Section [7.2.1] Transportation: Experiences and Expectations -Brazilian Study of the Profile of Tourists - People with Disabilities Technical Document - 2013

1. Translation – Section 7.2
Section 7.2 & [ 7.2.1 ] Experiences and Expectations: Transportation
Study of the Profile of Tourists - People with Disabilities Technical
Document - 2013
(Original title: Estudo do Perfil de Turistas – Pessoas com Deficiência
Documento Técnico – 2013
Translation by Scott Rains, srains@oco.net
7.2 Experiences and Expectations
[ 7.2.1 ] Transportation
According to the perception of tourists - people with disabilities – who participated in the
study, transportation, either public or private (intercity, interstate and international) still
require investment in order to be made accessible.
Airlines are a little ahead; they offer differentiated service at check in and check out.
However, there still remains a need for space, adaptation (space in corridors and
bathrooms, interpreters, Braille), and accessibility in aircraft. Bus terminals remain very
far from having the accessibility required. They lack investment in structure and
capacity-building of staff. Elevators do not always exist in public transport systems.
When they do they often have mechanical problems. There are also situations in which
the attendant does not know how to operate the equipment.
Where positive evaluations were given, it was found that these were directed at the
specific approach of an individual and do not reflect a general pattern of conduct or of
quality adopted by the service provider.
Another point raised by the respondents is with regard to the price of tickets. In many
cases they were only aware of discounts only at the local level of public transport. Few

2. tourists with disabilities mentioned discounts or the practice of differential pricing for
intercity travel and interstate travel, whether by road or air. There is also the perception
that people with disabilities always occupy the worst places within the means of
transport.
Few know of the ANAC's resolution No. 09 /2007 which provides for the access to air
transport for passengers requiring special assistance. The resolution requires a discount
for the escort the person with disability of at least 80 % in value of airfare if the
passenger demonstrates the need for assistance during the trip. However, research shows
that this type of information is not easily reaching the beneficiaries of such
resolutions/ordinances.
Quotes from respondents:
"Sometimes you get there and find no difficulty. I've traveled to Recife, Brasilia, Rio de
Janeiro, Sao Paulo and most difficult of them all is the collective transport, buses are not
adapted... To sit on the floor, to be carried on, that is the most annoying.” (Belo
Horizonte – Motor Disability EP)
"But he once went alone to the beach. Then I wrote his name and exactly where he had to
get off. Then I told him the name of the person who would meet him there as soon as he
got off the bus. Everything turned out fine. He had no problem to getting on the bus. The
driver was very nice with us.” (Curitiba – Intellectual Disability EP)
“For example, you know that bus tour that goes past with the guide talking?...that bus
with a lot of people and a person speaking into the microphone? Imagine the Deaf. They
don’t get anything from it. There needs to be an interpreter and they do not have one.”
(Rio de Janeiro - Auditory Disability EP)
"... The bus station was under construction, so I was at the wrong gate. Nobody came to
ask me anything; to help me. Then my bus came and I sat there in the chair, bags next to
me and a ticket in hand...They do not need to stay with me all the time but they could
have a person to ask where should I go and to take me to the gate. They left me there."
(Porto Alegre - Visual Disability EP)
"I almost hurt myself a lot. I went to get on the bus and fell. There needs to be something
to orient us at entry; something that tells us the number and destination of the bus. You
ask for information from someone and it seems like you do not exist. They ignore you. Iit
seems like they are afraid." (Sao Paulo - Focus Group).
Source: Pp 33 -35
Full document available here:
http://www.slideshare.net/srains/full-brazilian-inclusive-tourism-market-study-2013