellectual disabilities. There is large untapped potential for inclusive tourism given the growing number of older adults and people living with disabilities. Catering to disabled tourists increases business not just from that individual but also from the people traveling with them. Promoting inclusive tourism in Malta benefits both disabled tourists and the country's tourism industry.
A Whole-Of-Life Approach To Tourism The Case For Accessible Tourism ExperiencesKatie Naple
This document provides an overview of accessible tourism and the case for a whole-of-life approach to tourism. It discusses how accessible tourism enables independence, equity and dignity for those with access requirements, which can include 30% of the population at any given time. A strategic approach to accessible tourism is needed to facilitate full participation in tourism. Universal design principles that make tourism open to all ages and abilities provide a foundation for accessible tourism. Legislation and standards are also important for ensuring accessibility.
This book by Anna Spenceley and Andrew Rylance is designed to help you understand how to travel responsibly. It provides a step-by-step guide on how to find and book holidays and trips that benefit the local environment and the people who live there.
The World Bank Group has recently published Part One of a ‘Tourism Concessioning Toolkit in Protected Areas’, authored by Anna Spenceley, Hermione Nevill, Carla Faustiano Coelho and Michelle Souto.
The work was led by the World Bank Group's Tourism and Competitiveness Global Practice, and the International Finance Corporation's Public-Private Partnership Transaction Advisory Department (C3P), drawing from experience in Mozambique, South Africa, and other parts of the world. This document sets out the stage and core principles to be taken into consideration when designing concessioning programs.
Overview:
Governments and Protected Areas Authorities are under increasing pressure to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of their beaches, parks, and pristine natural sites, while also growing tourism activity.
Tourism concessioning is one solution. Delivering successful tourism concessioning programs, however, is challenging and depends on the right mix of characteristics, technical expertise, and institutional experience.
The World Bank Group presents 14 key characteristics displayed in most successful tourism concessioning programs.
Chapter 1 Tourist Destination Development (Destination Management)Md Shaifullar Rabbi
The document discusses various topics related to tourism destination development including inventory of tourist attractions, types of tourism products, phases of tourism product development, challenges in developing new tourism products, tourism master plan guidelines, resort development process, tourism destination area development, and types of tourism destinations. It provides information on cultural, religious, scenic, and entertainment attractions. It also outlines the conceptualization, design, feasibility analysis, commitment, and management phases of resort planning and development.
The OSD deck presents the problem we aim to solve, the manner in which we intend to do so, and the overall thesis of change we propose for pushing the Travel & TOurism industry, one of the world's most dominant economic forces, into a position of sustainability and net-positive social impact.
This document discusses sustainable tourism development. It begins by noting that tourism is a major global industry that can positively or negatively impact destinations. Sustainable tourism aims to balance environmental, economic, and cultural factors to improve host communities' quality of life. The document then reviews definitions of sustainable tourism and discusses its goals of improving host communities while preserving natural and cultural resources. It also examines sustainable tourism's socio-cultural, environmental, and economic impacts and carrying capacities. Issues with and trends in sustainable tourism development are also reviewed.
Destinations for All: How Far Have We Come?Scott Rains
This document summarizes the key points of the Destinations For All World Summit held in Montreal, Canada from 19-22 October 2014. The summit brought together experts from around the world to help develop universal accessibility and inclusion standards for tourism destinations. Speakers discussed improving the availability of accessible tourism information and the need to provide disability awareness training for tourism industry workers. Smaller destinations that have successfully embraced inclusive tourism practices were highlighted as examples. The summit aimed to establish international accessibility standards and norms to help destinations provide seamless, enjoyable travel experiences for all travelers, including the one billion people living with disabilities.
Accessible Tourism: A question of trust, strategic knowledge management and a...Simon Darcy
Darcy, S. (2010, 2-4 June). Plenary Address - Accessible tourism: A question of trust, strategic knowledge management and a commitment to sustainability. Paper presented at the 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED) - Sustainable Transport and Travel for All, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Drawing on the last 15 years of research, policy and industry engagement, a way forward for accessible tourism is presented. The solution is based on the development of strategic knowledge management to provide a reliable foundation for trust on which to make informed choices for accessible destination experiences. First, demand research is examined to understand what consumers with disabilities seek when planning their trips and the experiences they desire when travelling. Second, the plenary connects the demand requirements of consumers with disabilities to that of the supply-side approaches of the industry and suggests that government coordination roles at national and regional levels have very important roles to play in developing a triple bottom line approach to accessible tourism. Lastly, an argument is presented that suggests that only by understanding accessible tourism as part of social and environmental sustainability can a sound foundation be put in place to develop the economic potential of this group.
This document discusses sociology in tourism and its effects. It covers:
1) The sociology of tourism examines tourists' motivations, roles, relationships, and how tourism impacts both visitors and host societies.
2) Travel experiences significantly impact individuals, families, and societies by exposing them to new cultures in memorable ways.
3) However, large numbers of tourists can also negatively impact host societies by changing local customs and increasing crime rates targeted at visitors.
4) Sociological factors like life stage, income, education, and disabilities all influence people's travel preferences and patterns in predictable ways.
The document discusses the sociology of tourism. It begins by outlining the learning objectives which are to appreciate the social impacts of travel, recognize how local populations can resent visitors, discover how travel patterns change with life characteristics and social class, become familiar with social tourism, and understand travel preferences. It then defines sociology and the sociology of tourism. The rest of the document discusses the effects of tourism on individuals, families, society, and how travel patterns are related to age, income, education, and more. It also covers social tourism, barriers to travel, and dark tourism.
Turismo Accesible. Recomendaciones de la OMT 2013 (inglés)Turismo Accesible
La Organización Mundial del Turismo (OMT) realizó unas recomendaciones para adoptar las buenas prácticas para el desarrollo del turismo accesible en el mundo. Fueron presentadas en Septiembre del 2013.
Geotourism Means Accessible & InclusiveScott Rains
The document provides a list of questions for geotourism projects to consider regarding inclusiveness for travelers with disabilities. It asks if information is provided in accessible formats, if websites follow accessibility standards, if activities can be inclusive of all abilities, if marketing portrays people with disabilities respectfully, if employees with disabilities are hired in mainstream roles, and if universal design principles are followed to ensure accessibility for all. The questions also address legal obligations under the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and how sustainable tourism criteria can enhance experiences for travelers, employees and local residents with disabilities.
This document discusses a proposed study on the competitiveness of tour guides in Bicol Region in the Philippines as a basis for developing a training plan. It provides background information on tourism and the role of tour guides. The study aims to determine tour guides' profiles, assess their performance in terms of knowledge, skills and attitude, and identify challenges they face. The results will be used to propose ways to enhance tour guide performance in the region. A descriptive research method will be employed using questionnaires distributed to 380 tour guides and tourists. Data will be analyzed using weighted mean and Likert scales to understand tour guide competitiveness and inform the development of a training plan.
What Is Inclusive Tourism? by Scott RainsScott Rains
1) Inclusive tourism aims to ensure full social participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in travel. It applies the principles of universal design to make tourism accessible to all.
2) Universal design is a framework for designing places, information, and policies to be usable by everyone without needing special adaptation. It is human-centered design that considers people's abilities.
3) For tourism to be truly inclusive, it must consider travelers' needs at every stage of planning, development, and delivery of services. Industry attitudes and policies must also promote inclusion and accessibility.
What Is Inclusive Tourism - Scott Rainsguest6390726
1) Inclusive tourism aims to ensure full social participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in travel. It applies the principles of universal design to make tourism accessible to all.
2) Universal design is a framework for designing places, information, and policies to be usable by everyone without needing special adaptation. It is human-centered design that considers people's abilities.
3) For tourism to be truly inclusive, it must consider travelers' needs at every stage of planning, development, and delivery through open communication between all stakeholders.
2013 World Tourism Organization Accessible Tourism UpdateScott Rains
1. The document discusses updating UNWTO recommendations on accessible tourism for all persons with disabilities. It defines key terms like disability, accessible tourism, and universal design.
2. Accessibility should be considered throughout the tourism chain, including destinations, information/booking, transportation, accommodations, cultural activities, and more. Destinations should have an accessible tourism strategy and infrastructure to serve persons with disabilities.
3. Tourism information and websites should clearly indicate accessible facilities and services using international symbols. Reservations systems should provide accessibility information and be accessible to all.
Accessible tourism and sustainability a discussion and case study.pdfShannon Green
This summary provides an overview of a journal article that explores the concept of accessible tourism and its links to triple bottom line sustainability. The article begins by defining accessible tourism and reviewing its key features such as universal design. It then examines the triple bottom line framework and how accessible tourism relates to the financial, environmental and social aspects of sustainability. The article presents the results of a case study that revealed accessible tourism forms an interdependent network beyond just businesses. It argues a more sophisticated understanding of accessible experiences is needed and that accessible tourism aligns well with sustainability goals.
Inclusive tourism aims to ensure that destinations and related services are accessible to all people regardless of impairment. While physical accessibility is important, inclusive tourism must also meet the needs of people with sensory or intellectual disabilities. There is large untapped potential for inclusive tourism given the growing number of older adults and people living with disabilities. Catering to disabled tourists increases business not just from that individual but also from the people traveling with them. Promoting inclusive tourism in Malta benefits both disabled tourists and the country's tourism industry.
A Whole-Of-Life Approach To Tourism The Case For Accessible Tourism ExperiencesKatie Naple
This document provides an overview of accessible tourism and the case for a whole-of-life approach to tourism. It discusses how accessible tourism enables independence, equity and dignity for those with access requirements, which can include 30% of the population at any given time. A strategic approach to accessible tourism is needed to facilitate full participation in tourism. Universal design principles that make tourism open to all ages and abilities provide a foundation for accessible tourism. Legislation and standards are also important for ensuring accessibility.
Inclusive tourism aims to ensure full social participation of persons with disabilities in travel. It involves applying universal design principles to make tourism accessible to all. This includes making transportation, accommodations, attractions and information accessible. Inclusive tourism benefits both persons with disabilities and the tourism industry by opening up a new market segment. Stakeholders in India have taken steps to promote inclusive tourism such as making historical sites accessible and providing accessibility information online. Further efforts are still needed to fully include persons with disabilities in the tourism experience from start to finish.
Accessible Tourism And Sustainability A Discussion And Business Case StudyAndrew Parish
This document discusses accessible tourism and its links to sustainability. It defines accessible tourism as tourism that considers dimensions of access for people with disabilities or mobility issues. The document examines universal design and the triple bottom line approach to sustainability. It presents a case study that found accessible tourism benefits businesses financially and promotes social and environmental objectives. The study illustrates the size and diversity of the accessible tourism market and the need for tourism operators to better understand accessibility.
Future Traveller Tribes 2030 by AmadeusDavid Vicent
Amadeus Study about the future traveller tribes and its needings. 2030 Scope. Many social changes, technologies as added value and authentic experiences as lovemark products. #Tourism #Forecast #Marketing #Segmentation
Retail Travel and People with DisabilitiesScott Rains
This document discusses accessible travel and opportunities for the tourism industry to better serve travelers with disabilities. It notes that the disability sector represents a significant, but misunderstood, part of the Australian tourism market. While accessible infrastructure has improved in many places, the retail travel industry has generally failed to incorporate these facilities into their offerings. The document advocates for tourism operators and retailers to establish centers of excellence for accessible travel in order to cater to the large market of travelers with disabilities or access needs. It provides statistics on spending and travel patterns among those with disabilities in Australia. Finally, it introduces Travability, an organization that develops accessible tourism information and aims to make the dreams of travelers with disabilities a reality.
Improving Information on Accessible Tourism for Disabled PeopleScott Rains
This document provides guidance on completing an accessibility factsheet to provide information to disabled tourists. It discusses the importance of accessibility information for planning trips and recommends including details on transportation, entrance, facility use, and emergency exits. The factsheet covers mobility, visual, hearing, learning impairments and allergies. Facilities should measure important areas and provide photos to accurately portray accessibility. Keeping information up-to-date benefits customers and businesses.
Similar to Transed 2010 Plenary Full Paper Accessible Tourism (Simon Darcy) (20)
Air Travel Customer Service Issues for People with Disabilities v2Simon Darcy
Air Travel Customer Service Issues for People with Disabilities - a seminar presented at the University of New South Wales' School of Aviation Seminar Series 16 April 2014. The presentation was based on a published research paper together with ongoing work on their travel experiences of people with disability. The published paper reference details are as follows:
Darcy, S. (2012). (dis)embodied air travel experiences: Disability, discrimination and the affect of
a discontinuous air travel chain. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 19(e8 August),
1-11.
Sport Events Volunteer Sustainability SeminarSimon Darcy
Volunteers are the lifeblood of sporting organizations in Australia and globally. However, research has shown that there are differences between everyday volunteers for sporting organizations and volunteers at major sport events, and there are cultural differences to volunteering. More recently within major event research, legacy has become a significant focus of event organizers and local organizing committees as a way of adding social value to the economic significance of the investment by host cities. This seminar will present three levels of volunteer engagement and discuss observations on legacy at: 1. The Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympics; 2. The 2009 Sydney World Masters Games; and 3. Community development projects using sport events. The 2010 Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics together with the cultural Olympiad required a commitment by 20,000 volunteers in the high status mega-sporting event. Some 5000 volunteers assisted the Sydney World Masters Games to host more than 28,000 athletes across 72 venues predominantly in Western Sydney in one of the biggest multisport participant major events held in world. The research for both sport events involved pre-and post examination of volunteer motivations, expectations, experiences and legacy. Sport for Development Projects in Sri Lanka, Israel and the Pacific Islands utilize volunteers at a ‘grass roots’ level to guide and facilitate the creation of sport event activities designed to benefit people in disadvantaged communities or communities in conflict. In these contexts, international volunteers from outside of the community setting are used to facilitate the sport event. An interpretive qualitative approach to examining volunteer legacy was employed.
The workshop examines volunteer legacy of these three sport events against Dickson, Benson and Blackman's (2011) framework for evaluating Olympic and Paralympic legacy. In doing so, the findings highlight volunteer management practices, motivations, experiences, challenges and volunteering legacies arising from these sport event volunteer programs. In a workshop format attendees will have an opportunity to discuss strategies for enhancing legacies for host communities and countries considering the cultural context of volunteering, sport and events.
Presentations will be followed by wider discussion. Refreshments will be provided.
Accessible Arts Festivals Forum 19 July 2011 V4 For WebSimon Darcy
The document discusses developing accessible and inclusive arts festivals. It defines access as enabling people with disabilities to independently experience festivals with dignity. It notes the large potential access market and business case for inclusion. The document provides examples of best practices from various festivals in planning access, managing expectations, and empowering all people to have a sense of participation.
The Economic Evidence of the Accessible Tourism MarketSimon Darcy
Presentation to the NICAN\'s National Dialogue: Stakeholders in Accessible Tourism on the economic evidence of the accessible tourism market.
The presentation was based on the following chapter
Dwyer, L., & Darcy, S. (2011). Chapter 14 - Economic Contribution of Tourists with Disabilities: An Australian Approach and Methodology. In D. Buhalis & S. Darcy (Eds.), Accessible Tourism: Concepts and Issues (pp. 213-239). Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications.
http://www.multilingual-matters.com/display.asp?k=9781845411602
The following presentation was given as part of a seminar titled: a Advocacy and the Internet (in conjunction with UTS Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre)
Seminar Summary (PDF, 122k, 1 page)
Implications of Gov 2.0 for Accessibility
Lisa Harvey, Energetica/CCS Advisory Board
Disability, Cultural Diversity and Accessibility
Prof Andrew Jakubowicz, CCS/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Communication/Social Enquiry
E-Approaches to Destination Management: The Case of Sydney For All Visitor Accessibility
Assoc Prof Simon Darcy, CCS/Faculty of Business/School of Leisure Sport and Tourism
Date: Wednesday 21st April, 2010
http://www.business.uts.edu.au/lst/research/seminars/
2009 06 19 Sydney For All Accessible Tourism Destination Experience ManagementSimon Darcy
The document summarizes a research project on improving accessibility for visitors with disabilities in urban environments like Sydney, Australia. It discusses developing an accessible tourism portal and map to provide information on accessible experiences, attractions, transportation and accommodations. It also describes evaluating accessibility, conducting interviews, developing quintessential accessible experiences, and testing a prototype portal to consolidate accessibility information to help visitors plan. The goal is to present a gateway for accessible visitor experiences in Sydney precincts and get stakeholder feedback to refine the portal.
This presentation summarizes research on improving accessible accommodation information formats. The study examined the key criteria and dimensions of access that are important to people with disabilities when choosing accommodations. It also tested different information formats to determine which best allows an informed choice. The findings showed that while ratings have limitations, detailed textual descriptions and photographs of accessibility features are preferred. This led to the development of an eight-part template to help accommodation providers market accessible rooms in a systematic way.
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This research dissertation investigates the complex interplay between transportation and the tourism industry in Nigeria, aiming to unravel critical insights that contribute to the enhancement of the overall tourist experience. The study employs a multi-faceted approach, literature review establishes a robust theoretical framework, incorporating The Service Quality and Satisfaction Theory to guide the research questions and hypotheses.
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Assessing the Influence of Transportation on the Tourism Industry in Nigeria
Transed 2010 Plenary Full Paper Accessible Tourism (Simon Darcy)
1. Accessible Tourism: A question of trust, strategic knowledge management
and a commitment to sustainability.
Darcy, Simon
University of Technology, Sydney: Australia
Simon.Darcy@uts.edu.au
SUMMARY
Drawing on the last 15 years of research, policy and industry engagement, a way
forward for accessible tourism is presented. The solution is based on the
development of strategic knowledge management to provide a reliable foundation for
trust on which to make informed choices for accessible destination experiences.
First, demand research is examined to understand what consumers with disabilities
seek when planning their trips and the experiences they desire when travelling.
Second, the plenary connects the demand requirements of consumers with
disabilities to that of the supply-side approaches of the industry and suggests that
government coordination roles at national and regional levels have very important
roles to play in developing a triple bottom line approach to accessible tourism. Lastly,
an argument is presented that suggests that only by understanding accessible
tourism as part of social and environmental sustainability can a sound foundation be
put in place to develop the economic potential of this group.
Keywords: accessible tourism; strategic knowledge management; triple
bottom line sustainability; trust;
INTRODUCTION
Good morning and may I say how excited I am to be in Hong Kong giving a plenary
address for TRANSED 2010 on accessible tourism.
Personally this trip is everything that accessible tourism should be about: the
trepidation of planning for a trip; the expectation of the experiences that are to
unfold; the excitement as the door on the plane closes, the anticipation of the
unknown; the wonder of the new countries, cultures and attractions; new friendships
formed; the old friendships renewed; and after returning home - the reflection on
memories that one will hold for life.
As a first-time visitor to Hong Kong, I have not been disappointed. For many years, I
had dreamt of coming up to Hong Kong for the world-renowned Hong Kong 7s rugby
union and experience in the international festival of nations that compete in this
competition. I had family and friends who attended, I had watched it on TV but for a
variety of reasons, I was never able to travel to the festival. However, with the
invitation from a friend, Joseph Kwan, with the help of my new friends from the
organizing committee, with the assistance of my wife Fiona and attendant Jan this
time the trip came together.
Twenty minutes is a very short time in which to present a plenary that examines the
title of the presentation. However, the reason that I am here is that I believe that it is
important to position accessible tourism within mainstream business discourses as
2. that is where disability, access and accessible tourism must be addressed. If it is not
addressed within mainstream business discourses then disability, access and
accessible tourism will always be regarded as an add-on, “special needs” and all the
other devaluing terms that place us in a second rate position to the rest of the
population. To draw on a number of disability advocacy phrases, we are sick of living
a “disability apartheid” where our lives and our experiences are regarded as not as
important as the nondisabled. We not only want to be included as the slogan,
“nothing about us without us”, signifies but we want to be regarded as valued
members of society and citizens in every sense. Not just as a market segment, not
tolerated just because of human rights agendas but understood that we are all part
of an interdependent social fabric that is richer for our existence. There is no doubt
that in many areas of our lives we are in a much better position than we were 50, 40,
30, 20 or even 10 years ago. Yet, disability is a dynamic construct that continually
evolves to include new dimensions of access that were not considered previously or
did not have as high a profile. I draw your attention to learning disabilities and mental
health as areas that are dominating the accessibility agenda of higher education that
were not even discussed a decade ago.
DEFINITION
Of course, any field of study requires a definition. It is interesting that while
accessible tourism has been developing as an area of academic study and industry
practice, there has been relatively little discussion defining the field. Most study has
focused on the experiences of people with disabilities while travelling without an
articulation of the defining elements of the field. My own Ph.D.(Darcy, 2004) took
such an approach where it drew its definitional inspiration from the theoretical areas
of disability studies (see Gleeson, 1999; Oliver, 1996), leisure constraints (see
Daniels, Drogin Rodgers, & Wiggins, 2005; Jackson & Scott, 1999), tourism systems
(see Leiper, 2003; Leiper, Stear, Hing, & Firth, 2008) and human rights approaches
(see Darcy & Taylor, 2009; United Nations, 2006). However, while these theoretical
areas influenced the approach to and types of research undertaken on disability and
tourism they did not contribute towards conceptualising accessible tourism in its own
right. Through a series of research projects, the following definition is presented as a
more fully developed understanding of the field.
Accessible tourism is a form of tourism that involves collaborative strategically
planned processes between stakeholders that enables people with access
requirements, including mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive dimensions of
access, to function independently and with equity and dignity through the
delivery of universally designed tourism products, services and environments.
This definition adopts a whole of life approach where people through their
lifespan benefit from accessible tourism provision. These include people with
permanent and temporary disabilities, seniors, obese, families with young
children and those working in safer and more socially sustainably designed
environments (adapted from Darcy & Dickson, 2009, p. 34).
The major components of this definition include: recognizing stakeholder
contributions; that disability involves a series of dimensions including mobility, vision,
hearing and cognitive dimensions to access; that anyone’s participation should be
based on the underlying principles of independence/equity/dignity; that any member
3. of the public may require accessible tourism provisions over the lifespan; and that
the provision of accessible tourism is safer and more socially sustainable.
Yet, the major breakthrough in this definition is that accessible tourism needs to be
part of strategically planned processes and that it will not occur through ad hoc, one
off inclusions as accessible destination experiences require planned development
and specific targeting of tourists requiring access provisions. Quite simply, while
areas may attract tourists who have access requirements, until destination managers
specifically developed a strategic approach to accessible tourism experiences then
they cannot truly regard themselves as having an interest in the accessible tourism
market.
I will now go on to explain how an understanding of demand, supply, regulation and
the coordination sectors need to be set within a broad triple bottom line approach to
destination management. These understandings then build on the definitional
elements of accessible tourism just outlined to frame a strategic knowledge
management approach to accessible tourism that is the only way to build trust
amongst the group.
DEMAND
I do not have to tell you that there are approximately 650 million people living with
disabilities and that by 2050 this number will increase to approximately 1.2 billion
(World Health Organization, 2007). These figures are important to get authorities to
understand the sheer size of the group that we are discussing. An increasing
proportion of this group are gaining the ability to travel through their socio-economic
status where it has been estimated in the US and in Australia that the accessible
tourism market is worth $13 billion and $4.8 billion respectively (Dwyer & Darcy,
2008; HarrisInteractive Market Research, 2005; Van Horn, 2007). Approximately
11% of domestic tourism and 7% of inbound tourism is directly attributable to
accessible tourism.
Yet, the demand-based research on accessible tourism is conclusive – people with
disabilities travel less than the general population not because of their impairment
but due to the structural constraints they face (Daniels, et al., 2005; Darcy, 1998;
Turco, Stumbo, & Garncarz, 1998). These constraints are a product of the disabling
environments, practices and attitudes that they are subjected to. While many people
with disabilities enjoy tourism experiences, there is a major dissatisfaction and latent
demand due to the barriers and constraints faced by the group. Some dimensions of
access are far more marginalised with people with mental health and those who are
blind or vision impaired the most marginalised (Darcy, 2003, 2009). Some of the
major constraints faced include:
• Lack of detailed information in the planning phase;
• A wholesale and retail travel agent sector that do not service the group;
• Web 2.0 environments that are not accessible;
• Transport systems that disadvantage people with mobility disabilities;
• Inaccessibility of destination environments;
• Accommodation/lodging sector that do not offer an equality of experience.
4. Lastly, even when travel planning information is available there is a significant lack of
TRUST by travellers with disabilities about the accuracy of the information (Darcy,
2009). People with access requirements are not catered for by the mainstream travel
planning sector and research carried out in Hong Kong conclusively showed that
there were significant issues with travel agents’ approaches to servicing people with
disabilities (McKercher, Packer, Yau, & Lam, 2003). This work was supported by
work in other parts of the world where people with disabilities have been told by
travel agents that they are better off organising their own trips. What other group
would be told that their business is not wanted? This example leads on to the supply
side industry approaches to disability and accessible tourism.
SUPPLY
The tourism industry, albeit with a small group of dedicated providers, have largely
ignored the inclusion of people with disabilities and accessible tourism products and
services within mainstream development and planning unless they have been
required to be compliant through human rights and building code provisions. One
excellent indicator is the level of marketing and promotion that the industry does to
people with disabilities as a homogeneous group or targeted marketing based on
dimensions of access provision. Across the sector, it is almost nonexistent. One
continual bugbear of the supply sector is the evidence of return on investment (ROI)
for access provisions (Healey, 2008). While this in itself does not recognize the
human rights imperative of international agreements and national signatories, there
is no doubt that an evidence based approach to showing a business case for
accessible tourism is required. For too long there has been a mantra about the
economic potential of disability and accessible tourism as a market segment but with
a little evidence of this from the supply perspective. Some recent research and
government case studies had started to provide this evidence-based business case
(Darcy, Cameron, & Pegg, 2010; Darcy, Cameron, Pegg, & Packer, 2008;
Employers Forum on Disability, 2007; Lipp, 2005; Robinson & Dechant, 2005; UK
Department for Culture Media and Sport, 2010; UK Department for Work & Pensions
(DWP), 2007).
Where the industry does provide access to product and services, it does so without a
consideration of the equality of experience where provision is through the backdoor,
and a lower level of service provision or provided in the worst locations rather than
across all levels of service provision. I will come back to the equality of experience
later. Lastly, where people with disabilities are employees within the tourism sector
they face discrimination in hiring practices and in their inclusion within where they
are employed in the sector (G. A. Ross, 1994; G. F. Ross, 2004).
REGULATION
My research has always recognized that tourism industry works within mainstream
human rights, building codes and standards of service practice. As such, most
strategically planned accessible environments have been brought about through a
combination of international human rights agreements, national signatories, a
regulation sector that provides mechanisms to redress inequity when it occurs and a
vigilant disability advocacy sector to lobby on the behalf of people with disabilities. If
any one of these considerations is absent then the paper on which the human rights
5. provisions are provided is all but useless. I could give examples in the Australian
situation where allocating the Federal court as a cost jurisdiction has all but
"crippled", and I use that word deliberately, the spirit and intent of the Disability
Discrimination Act (DDA). This is simply because the complaint case provisions
under the Australian DDA have no common law precedent where Federal court
actions do. Without precedent, the same circumstances could arise in an
establishment next door the following day for the same type of discrimination
because complaint cases have no fault standing and are not publicised. Yet, this
quibbles in comparison to other parts of the world where the human rights provisions
are not implemented at all, the building codes have far less stringent inclusions on
access and mobility and there are virtually no means of redress for people when they
are discriminated against.
For those here from other parts of the world where these provisions do not exist,
then I implore you to advocate developing such provision as a foundation for
developing accessibility generally and as a precursor to accessible tourism provision.
Those of us from nations where these rights are evident need to support our brothers
and sisters with disabilities from other nations to ensure provision for all.
COORDINATION
So how do we move forward to better match the requirements of accessible tourism
travellers, satisfy the return on investment required by the supply sector and start to
develop truly sustainable accessible tourism development. The first point of call is for
a responsibility for providing accessible tourism to be “owned” by government
coordinating roles. By this I mean, the tourism industry is notorious for its
fragmentation and governments across the Asia-Pacific and the Globe, including the
recent developments in the US, now recognize this and provide significant amounts
of money to promote to inbound tourism markets. In the same way, the
fragmentation of the industry does nothing to serve the accessible tourism market.
Local, regional and national tourism authorities must work in collaboration to take
responsibility for accessible tourism within a triple bottom line framework.
TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE SUSTAINABILITY
In coming back to a quality of experience, this concept is inextricably connected to
triple bottom line sustainability (Dwyer, 2005). Disability access provision generally
and accessible tourism, have significant contributions to make to the economic,
environmental and social metrics of the triple bottom line (Darcy, et al., 2010). Most
tourism marketing authorities recognize triple bottom line approaches in their master
plan processes. Tourism destinations must address these three legs of the
sustainability stool if the industry is going to contribute and not destroy the elements
that make it attractive to tourists in the first place.
Many tourism businesses now seek to transform themselves into more efficient and
effective operations. Issues relating to governance, long-term sustainability and
effective destination management are known critical factors for business success,
yet they are addressed in a piecemeal fashion by the majority of operators. Most
businesses change their service and product offerings only to achieve basic revenue
driven targets, be they related to the concepts of total quality management,
6. organisational change and restructuring (Kotter, 1998). Yet, Elkington (1997, p. 109)
argued that ‘if any business was to prosper over the long term, it must continuously
meet society’s needs for goods and services without destroying natural or social
capital’. Too few tourism operators have yet to give any real attention to the broader
concept of the triple bottom line (TBL), to business activities that are considered
socially and environmentally sustainable rather than their financial bottom line
(Dwyer, 2005). Many approaches to tourism development that do not include
accessible tourism dimensions cannot hope to meet social sustainability
requirements. By excluding the beneficiaries of universal design approaches to
sustainable tourism environments including people with disabilities, those that are
ageing and families with young children it has been estimated that they are excluding
31% of the population (Darcy & Dickson, 2009).
STRATEGIC KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
Knowledge management is recognized as a foundation to post industrial societies.
Others have already demonstrated the importance of information systems (Eichhorn,
Miller, Michopoulou, & Buhalis, 2008) to accessible tourism and the provision of
specific information to particular industry segments such as the transport and
accommodation sectors (Darcy, 2009). To this end, the starting point for developing
destination management approaches to accessible tourism is through a framework
for the strategic knowledge management of accessible tourism. Tourists with
disabilities are not naïve and they are not expecting perfectly accessible
environments. However, what they do expect is the provision of accurate, detailed
and readily accessible information that will allow them to make an informed decision
as to the accessibility of all aspects of the tourism system for their needs.
STRATEGIC KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT’S CONTRIBUTION TOTRUST
As identified in the demand side research, in most cases people with disabilities do
not trust information provided by the mainstream tourism industry. With a strategic
knowledge management system in place, the expectation of consumers can be
managed, as there is no more serious a management issue that not meeting
customer expectation. Now, travellers with disabilities are regularly disappointed –
not by the destination that they are visiting – but by the information provided not
meeting their accessibility needs when experiencing the destination. This becomes a
major issue where a disgruntled customer becomes an issue for the manager of the
airline, accommodation or attraction but more importantly will communicate their
poor experiences through negative word-of-mouth. While this is a problem with all
customers, travellers with disabilities can attract more media attention than the
average customer and this can result in reputational or brand damage for the
company involved ("Air Canada ordered to pay deaf-blind passenger $10,000,"
2009; Butson, 2009). If people have a good experience, the research suggests that
they will tell two to three people but if they have a bad experience the research
suggests that they will tell significantly more people (Anderson, 1998; JJ Brown &
Reingen, 1987). Yet, this is a far more significant an issue for industry in the age of
Web 2.0. Social media provides an instantaneous means for people to communicate
their displeasure. However, for the accessible tourism market and for the tourism
industry providing good quality products and services it also provides an
7. instantaneous means for people to communicate their satisfaction (J Brown,
Broderick, & Lee, 2007).
A WAY FORWARD…
Strategic knowledge management of accessible tourism information provides a way
forward for the tourism industry and destination management systems to begin to
develop responses for accessible tourism. As a starting point, this requires no new
infrastructure as most businesses and tourism marketing authorities already have
Web-based approaches to destination management. What is required is a decision
to provide honest, detailed and accessible information about accessible destination
management experiences to the accessible tourism market. I can guarantee that if
systems are in place, the information that is needed to make access choices is
available and it is in a format that is accessible then there will be an increase in use
by people with access needs. There are some wonderful examples of approaches
from different parts of the world including South Africa, Spain, Canada, the US, the
UK, Hong Kong and Australia.
There has been a tremendous commitment across the Asia-Pacific to bring
awareness to these issues through a series of conferences that have occurred over
the last decade, Bali 2000, Taipei 2005, Japan 2009 and now TRANSED in Hong
Kong 2010. This is a wonderful commitment to raising awareness of accessible
transport and accessible tourism. I implore the governments of these countries to
“own” the coordination responsibilities to develop accessible tourism, as I believe
they have the opportunity to be at the forefront of international best practice.
I look forward to meeting everybody over the next few days and at some stage
inviting you down to Australia for TRANSED or another of accessible tourism
conference where we can showcase the best in the Asia Pacific.
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