Europe without barriers: accessible tourism between places and projects
Abstract
In the last few decades, the tourism sector in Europe is facing growing demands from travellers who want better access in hotels, at holiday destinations and tourist attractions. The number of European travellers in the 55+ age group is increasing and, together with disabled people and their families, these customers are looking for travel options where basic accessibility features are standard. The so-called accessible tourism for all is not about providing separated services for separated targets or niche tourist markets. It aims at full integration or rather inclusion of people with special needs (age, size, disability) in the tourism sector. Its long-term goal is the creation of a tourist environment in which all tourists can participate actively. Viewed from the perspective of accessible tourism for all, tourism policy in the European Union can be said to unite accessibility targets that are part of the otherwise trade-related aspects of tourism policy and a disability policy that, based on the United Nations’ Standard Rules, support goals and specific measures at various levels that are designed to enhance accessibility in connection with tourism policy. Within this framework, the main purpose of this research is to investigate strategies and actions in which the European Commission is committed to increase accessibility in tourism. Using a qualitative methodology, the paper explores objectives and activities of some initiatives that are helping to make travel and tourism accessible for all. Therefore, it offers an overview on some projects and good practices taking place in European countries.References
Aitchison C., “From leisure and disability to disability leisure: developing data, definitions and discourses”, Disability & Society, n. 18(7), 2003, pp. 955-969.
Alén E., Losada N. and Domínguez T.; “The impact of ageing on the tourism industry: an approach to the senior tourist profile”, Social Indicators Research, n. 127(1), 2016, pp. 303-322.
Allan M., “Disability tourism: Why do disabled people engaging in tourism activities”, European Journal of Social Sciences, n. 39(3), 2013, pp. 480-486.
Buhalis D., Darcy S. and Ambrose I. (Eds.), Best practice in accessible tourism: Inclusion, disability, ageing population and tourism, Bristol, Buffalo, Toronto, Channel View Publications, 2012.
Darcy S. and Dickson, T.J., “A whole-of-life approach to tourism: The case for accessible tourism experiences”, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, n. 16(1), 2009, pp. 32-44.
Della Fina V., Cera R. and Palmisano, G. (Eds.), The United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities: A commentary, Berlin, Springer. 2017.
Dimou E. and Velissariou E., “Tourism and Accessibility, A satisfaction survey on tourists with disabilities in the Island of Crete”, Proceedings of the 11th MIBES Conference (Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 22-24 June 2016), MIBES, 2016 at http://mibes.teilar.gr/pro2016.html
Eichhorn V. and Buhalis D., “Accessibility: A key objective for the tourism industry”, in Buhalis D. and Darcy S. (Eds.), Accessible tourism: Concepts and issues, Bristol, Buffalo, Toronto, Channel View Publications, 2011, pp. 46-61.
European Commission (EC), Economic Impact and Travel Patterns of Accessible, Tourism in Europe. Final Report, Brussels, EC, 2014.
European Commission (EC), European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe, Brussels, EC, 2010, at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM%3A2010%3A0636%3AFIN%3Aen%3APDF
European Commission (EC), Mapping and Performance Check of the Supply of Accessible Tourism Services. Final Report, Brussels, EC, 2015.
Filon E., “Il turismo accessibile: storia e attualità. Il caso studio di Matera”, Tesi di Laurea Magistrale in Sviluppo Interculturale dei Sistemi Turistici, Università Ca’ Foscari, Venezia, 2018.
FRA - European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, The right to political participation of persons with disabilities, Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union, 2014.
Gilson S.F. and Depoy E., “Multiculturalism and disability: A critical perspective”, Disability & Society, n. 15(2), 2000, pp. 207-218.
Gilson S.F. and Depoy E., “Multiculturalism and disability: a critical perspective”, Disability & Society, n. 15(2), 2000, pp. 207-218.
ISFOL, Turisti senza ostacoli. Indagine sull’evoluzione della domanda e dell’offerta del turismo accessibile, Presidenza del consiglio dei ministri, Dipartimento della Gioventù, Roma, 2008.
Lecerf M, European disability policy. From defining disability to adopting a strategy, European Parliament Research Service (EPRS), European Union, 2017, at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2017/603981/EPRS_IDA(2017)603981_EN.pdf
Lyu S.O., “Which accessible travel products are people with disabilities willing to pay more? A choice experiment”, Tourism Management, n. 59, 2017, pp. 404-412.
McKercher B., Packer T., Yau M.K. and Lam P., “Travel agents as facilitators or inhibitors of travel: perceptions of people with disabilities”, Tourism Management, n. 24(4), 2003 pp. 465-474.
Michopoulou E., Darcy, S. Ambrose I. and Buhalis D., “Accessible tourism futures: the world we dream to live in and the opportunities we hope to have”, Journal of Tourism Futures, Vol. 1, n. 3, 2015, pp. 179-188.
Miller G., Economic Impact and Travel Patterns of Accessible Tourism in Europe Service, Contract SI2.ACPROCE052481700, European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry, 2014 at http://tinyurl.com/lzc6962
Miller G. and Kirk E. “The Disability Discrimination Act: time for the stick”, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, n. 10, 2002, pp. 82-88.
Page S.J. and Hall C.M., The geography of tourism and recreation: Environment, place and space. London, Routledge, 2014.
Pencarelli T. and Splendiani S., “Il governo delle destinazioni turistiche in una prospettiva di sostenibilità. Profili concettuali ed evidenze empiriche”, Proceedings of the 9th International Marketing Trends Conference (Venice-Paris, 21-23 January 2010), ESCP-EAP Paris and Università Ca’ Foscari Venice (Eds.), 2010, pp. 1-28.
Popiel M., “Barriers in undertaking tourist activity by disabled people”, Prace Naukowe Akademii im. Jana Długosza w Częstochowie Kultura Fizyczna, n. 15(3), 2016, pp. 103-110.
Popiel M., “Paving the way to accessible tourism on the example of Krakow”, European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, Special Issue, 2014, pp. 55-71.
Popiel M., “Tourism market, disability and inequality: Problems and solutions”, Acta academica karviniensia, n. 16, 2016, pp. 25-36.
Shaw G. and Coles T., “Disability, holiday making and the tourism industry in the UK: a preliminary survey”, Tourism Management, n. 25(3), 2004, pp. 397-403.
Sibi P.S. and Abraham S., “Wellness Tourism-An Analysis of Tourist Preferences and Perceptions in Puducherry” JOHAR, n. 12(2), 2017, pp. 61-79.
Souca M.L., “Accessible Tourism. The Ignored Opportunity”, Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(2), 2010, pp. 1154-1157.
Stokols D., “Social ecology and behavioral medicine: implications for training, practice, and policy”, Behavioral medicine, n. 26(3), 2000, pp. 129-138.
Stumbo N.J. and Pegg S., “Travelers and tourists with disabilities: a matter of priorities and loyalties”, Tourism Review International, n. 8(3), 2005, pp. 195-209.
Tóth G. and David L., “The Connection between Accessibility and Tourism”, Delhi Business Review, Vol. 11, n 1, 2010, pp. 13-17.
UNWTO, Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices, Module II: Accessibility Chain and Recommendations, Madrid, UNWTO, 2015.
UNWTO, Recommendations on Accessible Information in Tourism, Madrid, UNWTO, 2016.
Vila T.D., Darcy S. and González, E.A., “Competing for the disability tourism market–a comparative exploration of the factors of accessible tourism competitiveness in Spain and Australia”, Tourism Management, n. 47, 2015, pp. 261-272.
World Health Organization (WHO), World Report on Disability, Geneva, WHO, 2011.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
The Author assigns to the Nuova Cultura and to Italian Association of Geography Teachers all rights under copyright that can exist in and to the submitted paper. The Author warrants that the paper and images (photos, maps, graphs etc.) are original and that he/she is the Author of the submitted contribution and its parts; in the case of images taken by other publications, the Author must provide a specific authorization and must pay in advance any copyright.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
