Accessible tourism Joanne Straub & Marcial Sommer Module 713 – International tourism TIA Blog presentation

Table of contents Introduction Examples of disabilities Concept Case study Conclusion Sources

Introduction – What is accessible tourism? Accessible tourism is the ongoing endeavour to ensure tourist destinations, products and services are accessible to all people. Tourism and travel that is accessible to all people, with disabilities or not. Source: ENAT. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2013, from European Network for Accessible Tourism

Introduction – Why is it important? According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, approximately a billion people on earth have some kind of disability today. That is equivalent to 15 percent of the total population. The number is growing fast because we are living longer and because we are travelling more than we used to in older age. The world’s population is getting older – the need to handle problems that come along with this issue is important. To attract a wider range of clientele, it benefits your business if it is accessible to all sorts of disabilities.

Introduction – In which touristic fields is it important? Merely all fields of the touristic industry should be aware of accessible tourism. There are a couple of touristic branches however, who are in a particular need to make their offer accessible: Transport industry (airplanes, trains, buses, ships) Accommodation industry Guided tour businesses Activity providers (ski stations for example) Tour operators and travel agents should know how to handle the topic Many, many more

Examples of disabilities Type of disabilityDescription Mobility Physical restrictions, affecting legs, feet, back, neck, arms. Sensory Limited or no capacity to see Limited or no capacity to hear Communication Limited or no capacity to use expressive and/or receptive language. Intellectual / mental health Any sort of illness that results in a behavioural disorder Hidden Variety of illnesses, such as heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy and so on. Source: Buhalis, D., & Darcy, S. (2008). Accessible tourism. Bristol: Channel View Publication.

Concept Physical access and access to information Transport Accommodation Attractions Direct and negative effect on: Tourist numbers Quality Reason Ignorance Lack of awareness customer’s need Source: ENAT. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2013, from European Network for Accessible Tourism

ENAT European Network for Accessible Tourism improve accessibility in the tourism sector existing knowledge Put this knowledge to use Source: ENAT. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2013, from European Network for Accessible Tourism

Case study Scandic Hotels First in the World to Offer Everyone Interactive Web Training on Disabilities answers to difficult and sometimes sensitive questions checklist of 110 points Source: Scandic. (n.d.). Accessibility for all. Retrieved December 2013, from Scandic:

Web training

Conclusion Personal opinions Useful for other sectors Opportunity yes but also personal well-being Professionalism

Questions?

Bibliography Buhalis, D., & Darcy, S. (2008). Accessible tourism. Bristol: Channel View Publication. ENAT. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2013, from European Network for Accessible Tourism: ENAT. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2013, from European Network for Accessible Tourism Scandic. (n.d.). Accessibility for all. Retrieved December 2013, from Scandic: Scandic/Special-needs/ Scandic/Special-needs/