Accessible Tourism
Accessible tourism is an approach to travel that ensures accommodations and experiences are available to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities, seniors, and families with young children. This concept encompasses a wide range of accessibility features, such as wheelchair-friendly accommodations, transportation options, and venues equipped with Braille signage or audio descriptions to assist visually impaired travelers. The tourism industry is increasingly recognizing accessibility not just as a requirement, but as a valuable opportunity to engage a broader audience.
As the global population ages, the importance of accessible tourism is magnified, highlighting the need for inclusive travel experiences. Accessibility considerations span the entire tourism experience, from destination management and marketing to urban design and cultural activities. Implementing universal design principles further enhances accessibility by creating spaces and services that cater to the diverse needs of all travelers, thereby reducing barriers and fostering a welcoming environment.
Incorporating accessible features not only benefits individuals with disabilities but also improves experiences for everyone, as solutions like curb cuts can assist a wide range of users. Organizations like the United Nations World Tourism Organization advocate for these principles to ensure that travel is a right accessible to all, fostering inclusion and equality in the tourism sector.
Accessible Tourism
Accessible tourism refers to travel that accommodates people of different abilities. It may involve handicap-accessible accommodations, means of transportation, and venues, as well as information—for example, Braille signs or recorded messages for visually impaired individuals. In its broadest application, accessible tourism includes everyone who may find travel difficult, including the aged and individuals traveling with young children.
As issues related to travel have been explored, many in the tourism industry have learned to see accessibility as an opportunity rather than an obligation or burden. Many countries count tourism among their primary industries. As the world's population ages, accommodating people of all abilities becomes increasingly important.
The Importance of Tourism
The tourism industry has become increasingly important to many countries. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), approximately 1.3 billion people traveled internationally in 2023. Accessibility has gained attention as well. When people cannot visit places, or safely travel, due to disabilities or other concerns related to access, the tourism industry misses key parts of the traveling population. In 2007, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities explained the obligations of the tourism industry, as well as facilities used by the public, to ensure that all people are equally free to participate in travel, leisure, and sport.
UNWTO has addressed accessibility in what it defines as the elements of the tourism chain: tourism destination management; tourism information and advertising; urban and architectural environments; modes of transport and stations; accommodation, food service, and conventions; cultural activities; and other tourism activities and events.
Tourism destination management is concerned with the philosophy of accessibility—explaining why it is essential, so those involved may identify and address issues.
Tourism information and advertising addresses marketing facilities and destinations clearly. Information about accessibility should be included with general tourism information rather than in separate materials, when possible. UNWTO advocates using international symbols in advertising and other materials. Destinations should also offer information about local support services for tourists with disabilities, for example, veterinary services for guide dogs and local sources of specialized medical care. Reservation services should be accessible to ensure all tourists may independently use them.
Issues related to urban and architectural environments include parking facilities, which should be monitored to ensure they are not used by people without disabilities, and restricted loading and unloading points near entrances. Other concerns include accessible communication, such as Braille on signs, and locating telephones and other devices at levels to accommodate all users, including those in wheelchairs. Signs and ticket counters should be clearly marked and usable by all, while announcements and emergency alarms, such as fire alarms, are both audible and visual. Passageways should be wide and free of barriers; elevators should be large enough for wheelchair users to navigate easily and should include signage and audio controls to allow blind individuals to use them easily. All levels of facilities should be easily accessible to individuals of all abilities. Hygiene facilities should be designed to allow wheelchair users enough space, and sinks and counters should be at a height for all users. Customers with disabilities should not pay more for accessible facilities or services.
Modes of transport and stations should provide the same accessibility for safe transport, and signage and emergency information should be provided in visual and audible formats. Stations, terminals, and transport services between facilities should be accessible in the same way. Accessible rest stop facilities should be provided on major highways.
Accommodation, food service establishments, and conference facilities should include signage and access to all areas. Adapted rooms should be located in areas that allow individuals to evacuate safely and quickly in case of emergency. Service animals should be welcome. Menus should be available in Braille, or in another format such as an Internet form, and should include options for those with food intolerances. Conference facilities should provide seating areas to accommodate wheelchair users and headphones or other audio facilities for those with hearing impairments. Audio-visual presentations should be available in audio description or subtitle formats, or sign language interpreters should be provided.
Cultural activities are open to all visitors when physical barriers are eliminated and audio descriptions, subtitles, or sign language interpreters are provided.
Issues related to other tourism activities and events include use of accessible motor coach vehicles and sports facilities. Trails and other areas in natural environments should ensure access for all. Beaches should have ramps or walkways, adapted changing facilities, amphibious chairs and crutches, and aides to assist visitors.
Universal Design
Early efforts to address accessibility from a design standpoint focused on accessible design. This process seeks to design products and spaces for those with disabilities. Universal design (UD), which evolved from this process, recognizes that people have a wide spectrum of abilities. UD seeks to address access for everyone: young children, adults, aged persons, and those with temporary and long-term/permanent disabilities. The goal is to design safe, usable, convenient products and facilities for human diversity of all kinds. UD seeks to eliminate or reduce the need for adaptation to accommodate individuals by designing for everyone.
UD considers a range of issues, including cognitive, perceptual, and physical abilities as well as body shapes, sizes, and statures. As an example, curb cuts were designed to help individuals in wheelchairs, yet many people benefit from these features, including people pushing strollers.
Public spaces that follow the UD philosophy can be welcoming to visitors of all abilities. Designers of the international terminal of Haneda Airport in Tokyo employed UD principles. In addition to many of the usual considerations, such as bathroom facilities and doors, the terminal also uses a special font on electronic flight information boards, making it easier for visitors to tell the numeral 0 from the letter O. The flight information is also broadcast through speakers. Such designs make travel for people of all abilities easier.
The UNWTO advocates UD as a way to ensure the human rights and basic freedoms of all people to enjoyment and travel. The organization has endorsed UD as a concept that it believes should be adopted universally.
Bibliography
“Accessible Tourism.” United Nations, www.unwto.org/accessibility. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
“International Tourism to Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels in 2024.” United Nations Tourism, 19 Jan. 2024, www.unwto.org/news/international-tourism-to-reach-pre-pandemic-levels-in-2024. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
Takahashi, Yohei, Imad N. Fakhoury, Charlotte Mcclain-Nhlapo. “Japan and the World Bank: Advancing Universal Design in Urban Planning.” World Bank, 12 Dec. 2023, blogs.worldbank.org/en/ppps/japan-and-world-bank-advancing-universal-design-urban-planning. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
“What is Universal Design?” University of Washington, 24 May 2022, www.washington.edu/doit/what-universal-design-0. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.