is accessibility in tourism

What is Accessible Tourism and Why is it So Important?

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Accessible tourism is an integral part of implementing sustainable tourism. When most people hear the term ‘accessible tourism’, they immediately think of disabled people and things such as audio devices for the blind and ramps for those in wheelchairs. Yes, this is an important part of accessible tourism, BUT accessible tourism is actually MUCH more than this!

Accessible tourism is about providing access to tourism for people from all walks of life and all kinds of backgrounds- provision for disabled people makes up just one fragment of this.

This article sets out to cover the broad spectrum of areas that are encompassed within the concept of accessible tourism. I will explain what accessible tourism is, provide some definitions of accessible tourism and then I will discuss at length the factors influencing accessible tourism.

What is accessible tourism?

Definitions of accessible tourism, why is accessible tourism important, factors influencing access to tourism, disposable income, cost of travel, cost of tourism, cost of living, exchange rate, available leisure time, nature of employment, stage of life, social environment, access to transport , cultural attitude, images of destination, perception of destination, familiarity with destination, uncertainty over future, political stability, disease , natural disaster, social conditions , economic conditions, level of development, government attitude to tourism, laws or restrictions, availability of resources for tourism, attractions , mega-events, marketing and promotion, technology , startegies to implement accessible tourism, accessible tourism: conclusion, further reading on accessible tourism.

Accessibility in tourism is a social right- everyone should have access regardless of where they come from, their age, their gender, any disabilities they may have, hope much money they earn etc.

Also sometimes referred to as ‘ tourism for all ‘, accessible tourism is closely aligned with the principles of sustainable tourism . In order for an organisation to be sustainable, it should provide access opportunities for all.

Accessible tourism provides opportunities for all types of people to take part in tourism activities.

People’s needs vary considerably- while one person may have a physical disability, another person may be financially disadvantaged or may not have access to the technology required to organise their trip.

By ensuring there is accessible tourism, destinations are enhancing their business prospects by attracting a wider range of tourists than they may otherwise achieve.

Accessible tourism involves a collaborative process among all stakeholders in tourism including Governments, international agencies, tour-operators and tourists themselves.

There are many things to consider when planning for accessible tourism, such as accessing information, travel arrangements to the destination, local transportation, accommodation, shopping, and hospitality.

There is no universally agreed and approved definition of the term accessible tourism, which perhaps contributes to the lack of clarity that many people have in understanding what constitutes accessible tourism.

The concept of accessible tourism has evolved considerably throughout recent years. This is largely because society has become more aware and more inclusive. This has resulted in discussions about accessibility coming to the forefront amongst tourism stakeholders.

Below I have outlined some of the commonly noted definitions, however, it is important to remember that the concept is likely to continue to evolve further and that the term be need to be ‘redefined’ as necessary.

Accessible tourism (also known as access tourism, ‘universal tourism’, ‘inclusive tourism’ and in some countries such as in Japan ‘barrier-free tourism’) is tourism and travel that is accessible to all people, with disabilities or not, including those with mobility, hearing, sight, cognitive, or intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, older persons and those with temporary disabilities”  ( Takayama Declaration – Appendix, UNESCAP, 2009 ). 

‘Accessible tourism refers to tourism that caters to the needs of a full range of consumers including persons with disabilities, older persons and cross-generational families. It entails removal of attitudinal and institutional barriers in society, and encompasses accessibility in the physical environment, in transportation, information and communications and other facilities and services. It encompasses publicly and privately owned tourist locations.’ ( Takayama City and UNESCAP Conference – Press Release – Takayama, 2009 )

‘Accessible tourism is a process of enabling people with disabilities and seniors to function independently and with equity and dignity through the delivery of universal tourism products, services and environments. The definition is inclusive of the mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive dimensions of access.’ (Darcy, 2006)

‘ Accessible tourism 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 is inclusive of all people including those travelling with children in prams, people with disabilities and seniors’. (Darcy & Dickson, 2009)

More posts that may interest you- – Types of tourism: A glossary – Everything you need to know about sustainable tourism – Enclave tourism: An explanation – The structure of the tourism industry – What is the sharing economy and how does impact travel and tourism?

Accessible tourism is not just about people with disabilities, it is about everyone.

Accessibility is a central element of any responsible and sustainable development policy , both in the context of tourism and in other areas.

Accessible tourism is important because accessibility is a human right and an important business opportunity. By ensuring that tourism is accessible, there is more scope for business development for individuals and from a top-down perspective.

In order to ensure that accessible tourism is developed in a sustainable manner, tourism stakeholders must develop policies and practices aimed at achieving inclusivity, avoiding practices that include preferential or segregated treatment.

There are many factors that may influence a person’s access to tourism. In order for tourism to be developed and managed in a sustainable way, these factors should be taken into consideration at the planning stage and throughout implementation.

Accessible tourism: Economic factors

There are many economic reasons that tourism may not be accessible for some people. I will outline some of the major economic factors below.

Travel and tourism is considered a luxury in that it is not essential to maintain life. As a result, when a person does not have much disposable (or ‘extra’) income, the first thing to suffer is often their holidays.

During times of financial hardship, such as an economic recession, the tourism industry is one of the first areas to suffer.

Therefore, disposable income is a key contributor to the travel and tourism industry.

A key contributor to accessible tourism is price. If the price of travel is too high, many people will not be able to access it.

The tourism industry really took off with the growth of the low cost carrier . Reductions in the price of flights, coupled with growing route networks, made travel and tourism more accessible.

But it’s not just about the cost of travelling to a destination. The price of tourism facilities in the destination is also a key factor in attaining accessible tourism.

If hotels and tourist attractions are very expensive, this will likely mean that many people will not be able to access the tourism industry in this area.

The cost of living in both the tourism traveller region and the tourism destination region (for more on this see my post on Leiper’s tourism system ) can have a significant impact on accessible tourism.

If the cost of living is high in either area, tourists may not be able to financially access tourism.

Exchange rates are particularly important in international tourism .

Tourists who are based in a country with a strong currency (such as the UK, the USA, Australia ) are naturally at an economic advantage over tourists who live in countries with weaker countries.

This is because their money goes further when they travel abroad, particularly if they choose to travel to a destination with a currency that is weaker than the currency used in their home country.

Accessible tourism: Social factors

There are also many social factors that contribute to accessible tourism. I will introduce you to these below.

Accessible tourism is dependant on whether a person has the free time to spend on tourism.

Many countries around the world now offer their employees paid leave each year. This has resulted in a growth in tourism because people have more available leisure time.

Whether you have a lot of time to spend on travel and tourism or not can be dependant on the type of employment that you have.

For me, one of the reasons that I work in education is so that I have lots of free leisure time to travel!

However, some jobs do not offer such flexibility and may offer reduced leisure time.

A person’s physical ability to take part in tourism is a key contributor to accessible tourism.

This includes physical disabilities, illnesses and health that is effected by age.

There are many things that tourism stakeholders can do to ensure that tourism is accessible such as providing ramps for people who are in wheelchairs, brail cards for the blind and lifts for those who find stairs challenging.

Accessible tourism should enable people to access tourism no matter what stage of life they are in. This means that there should be facilities for young children, such as ramps of buggies, as well as facilities for the elderly.

Tourism destinations should try to differentiate the products that they have on offer to cater for people of all ages.

Education may have an impact on how accessible tourism is for a person.

For example, it has been a long debated topic about whether students should be allowed to take holidays during the school term. Prices invariably rise as soon as school breaks up, meaning that some families can no longer afford the tourism products that are on offer.

Different people come from different social environments and this should not make tourism any more or less accessible.

A social environment could be centred around a particular culture or religion, for example.

It could also be related to particular hobbies and interests.

Some people have more access to transport than others. This is commonly noted when comparing city living to rural living. In towns and cities there is typically a wider range of transport options than in rural areas.

In fact, transport accessibility is one of the greatest challenges that the rural tourism industry faces.

Psychological factors

Psychological factors also play a significant role in accessible tourism. Here is a summary:

If a person is not motivated to visit a certain area, they probably won’t- it’s as simple as that!

A person’s cultural attitude can be an important factor in accessible tourism.

For example, people want to feel that their culture will be treated with respect.

Some people think they are superior or inferior to others, and if this is the case then they may not wish to travel to a particular area in which they hold this view.

The image of a destination is a key factor in determining if a person may be likely to visit.

Many of us want to visit Thailand because of the many images of exotic beaches that we can see, for example.

However, some people may not want to travel to Thailand because they perceive it to be a bad country because of the poverty levels or because of sex tourism in Thailand .

This demonstrates that perception also plays a key role in accessible tourism.

Many people prefer to travel to a destination because they are familiar with it.

This may be because they have travelled to said destination before, or it may be because they have seen their favourite influencer talk about it on Instagram .

Familiarity with a destination can be a motivational factor.

Sometimes tourists feel that they have a ‘connection’ to a place.

In some instances this may be a physical connection- a family member may live there or the tourist may have a strong history in the area.

In other cases tourists may feel that they have a psychological connection with a place. They may affiliate with the culture or the ‘feel’ of the place.

Whilst for some people, distance is no issue, other people prefer to stay closer to home.

And some people prefer not to travel to particular areas or using particular modes of transport because of fear.

A person made be afraid of flying, for example.

Another factor that can influence accessible tourism is uncertainty that a person may have in their future.

Many people may not want to go on holiday if they have worries over aspects such as their job security or money.

The 2020 Coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated more than ever that people are nervous to travel when there are political, economic and health uncertainties.

Broader factors (macro-determinants)

Alongside the environmental, social and economic factors that influence accessible tourism, there are also several macro-determinants which can play a key role. Some examples include:

Destinations that are experiencing or that have recently experience terrorist attacks are unlikely to be accessible tourism destinations.

e.g. New York after the 9/11 attacks, Tunisia after the shootings in 2015, Bali after the bombing in 2002.

Areas that have ongoing war are also unlikely to be accessible tourism destinations.

One exception is Israel. Israel continues to welcome tourists, despite ongoing feuds with Palestine. I watched rockets being shot out of then sky when I was there, it was pretty scary. You can read all about that here.

Destinations that are experiencing political instability are not likely to welcome tourists with open arms.

They also often receive a lot of negative media attention, which can impact tourist motivations to travel to the area in the near future.

e.g. Thailand Bangkok riots in 2018, Egyptian revolution in 2011.

If a person does not feel safe and secure in a destination, they may not feel that it is accessible.

There are many parts of Africa and Central America that revive fewer visitors for this reason.

Many tourists will avoid travelling to areas that have disease.

This has never been more prevalent than the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, which has a devastating impact on the tourism industry.

Natural disasters often hit tourist destinations hard.

The 2001 tsunami, the Nepalese earthquake in 2015 and Hurricane Katrina in the USA in 2005 all had terrible consequences for the tourism sector.

Many people do not want to be faced with particular social conditions when they go on holiday.

This may be things such as poverty, gun crime or smoking.

Many tourists do not want to experience tourism in poor areas.

The economic conditions here mean that accessible tourism is not achieved.

Other people are influenced by levels of development.

Many less economically developed countries do not experience the same levels of tourism is Western nations because of their inferior levels of development.

This include aspects such as an underdeveloped airport or road infrastructure.

In some parts of the world the Government may not have a favourable attitude towards tourism.

There could be a lot of corruption, for example. Or there could be high taxes on tourism activities.

Some people choose not to travel to particular areas because of the laws or restrictions placed upon them.

A common example of this is people who are in same-sex relationships who wish to visit destinations in The Middle East. Rules and punishments for same-sex relationships shown in public can be severe; making tourism inaccessible for some.

Some areas are not accessible destinations because they lack the sources required for tourism.

Perhaps the area does not have a well developed road infrastructure or enough water to fill the hotel swimming pool, for example.

Attractions can be a big draw to a destinations for tourists. Likewise, a lack of attractions may put tourists off.

Mega-events can often result in overtourism and congestion.

Mega-events could be the reason a person visits the area, but it could also put a person off visiting.

In order for accessible tourism to be achieved, all types of visitors should be made aware of what is on offer.

This is where good marketing and promotion come in.

Lastly, technology can have a significant influence on whether accessible tourism is achieved or not.

Nowadays, many people will rely on technology for research purposes and to book the components of their holiday .

Therefore, those who do not have adequate access to such technology may be disadvantaged.

There are many strategies that tourism destinations and organisations can use to implement accessible tourism. This includes:

• Encouraging policies and actions to support social tourism at all levels
• Ensuring universal adherence to workers’ leave entitlement, safeguarding this aspect of social security guaranteed by the European social model 
• Designing and adapting tourism facilities and sites to meet physical disability needs
• Improving information relevant to disabled people and under-privileged groups 
• Encouraging a broad price range in tourism facilities and experiences 
• Pursuing specific schemes to facilitate and encourage holiday-taking by people on low incomes, such as the holiday voucher systems run in some countries based on tax incentives and involving governments and operators
• Having effective marketing and promotion strategies

Accessible tourism is not a luxury, it is a right. Everybody should have access to tourism.

In order for tourism to be sustainable, it should do its upmost to development and implement accessible tourism where possible. This will inevitably have positive outcomes for the overall business development. As I have explained in this article, the three keys areas of the environment, economy and society should be considered when planning for accessible tourism.

To learn more about accessible tourism, I suggest that you consult the texts listed below.

• Accessible Tourism: Concepts and Issues – This book sets out to explore and document the current theoretical approaches, foundations and issues in the study of accessible tourism.
• Best Practice in Accessible Tourism: Inclusion, Disability, Ageing Population and Tourism – It brings together global expertise in planning, design and management to inform and stimulate providers of travel, transport, accommodation, leisure and tourism services to serve guests with disabilities, seniors and the wider markets that require good accessibility. 

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Promoting accessible tourism for all

What is accessible tourism?

Accessible tourism enables all people to participate in and enjoy tourism experiences. More people have access needs, whether or not related to a physical condition. For example, older and less mobile people have access needs, which can become a huge obstacle when traveling or touring. Thus, accessible tourism is the ongoing endeavour to ensure tourist destinations, products and services are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical limitations, disabilities or age. This inludes publicly and privately owned tourist locations, facilities and services.

Accessible tourism involves a collaborative process among all stakeholders, Governments, international agencies, tour-operators and end-users, including persons with disabilities and their organizations (DPOs). A successful tourism product requires effective partnerships and cooperation across many sectors at the national, regional and international levels. From idea to implementation, a single destination visit normally involves many factors, including accessing information, long-distance travel of various sorts, local transportation, accommodation, shopping, and dining. The impact of accessible tourism thus goes beyond the tourist beneficiaries to the wider society, engraining accessibility into the social and economic values of society. International action and normative frameworks

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2006. CRPD Article 9 on Accessibility calls for State Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to the physical environment, information, transportation and other facilities and services open or provided to the public. It also calls for the elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, including all transportation and facilities. Furthermore, Article 30 on Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport also calls for State Parties to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the benefits of tourism.

At the 2013, historic UN High-level Meeting on Disability and Development, which included several Heads of State, the link of disability and development was discussed and the meeting called for enhanced action to mainstream disability in the global development agenda. In the outcome document of the meeting, accessibility was identified as a key area for action.

Furthermore, in his message for the 2013 World Habitat Day , UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community to make towns and cities accessible to all.

In the recent 2030 Agenda for Global Action containing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2015), Goal 11 focuses on principles to “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. This goal captures tourism and recreation through its call for the provisions of universal design for accessible and sustainable transport systems, inclusive urbanization, and access to green and public spaces. In its 2011 Declaration, The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicted tourism will increase and experience sustained development, reaching 1.8 billion international tourists by 2030. Accessible cities and tourism provisions therefore ensure the full social and economic inclusion of all persons with direct benefits of promoting more sustainable travel habits among users.

What are the barriers to travel and tourism for persons with disabilities?

For persons with disabilities, travelling can be a challenge, as finding the information on accessible services, checking luggage on a plane, booking a room to fulfil access needs, often prove to be difficult, costly and time consuming.

Challenges for persons with disabilities include: • Untrained professional staff capable of informing and advising about accessibility issues • Inaccessible booking services and related websites • Lack of accessible airports and transfer facilities and services • Unavailability of adapted and accessible hotel rooms, restaurants, shops, toilets and public places • Inaccessible streets and transport services • Unavailable information on accessible facilities, services, equipment rentals and tourist attractions

Why is accessible tourism important?

Accessibility is a central element of any responsible and sustainable development policy. It is both a human rights imperative, as well as an exceptional business opportunity. In this context, accessible tourism does not only benefit persons with disabilities, it benefits all of society.

To ensure that accessible tourism is developed in a sustainable manner requires that tourist destinations go beyond ad hoc services to adopting the principle of universal design, ensuring that all persons, regardless of their physical or cognitive needs, are able to use and enjoy the available amenities in an equitable and sustainable manner. This approach foregoes preferential or segregated treatment of differently abled constituents to permitting uninhibited use of facilities and services by all, at any time, to equitable effect.

I am not a person with a disability – how does this affect me?

Accessibility is also an important aspect of realizing the rights of the world’s ageing population. As we grow older, our chance of experiencing a permanent or temporary disability is increased. A focus on accessibility can therefore ensure that we are able to participate fully in our societies well into our older years. Accessibility also benefits pregnant women and persons who are temporarily rendered immobile.

The improvements to physical and service infrastructure that come with a focus on accessibility also encourage a more multigenerational focus in development planning. For families with small children, accessible infrastructure – particularly in transportation, city planning and building design – improves the ability of these families to participate in social and cultural activities.

The United Nations is committed to sustainable and equitable development. Certainly, making basic adjustments to a facility, providing accurate information, and understanding the needs of disabled people can result in increased visitor numbers. Improving the accessibility of tourism services increases their quality and their enjoyment for all tourists, as well as improving quality of life in the local communities.

Other resources:

• UN News Centre: Accessible tourism will benefit everyone, say senior UN officials on World Day
• World Tourism Day 2016 Theme: Promoting Universal Accessibility
• UN Environment : #Tourism4All videos 1 , 2 , 3
• The UNWTO General Assembly adopts Recommendations on Accessible Information in Tourism
• UN World Tourism Organisation Accessible Tourism Manuals
• Disabled World Travel Documents
• European Commission Improving Accessibility
• Sustainable Tourism Online
• 7th Session of the Conference of State Parties to the CRPD
• United Nations World Tourism Organisation Best Practice Guide  
• European Network for Accessible Tourism – World Summit in Montreal, October 2014
• Centre of Excellence for Destination
• European Network for Accessible Tourism
• Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality
• Capitalising on the Grey-haired Globetrotters Economic Aspects of Increasing Tourism among Older and Disabled People

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French: Tourisme et Handicaps Spanish: Fundaciononce Arabic: Arab Tourism Portal German: Russland Barrierefrei

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The Importance of Accessibility in Tourism

This guide to the current state of accessibility in tourism around the world offers facts, figures, key insights, and hope for the future.

By  Amanda Winstead

Everyone deserves the chance to relax and go on vacation. The good news is that many destinations are evolving as time goes on, becoming more sustainable and accessible to visitors from all walks of life. Accessibility in tourism is important because it allows all people to feel like they are truly appreciated and welcomed wherever they go. Of course, some destinations are more ahead of the curve than others, and that is what we will talk about today.

If you are an individual with a disability, be it physical, sensory, or otherwise, we are here to tell you that there is a place out there where you can truly feel relaxed and entertained. Let’s talk about what accessible travel destinations may look like and some great vacation spots around the world that you can look into today.

Table of Contents

The World Is Changing And It Is Good

You may have noticed that there is a change in the world. People are becoming more accepting of each other around the globe, and the excitement is palpable. This is especially important when it comes to accepting those with disabilities.

The fact is that 15% of the world’s population lives with some sort of disability , so the idea that businesses and destinations around the world are becoming more accessible is a no-brainer. In addition to doing what is right for our fellow human beings, companies around the world realize that they should modify their establishment to be more welcoming to those with disabilities so they can earn more money. Although it isn’t the noblest reason, their actions still make the world a better place.

This is why you will see that in 2023, you now have more options for where you travel and vacation without worrying about a lack of accessibility. Let’s talk a bit more about the hottest tourist locations for various lifestyles.

Considerations For Wheelchair-Friendly Destinations

Of that large number of individuals with disabilities in the world, almost 2% of them require a wheelchair or some other form of assistance to get from point A to B. If you need a wheelchair or scooter, then you need to think about where you want to go and research the d estination to ensure that it is wheelchair accessible .

When it comes to this requirement, you need to research by looking at the company website or calling ahead of time to ensure that you will be able to do everything you want to do without limitations. To truly enjoy yourself, you will need:

• Wheelchair or ramp access at all buildings that you plan to visit.
• Wide enough doorways to allow you and your chair to get through.
• Even and level flooring throughout the destination.
• Elevators in buildings with more than one floor, including museums.
• Accessible restrooms with large stalls, grab bars, and non-slip tiles.

Ask about all of those options and anything else you may require. If the destination doesn’t offer everything that you need, then they may be able to make accommodations.

Fun Wheelchair-Friendly Vacations

As we mentioned, many tourist destinations are becoming much more accessible and welcoming to folks in wheelchairs. Some of the wheelchair-friendly destinations include:

Disney World and Disneyland – Both of these awesome destinations have evolved by leaps and bounds over the years. Every building has wheelchair access, and in many cases, you may be allowed to skip the line to make things easier. If you ever need help, a team member is always there in an instant to assist.

Sydney, Australia – If you want to go international, then consider Sydney, where they have gone out of their way to ensure full accessibility. Even the ferries and taxis are wheelchair accessible. There are also many notable attractions that are easy to access, including the royal botanical gardens and the famous Opera bar.

Barcelona, Spain – Barcelona is famous for being a relatively flat city, so you can easily get from place to place without having to worry about a sudden bump or decline. On top of that, all buses and metro stations are accessible, and many tourist destinations will allow those in wheelchairs to get in at a reduced cost.

Seattle, Washington – Seattle is a really amazing city with something new to see around every corner. Recently, they updated their city’s rail system to make it completely ADA-compliant so you can get on and off with ease while touring the entire downtown area. All of the famous locations, from the space needle to the Pike Place Market, are wheelchair accessible, so you won’t miss a thing.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado – To prove just how much the world is changing when it comes to accessibility, you can also go camping with ease, even if you have a wheelchair or scooter. At the Rocky Mountain National Park, you can enjoy nature at the wheelchair-accessible campgrounds, and you can even hike through some of the trails due to the flat boardwalks. Many other campgrounds and national parks around the country are becoming more accessible over time, so you are bound to enjoy your time at many of them.

Sensory Accessibility And Tourism

When you are on vacation, it is not always about what you do, but the sights and sounds that you experience when you are there. For that reason, it is also important that tourist destinations ensure that they make the necessary modifications to offer sensory accessibility. Around the globe, 2.2 billion people live with a sensory impairment . That can include blindness, low vision, deaf-blindness, sensory processing disorder, or anything in between.

If you know that you need to find an accessible vacation spot that you can visit without sacrificing your enjoyment, then call the location ahead of time. There can be a myriad of sensory accessibility features that you may need depending on your situation, including having access to audio guides, light and sound notifications, braille menus, pamphlets, and signage.

Accessibility for those with hearing loss may include having access to assisted listening devices, sign language interpreters, and captioning on phones and screens.

Sensory Considerations For Kids On The Autism Spectrum

Many families with children on the autism spectrum will face slightly different issues when it comes to the senses. It is not uncommon for those with autism to experience sensitivity when it comes to sounds, smells, sights, balance, as well as awareness of body position, movement, and internal body cues. Children with autism may also be hypo-sensitive, where they have difficulty recognizing sensations like pain and hunger.

A child who has sensory conditions may increase their movement, cover their eyes and ears, experience difficulty communicating, and more. Needless to say, it is important to research vacation spots ahead of time to ensure that they are accessible for you and your children if they have autism. Look for destinations that provide:

• Special quiet spaces where people can go if they are feeling overloaded.
• Extra security in case a child gets lost.
• Employees that have extra training with autistic children.
• Plenty of water activities
• Transportation options that make it easy to get from place to place.

Awesome Destinations That Accommodate For Sensory Disabilities

Whether you have a child with autism or you require some sensory accessibility options to fully enjoy your time on vacation, you can find what you need at these autism-friendly destinations :

Great America Theme Parks – There are many Great America parks around the country, and the owners pride themselves on making these locations as accommodating as possible. The parks offer front-of-line passes to those who need them and tracking wristbands in case a child was to get lost.

HersheyPark in Hershey, Pennsylvania – If you love chocolate and thrilling rides, then you should stop by HersheyPark. It is great for those with sensory sensitivities because as you enter the park, you can fill out an accessibility questionnaire. Once you provide the answers, you will be supplied with a list of the attractions and rides that will cause the least amount of stress while still providing plenty of fun.

Legoland Florida – Kids love legos and using their imagination, and they can do both in the safest way possible when they visit Legoland. The owners of the park have partnered up with the group Autism Speaks to ensure that the entire park is autism-friendly. They have several quiet rooms, sensory-stimulating activities, and front-of-line passes for those that need them.

City of Madison, Wisconsin – The mayor and city council of Madison really care about being an autism-friendly location, and they proved it by hiring an autism expert. Because of their efforts, the city is home to many safe activities, including museums, parks, and art exhibits. It is a nice town, and you can get around without a lot of commotion or distractions.

City of Mesa, AZ – Similar to Madison, the awesome city of Mesa, AZ, also prides itself on being a safe haven for those who may have certain sensitivities. The area is home to several water parks, recreational areas, yoga studios, escape rooms, and more, and they all are sensitive to each visitor’s needs. If necessary, you can also visit some of the local Certified Autism Centers to find the peace you need.

Key Takeaways around Accessibility in Tourism

The world is becoming more accessible day by day, and that means that you can expand your list of possible tourist spots for your next big vacation. Remember to do your research and consider some of these great destinations and make it a year to remember.

For further reading, please visit: https://www.unwto.org/accessibility

About the Author

Amanda Winstead is a writer focusing on many topics including technology and digital marketing. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter .

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Accessible Tourism Identified as ‘Game Changer’ for Destinations

• All Regions

Ensuring accessibility for tourists with specific access requirements can be a ‘game changer’ for destinations around the world as they look to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic. A new set of  Inclusive Recovery Guides from the World Tourism Organization, produced in partnership with the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the ONCE Foundation of Spain and Travability from Australia, makes clear the importance of placing inclusivity at the centre of recovery plans and provides key recommendations for achieving this.

Launched on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guide – Socio-Cultural Impacts of COVID-19: Issue I Persons with Disabilities , draws on the expertise of UNWTO’s Ethics Culture and Social Responsibility Department and its partners. While much progress has been made, the publication makes clear that persons with disabilities and seniors encounter barriers preventing them from fully enjoying tourism experiences, even more so during the pandemic. Now, as UNWTO leads the restart of tourism globally, this guide outlines steps that governments, destinations and companies should take to build back better, becoming more inclusive and competitive.

This can be a real game changer for destinations and businesses, helping them recover from the crisis and grow back in a more inclusive and resilient way

Accessibility as a priority

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said : “Tourism environments and services are often designed without considering the different access requirements that visitors and locals may have. The tourism sector must prioritize accessibility. This can be a real game changer for destinations and businesses, helping them recover from the crisis and grow back in a more inclusive and resilient way.”

Highlighting the potential benefits for more accessible destinations, the publication notes that, by 2050, one in six people worldwide will be aged 65 or over, rising to one in four in Europe and North America. Furthermore, data shows that the average spend of tourists with disabilities in Spain, for example is in excess of 800 euros, compared with just over 600 euros for tourists without disabilities.

Recommendations for inclusive recovery

The recommendations advocating for accessibility during the recovery of tourism insist on six main action areas:

• Assistance in a crisis: Including accessibility during every stage of repatriation, which requires the backing of destinations and disabled peoples’ organizations (DPOs)
• Adaptation of protocols: Follow UNWTO guidance on adapting general health and safety protocols, considering that customers may have different abilities and requirements
• Inclusivity in post-pandemic tourism: Including the effective use of data to guide decisions on accessible tourism planning and adjusting accessibility policies and strategies to reflect post-COVID realities
• Accessibility in business planning: Treating accessibility as a competitive advantage, improving customer service, and the application of harmonized international standards to enhance quality of life for all
• Staff training and inclusion: Extending professional training to better cater for tourists with different abilities, and ensuring equal opportunities in the tourism workforce
• Innovation and digital transformation: Embracing innovation to make travel and tourism safer, smarter and easier for all

The guidelines reflect UNWTO’s ongoing commitment to inclusive tourism, enshrined within The UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics , calling on signatories to facilitate tourism for persons with disabilities. This publication is also the first one in a planned series of thematic briefs from UNWTO’s Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Department , in its intent to provide guidance to our sector.

UNWTO and partners are asking administrations, destinations and companies, which have successfully incorporated accessibility in their mitigation measures, to share their stories through the questionnaire “Accessible Tourism Champions” , also launched today.

Related Links

• Download the press release in PDF
• Click here to access the questionnaire
• UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guide-Socio-Cultural Impacts of COVID-19: Issue I: Persons with Disabilities
• ONCE Foundation
• Reopening Tourism for Travellers with Disabilities: How to provide safety without imposing unnecessary obstacles
• Travability

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Accessibility in Tourism: challenges and opportunities

Globally the WHO estimates that 15% of the population has some kind of need for accessibility assistance. For these people, accessible space is essential to be able to carry out daily activities including their leisure time. Also, many people have some temporary difficulty such as pregnant women, recovering from an accident, children, etc. The progressive ageing of the population associated with a longer life expectancy in developed countries also is causing an increase in the number of people with reduced mobility.

The importance of accessible tourism

“Accessible tourism” enables people with access limitations in mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive dimensions to function independently and with equity and dignity by delivering universally designed tourism products, services and environments (Darcy and Dickson, n.d.) . According to the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT, n.d.) accessible tourism includes:

• Barrier-free destinations: infrastructure and facilities.
• Transport: by air, land and sea, suitable for all users.
• High-quality services: delivered by trained staff.
• Activities, exhibitions, attractions: allowing everyone to participate in tourism.
• Marketing, reservation systems, websites and services: information accessible to all.

70% of Europeans with disabilities have physical and economic possibilities to travel, this is equivalent to 58.115.778 potential visitors only in the European Union. In the case of Germany, people with physical disabilities spend a total of about 5 billion euros each year on travel, although the number of trips has been reduced due to the lack of accessibility in tourist areas in Europe. In America, specifically in the United States, people with motor disabilities spend about 11,212.90 dollars on travel each year (González, 2014) .

Europe and the United States of America are home to most of the specialized travel agents in this field of providing accessible tourism. However, companies around the world are beginning to appear as a result of a growing need, driven by high-end tourism and due to increased life expectancy in developed countries.

With the growth of the Internet, online travel planning is also becoming more common, leading to an increase in online accessibility maps. As an example, starting in 2016, Lonely Planet began offering accessible online resources by country.

Accessibility and reduced mobility are on the agenda

In the last twenty years, accessible tourism has become a priority for both public and private initiatives in different countries through laws protecting the right to accessibility for people with disabilities.

In the year 2016, the theme of the UNWTO International Tourism Day was “Tourism for All”. The website of this organization refers to the fact that accessibility is not only focused on the elderly, families of limited resources or workers. It also promotes the opportunity for recreation and rest for people with some kind of disability (UNWTO, 2016).

“Governments and the private sector should view the potential for inclusion of 15-17% of the population as an untapped market, as a sound investment in social inclusion – something that could benefit large swathes of the population,” says Charlotte V. McClain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor at the World Bank.

A consistent supply of accessible tourism requires a combination of integrated public and private services, providing reliable and up-to-date information to both residents and tourists. It also requires adequate means of transport and the necessary protection to ensure the safety of all.

Integrating digital, social and sustainable skills in a tourism accessibility strategy

With persons being at the heart of all tourism services, their awareness about the topic, knowledge and necessary skills are critical for successful implementation.

The human element is and will be a key factor in any adapted tourism product design because the levels of attention and care required by these groups must be highly personalised. Social skills (empathy, communication, assertiveness, etc.) are essential in accessible tourism since most of these people will require direct accompaniment or help in carrying out many leisure activities.

The technological revolution with the appearance of internet, robotics, virtual or augmented reality, big data, provides new opportunities to improve the accessible tourist experience in services  and destinations. Providing human resources with the necessary digital skills will favour a better adaptation of these services to the real and specific needs and the different types and levels of disability or reduced mobility.

The level of demand regarding the adaptation of facilities and equipment in accessible tourism is high. A strategy of “inclusion” of groups of people with disabilities results in a greater degree of sustainability of the initiatives. In such a “global” concept, the versatility and adaptability of the tourist offer are perfectly complemented by the fulfilment of environmental criteria and integration in the territory and the local population.

NTG is seeking greater integration of these competencies in the future design of training itineraries, which increasingly need to take into account accessibility requirements.

Practical problems and how to solve them

Specific problems encountered by travelers or tourists with disabilities include:

• Inaccessible or only partially accessible websites
• The lack of wheelchair accessible vehicles
• The lack of well-adapted hotel rooms
• Lack of professional staff capable of dealing with accessibility issues
• Lack of reliable information on the level of accessibility of a specific attraction
• Lack of accessible restaurants, bars and other facilities
• The lack of adapted bathrooms in restaurants and public places
• Inaccessible streets and sidewalks
• The lack of technical aids and equipment for the disabled, such as wheelchairs, bathing chairs and public toilets

Public institutions and the private tourism sector are already working in many cases in a coordinated manner to try to gradually solve these limitations.

EU countries have incorporated minimum accessibility criteria and requirements in the regulations governing public and private buildings and spaces. Tourism regulations establish a series of minimum requirements in terms of accessibility such as, for example, the obligatory of access without architectural barriers in entrances and common areas, the requirement for lifts, adapted public and private toilets, etc.

In some countries, private or mixed initiatives for the enjoyment of tourist services and activities by the disabled have been implemented. They refer to the creation of accessibility standards according to the type of disability, or the definition of labels or certifications of accessible tourism services or destinations. Here are some practical examples of best practice, guidelines and resources to support tourism businesses:

• UK national accessible scheme for tourism
• Manuals on recommendations of adaptations for accessible tourism offer; e.g this one elaborated by Predif the State Representative Platform for People with Physical Disabilities
• Guides of accessible tourist resources on Greenways
• Companies whose product is focused on inclusive tourism. They provide their facilities and equipment with high levels of accessibility and take care of specific training and qualification of their workers many of whom have some degree of disability. E.g. Ilunion Hotels (Spain)

Eurogites is working now on this topic. The project Access IT (INNOVATION FOR ACCESSIBLE TOURISM IN NATURAL AND RURAL AREAS) supports the capacity of EU tourism SMEs operating in nature and rural areas to bridge accessibility gaps through stakeholder co-design of innovative solutions for tourism products for customers with specific access requirements. For more info click here .

Francisco Javier Cansinos Cabello

Inhouse consultant

• Accessible tourism: a reflection from the public and private sectors.

Erika Cruz Coria[a], Carlos Ignacio Patiño Tejada[b]

• https://www.hisour.com/es/accessible-tourism-38586/
• https://www.bancomundial.org/es/news/feature/2018/02/19/turismo-accesible-destinos

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Accessible tourism futures: the world we dream to live in and the opportunities we hope to have

Journal of Tourism Futures

ISSN : 2055-5911

Article publication date: 14 September 2015

Accessible tourism is evolving as a field of academic research and industry practice, set within a dynamic social context. The field is interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary. The purpose of this paper is to examine key concepts and global initiatives that will shape accessible tourism futures.

Design/methodology/approach

Three of the authors have extensive academic experience in the area and the fourth author is the Managing Director of the pre-eminent European Network for Accessible Tourism. In taking a limited Delphi approach to canvassing key areas likely to shape accessible tourism futures, the following concepts and policy initiatives were examined: motivations, dreams and aspirations of people with disability; demography; UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; destination competitiveness; universal design (UD); and the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

A discussion of each of the above areas was placed in context to accessible tourism futures and to contextualise the papers that were selected for the special issue. The latter part of the paper outlines the contribution of each empirical paper to the issue discussing the approach, findings and implications. Stakeholder collaboration was identified as the key common theme of the papers and the factor for developing accessible tourism solutions, recognising the value of the market and capitalising on it. A collaborative approach is required to recognise the complementary nature of the different paradigms; to re-shape and transform the future of the accessible tourism industry. To assist in the development of accessible tourism futures, UD principles should provide a foundation to enhance the future competitiveness of tourism destinations and organisations.

Originality/value

The paper’s examination of the concepts and global policy considerations provides a strong academic and practitioner foundation for considering accessible tourism futures. In doing so, accessible tourism futures are shown to be affected by key concepts related to core tourism considerations and major policy initiatives on accessibility and sustainability. Yet, accessible tourism futures also have the potential to create their own momentum and contribute unique learnings on the diversity of tourism markets that will shape tourism concepts and global policy initiatives in their own right.

• Accessible tourism
• Tourism industry
• Organization practice
• Destination management

Michopoulou, E. , Darcy, S. , Ambrose, I. and Buhalis, D. (2015), "Accessible tourism futures: the world we dream to live in and the opportunities we hope to have", Journal of Tourism Futures , Vol. 1 No. 3, pp. 179-188. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-08-2015-0043

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Eleni Michopoulou, Simon Darcy, Ivor Ambrose and Dimitros Buhalis

Published in the Journal of Tourism Futures . This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode

Introduction

This special issue was designed to examine the future dimensions of the intersection of disability and tourism in the emerging field of accessible tourism. The special issue explores theoretical approaches, foundations and issues in the study of accessible tourism from a futures perspective. Accessible tourism, as with any area of academic study is an evolving field of academic research and industry practice, set within a dynamic social context. The field is interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary, and is influenced by geography, ageing and disability studies, economics, public policy, psychology, law, architecture, construction sciences, technology and marketing. Past research has attempted to view, explain and unpack the inherent complexities ( Darcy, 2010 ) within accessible tourism through a variety of lenses, including human rights, critical tourism, embodiment, customer segmentation and universal design (UD), to name a few (see Buhalis and Darcy, 2011 ; Buhalis et al. , 2012 ).

The special issue is timely given the operationalisation of the United Nations (2006) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by 160 countries. Central to the convention is the right for tourists with disability to access transport and built environment in Article 9 and tourism experiences, goods and services within Article 30. It is therefore pertinent to look at the future of accessible tourism and contemplate a number of issues including (but not limited to) the role of technology in reshaping disability; if and how policy makers and planners are addressing the impact of accessible tourism in a sustainable manner; the political influence of people with disabilities, who make up the largest minority group in the USA, on the future of tourism; the science fiction of exoskeletons and gene therapy as a new form of adventure tourist; and the future state of embodied identity and accessible tourism.

The special issue provides the opportunity for contributors to take part in the current discourses on accessible tourism from a futures perspective, in order that we can understand, manage and contribute to the development of accessible tourism in the context of economically, socially and environmentally sustainable communities. Specific topics included conceptual and research papers, viewpoints and trend papers, both qualitative and quantitative, discussing topics relating to the future of accessible tourism. Papers include a range of issues including: inclusive destinations; accessible tourism in Development Planning (toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030); policy-making for accessible tourism; embodiment; representation; law and legislation; architecture and universal design; inclusion/exclusion from experiences; markets and needs analysis; accessible transport; accessible events; accessibility and culture/heritage; accessible accommodation; education/training; and technology and applications.

In contrast to the past 30 years, where disability and tourism research has been largely concerned with overcoming barriers that exclude certain people (see Smith, 1987 ), we can discern the contours of new movements in accessible tourism, whereby overarching principles and standards of sustainability, social responsibility and customer service. The delivery of equitable tourism experiences demand the attention of sector actors and stakeholders. Accessible tourism, in this context, should be seen in the future as much more than a range of supports to excluded target groups, becoming a set of ground rules and codes of practice which contribute to the development of all tourism offers and destinations in an inclusive way.

If we should gaze into the crystal ball for a moment, we could envisage that tourism will not be defined primarily in terms of different target groups, since principles of responsibility, sustainability and accessibility will in the future inform the quality criteria to which all destinations should comply and be judged as part of destination competitiveness in increasingly global context. Customers will become more aware of their individual rights and also the need to protect and sustain communities and the natural environment, influencing tourism service providers to follow generally accepted rules of service quality, genuine interactivity and engagement with the local culture, people and resources.

The capability of tourism providers to recognise those rights for all (e.g. of tourists with disabilities, Design for All, responsible behaviour, inclusion of the local communities in a transparent system of remuneration and participation, working opportunities for socially excluded group etc.) is going to be the threshold, which determines whether their offers will succeed or fail in the future. The tourism sector will increasingly be seen as having transformational power as “a shaper of society”, acting as a promoter of jobs and economic growth, a participant in regional and community planning and a partner in global development programmes. In addition, tourism should be developed as industry that promotes understanding, inclusion and well-being for all in an equitable way.

Businesses, destinations and networks, that are already active in the field of accessible tourism and/or representing markets with different specific requirements will participate more widely in the mainstream, bringing their expertise and knowledge to bear on all those issues that are still seen as “different types of tourism”. In the development of accessible destinations and experiences, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (2015) will be playing an increasingly supportive role, especially through its Global Code for Ethics in Tourism and the recently published Manuals on Accessible Tourism (2015) , produced by ONCE Foundation and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (2015b) .

Before discussing the papers that have been selected for publication we would like to set the scene by examining some major conceptual and policy development areas that we believe will have a significant influence on accessible tourism futures in the future. These include: dreams and aspirations of people with disability; demography; UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; destination competitiveness frameworks; UD; and the newly adopted UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Each of these areas of influence will now be outlined prior to the papers for the special edition being summarised for their contribution to the future of accessible tourism.

Defining and conceptualising accessible tourism

Accessible tourism is a form of tourism that involves collaborative 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 and Dickson, 2009, p. 34 in Buhalis and Darcy, 2011, pp. 10-11 ).

Importantly the definition recognises collaboration between stakeholders across demand, supply and coordination to recognise that disability is a complex construct involving mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive and other embodiments. The definition recognises that developing inclusive destinations and accessible tourism experiences also benefit other groups in the community. Hence, it contributes toward a greater social sustainability of the industry by including and, hence, providing for a much broader cross-section of consumers that has previously been considered by the industry. In understanding the importance of individuals with disability, the stakeholders they engage with and the influence of UD on the products, services and environments they wish to seek enabling experiences. Buhalis and Darcy (2011) suggests that to develop accessible tourism futures destination managers must strategically plan through the lens of UD. Figure 1 outlines the cyclical strategic approach to engaging UD approaches across disability and lifespan considerations as a foundation for developing future accessible destination experiences.

Dreams and aspirations of people with disability

The dreams and aspirations of individuals play a fundamental role in shaping the choices, which lead them to travel. Among people who live with a disability, the idea of leaving behind one’s everyday surroundings and going on a journey can create significant anxiety ( Darcy, 1998 ). People with disability often can design or influence their everyday environment whilst they have routines to negotiate any difficulties and thresholds that exist. This does not apply to new environments whilst travelling, where they do not have prior knowledge, networks or influence on the design nor the potential barriers that are to face and the way to overcome them. Indeed, a recent European survey ( GfK, 2015 ) suggests that up to half of people with disability do not travel on holiday, due to a combination of lack of reliable information, lack of funds and previous bad experiences. Yet, the desire to travel remains with studies showing that it is not a person’s impairment that impedes their travel but a series of interpersonal, attitudinal structural constraints ( Daniels et al. , 2005 ; Darcy, 2003 ). In recognising that a person's impairment does not constrain their travel motivations, the boundaries to what is regarded as accessible tourism destinations and experiences are continually pushed by the accessible explorers who forge new pathways for others to follow.

Human rights frameworks and social frameworks

The United Nations’ (2006) Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPWD) was introduced, recognizing that people with disability have a right to access services from all areas of citizenship including under Article 9 (related to transport and the built environment, and under Article 30 which relates to a “cultural life“ including leisure, sport and tourism). The CRPWD was written from a social model approach to disability that recognises that it is not the person’s impairment that “disables” someone from undertaking tourism experiences but the social, political and economic barriers that create the “disabling” tourism environment (see Barnes et al. , 2010 ; United Nations, 2006 ). This is very similar to Packer et al. (2007) research that discussed the interaction between those with disability, the tourism barriers they encounter including service attitudes that affect tourism participation adversely to people without disability. These types of it constraints and barriers in tourism have been the focus of a great deal of disability and tourism research, with the more recent research on accessible tourism seeking to focus on the development of “enabling” practice.

While “people with disability” suggests a homogenous group who can be dealt with as a “market segment”, the term belies a complexity that is multidimensional across mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, mental health and other forms of embodiment ( Darcy and Buhalis, 2011 ; Small and Darcy, 2011 ). As outlined in the World Report on Disability, the underlying definitions of impairment and disability are contextual in the way they are operationalised across the globe ( World Health Organization and World Bank, 2011 ). What is not disputed is that about 15 per cent of the global population or some one billion people are living with a disability ( World Health Organization, 2013 ). Each person has unique abilities and disabilities, levels of support and assistive technology that creates a unique mix to consider with respect to the interaction with the tourism environment ( Packer et al. , 2007 ). Therefore the tourism environment of the future needs to be designed in a way that allows for interaction between a person’s abilities, their support needs and the assistive technologies to allow for the enjoyment of all.

Many people with disability can cite a plethora of examples of discrimination caused by negligent or unsuitable design or service provision. In the built environment, wheelchair users are frequently excluded by environmental barriers put in at the design stage: at railway platforms without lifts; at entrances to banks and businesses with revolving doors; and on pavements without dropped kerbs. The same design barriers, of course, are a challenge to parents with children in push-chairs and prams, shoppers with shopping bags, travellers with suitcases and employees occupational health and safety ( Darcy and Dickson, 2009 ). Past and current design practice leads in many ways to the discrimination of people with disability. Unsuitable design prevents access to goods and services and to major areas of social participation such as travel, work and full participation in civil, social and cultural life for the majority of people with disability. It also reduces their independence, dignity, equity and self-determination, thus giving rise to the misconception that disabled people are unable to travel by themselves.

respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons;

non-discrimination;

full and effective participation and inclusion in society;

respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity;

equality of opportunity;

accessibility;

equality between men and women; and

respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.

As stated, Article 9 provides a right to transportation and access to the built environment where Article 30 of the convention recognises the right to equal participation in tourism as an important part of any person’s citizenship. Some 160 nations have adopted the CRPWD. Yet, as already identified, people with disabilities participate less in all forms of citizenship where the transportation of people with disabilities to tourism destinations, access to accommodation and attractions is central to those rights. Yet, as documented in the USA, UK and Australia, a series of discriminatory tourism practices exist that curtail the potential of the citizenship rights ( Darcy and Taylor, 2009 ; Miller and Kirk, 2002 ; Ronald and Richard, 2001 ; Shaw et al. , 2007 ).

Millennium development goals (MDGs) and the UN global compact

Eradicating extreme poverty continues to be one of the main challenges of our time, and is a major concern of the international community. Ending this scourge will require the combined efforts of all, governments, civil society organizations and the private sector, in the context of a stronger and more effective global partnership for development. The Millennium Development Goals set timebound targets, by which progress in reducing income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter and exclusion – while promoting gender equality, health, education and environmental sustainability – can be measured. They also embody basic human rights – the rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter and security. The Goals are ambitious but feasible and, together with the comprehensive United Nations development agenda, set the course for the world’s efforts to alleviate extreme poverty by 2015 (United Nations Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon).

The aim of the MDGs is to encourage development by improving social and economic conditions in the world’s poorest countries. Since the MDG’s were agreed to significant progress has been made. To date average overall incomes have increased by approximately 21 per cent. The number of people living in extreme poverty declined by an estimated 130 million. Chile mortality rates fell from 103 deaths per 1,000 live births a year to 88. Life expectancy rose from 63 years to 65 years. An additional 8 per cent of the developing world’s people received access to clean water and an additional 15 per cent acquired access to improved sanitation services. In 2015 the UN countries will adopt a new sustainable development agenda and a new global agreement on climate change. The actions taken in 2015 are expected to result in new sustainable development goals that build on the eight MDG’s ( United Nations, 2015 ).

Tourism has long been seen as having significant potential to help achieve the MDG’s in developing countries. For example in 1990 developing countries had 18 per cent of international tourism receipts. By 2005 this had risen to 30 per cent and to date it continues to rise. There has been significant promotion of the direct economic links between tourists and the poor. Tourism may provide employment opportunities for marginalised groups, may bring direct income to individual communities and may promote equality in developing countries ( Saarinen and Rogerson, 2013 ).

UD supports destination competitiveness

Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. The intent of the universal design concept is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by more people at little or no extra cost. The universal design concept targets all people of all ages, sizes and abilities’. The Universal Design approach goes beyond traditional design, which tends to focus on the ‘average’ user. Universal Design is a design approach, reflecting a way of understanding people’s needs. It is not a list of particular solutions, measurements, or products – Universal Design is the way to reach the solution, contributing to social inclusion (cited in Center for Universal Design, 2009 ; and first articulated by Mace, 1985 ).

Applying the principles of UD can be seen as a way of developing tourism environments, transportation, services and offers, underpinning sustainable communities and businesses. Today, according to a recent study by European Network for Accessible Tourism (2015a) and partners, less than 10 per cent of tourism suppliers in Europe offer “accessible” tourism services, while demand for such services is set to increase due to the ageing population and continuing upward trend in market demand. Adopting UD enlarges the target markets of destinations as well as ensures that more pleasant experiences can be delivered. Therefore it can increase the market base, reduce seasonality and support the competitiveness of destinations ( Buhalis, 2000 ). Yet, few studies have examined accessible tourism in relation to destination management and only recently has accessible tourism been examined from destination competitiveness perspective ( Domínguez Vila et al. , 2015 ).

Papers in this issue

To address these concepts and developments this special issue is bringing a range of papers together that discuss research on many accessibility tourism aspects.

Naniopoulos and Tsalis (2015) discuss a methodology for addressing the accessibility of monuments. They focus on heritage attraction sites, highlighting the challenges with archaeological sites where interventions become problematic or even impossible. In doing so, they approached accessibility as a dual notion; accessibility of an area and its potential for independent physical access and movement around the monuments as well as perceived accessibility in terms of interpreting, understanding and learning from the environment. The methodology was applied to a number of byzantine monuments as part of a cultural route in the city of Thessaloniki in Greece, as case studies. Results provide both tools for assessing monument accessibility (process orientations and checklists) and insights into the needs of travellers with disabilities for more “usable” heritage attractions. Concluding remarks place a focus on the prerequisites of training and cooperation to allow for the future of accessible monuments to be realised.

Tsalis et al. (2015) provide an interesting study on the challenges of implementing accessibility solutions, also within the context of protection, conservation, and management of historical centres and monuments. Viewed from a tourism perspective, archaeological sites and monuments are location bound and exist only in their original place. Hence, access to such sites enables unique and authentic tourism experiences. Discourses on objective, constructive and existential authenticity are of paramount importance when accessibility is concerned. This study provides relevant examples of accessibility interventions on six monuments as well as considerations on the design of the tools that assisted site interpretation and interconnection in a cultural route. Results demonstrate how accessibility improvements can occur while respecting the history, architecture and character of the monuments. The study concludes by emphasizing that it is primarily through providing greater access, that the “socialisation” of these monuments will propagate authentic tourism experiences in the future.

Bowtell (2015) offers an examination of the market value and attractiveness of accessible tourism in Europe. Historic data were used to provide a forecast for 2025, while primary data obtained from travel and leisure companies provided insights into managerial perceptions. Findings show a very promising potential for accessible tourism market with significant projected revenues. However, a number of challenges including lack of awareness, cost of investments, complexity of customers’ needs and legal inconsistencies within the EU, create barriers toward developing comprehensive solutions for accessible tourism. Authors provide recommendations on bridging demand and supply.

Gillovic and McIntosh (2015) present an interesting study on stakeholder perspectives of the future of accessible tourism in New Zealand. The study provides insights into the current situation and the future propensity for an accessible tourism industry in New Zealand. A number of interviews with key stakeholders revealed that there is a need to develop a culture of accessibility that is perceived as the norm. Findings also include the business and demand arguments, but additionally highlighted the “ineptness” of upper industry levels to recognize the opportunity of accessible tourism, exhibiting apathy and complacency instead. Authors conclude with recommendations for the future of accessible tourism in New Zealand which can easily be generalised for other regions.

Zajadacz (2015) discusses the evolution of models of disability as a basis for the future development of accessible tourism. A review of medical, social, biopsychosocial, geographical and economic models of disability reveals the theoretical underpinnings and assumptions entailed in those. These are then linked to tourism, demonstrating that different models influence the tourism provision in terms of both products and services. Authors highlight the understanding of disability under different models toward diverse tourism experiences. Several suggestions are offered on the complementary of the models and the implications on the transformation of the accessible tourism industry in the future.

Cruces Portales (2015) uses a scenario planning approach to envisage alternative futures for accessible tourism. With a timeframe leading to 2050, four alternative futures are unravelled through storytelling. The scenarios are built on a matrix that includes the opposing forces of empathy – apathy, and fear of loss and certainty of benefits. The resulting, aptly named scenarios (Eden Gardens, Golden Bridge, Wasted Future and State of Hope) showcase different behaviours, schedules of changes and insights. Authors conclude with strategic ideas and proposals for the future of accessible tourism.

When exploring the future of tourism in this area two opposing trends can be observed: future societies are predicted to become more similar, more homogenous as a consequence of consumerism, globalisation and converging urban lifestyles. However, the accessible tourism market is characteristically diverse, with complex needs and the range of dreams and ambitions is boundless. Will future global travellers be able to access more varied and personal services or will increasing numbers of travellers give rise to greater standardization of services?

Accessible tourism as an emerging field of study will influence tourism destination competitiveness in the future, whether that be from a human rights, emerging market segment or service delivery perspective. In this conceptual examination, we have presented implications of number of theoretical constructs and lenses through which accessible tourism will be influenced in the future. In this special issue, a number of future dimensions are explored that demonstrate how the field has moved from an examination of the intersection of disability and tourism, to one that is clearly defined through conceptual and definitional approaches as accessible tourism. There is a common thread amongst all the papers presented in this special issue. They focus around stakeholder collaboration, as a foundation for the future development of accessible tourism. It has been explicitly suggested that raising awareness amongst stakeholders is essential to overcome barriers inhibiting the application of solutions that enhance access. The importance of stakeholder collaboration across the accessible tourism value chain has been emphasized in a number of ways in this special issue.

Improving accessibility of facilities, transportation, attractions and destinations more generally, demands the collaboration of a wide range of stakeholders including architects, designers, economists, local councils, policy makers, travellers with disabilities, historians and archaeologists to name a few. Therefore “socialising” tourism means that access can be granted only when a number of relevant stakeholders are in accord, work together and specifically developed strategies to target the accessible tourism market. Stakeholder collaboration is a key factor for developing accessible tourism solutions, recognising the value of the market and capitalising on it. Hence, a collaborative approach is required to recognise the complementary nature of the different paradigms; to re-shape and transform the future of the accessible tourism through influencing the tourism industry, contributing government organisations and the not-for-profit sectors. The strength and depth of stakeholder collaborations will determine alternative future realities; from a future where all cooperate and share benefits for all parties, to a fatalistic picture where each stakeholder is sailing alone because they consider their interests incompatible, and everything in between. UD should provide a better accessible tourism future that should enhance the competitiveness of tourism destinations and organisations.

Universal approaches

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Center for Universal Design ( 2009 ), “Universal design principles”, available at: www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/about_ud/about_ud.htm (accessed 20 May 2009) .

Clawson, M. and Knetsch, J.L. ( 1966 ), The Economics of Outdoor Recreation , Johns Hopkins Press , Baltimore, MD .

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Daniels, M.J. , Rodgers, E.B.D. and Wiggins, B.P. ( 2005 ), “ ‘Travel tales’: an interpretive analysis of constraints and negotiations to pleasure travel as experienced by persons with physical disabilities ”, Tourism Management , Vol. 26 No. 6 , pp. 919 - 30 .

Darcy, S. ( 1998 ), Anxiety to Access: Tourism Patterns and Experiences of New South Wales People with a Physical Disability , Tourism New South Wales , Sydney .

Darcy, S. ( 2003 ), “Disabling journeys: the tourism patterns of people with impairments in Australia”, paper presented at the Riding the Wave of Tourism and Hospitality Research, CAUTHE – Southern Cross University, Lismore, 5-8 February .

Darcy, S. ( 2010 ), “ Inherent complexity: disability, accessible tourism and accommodation information preferences ”, Tourism Management , Vol. 31 No. 6 , pp. 816 - 26 .

Darcy, S. and Buhalis, D. ( 2011 ), “ Conceptualising disability ”, in Buhalis, D. and Darcy, S. (Eds) , Accessible Tourism: Concepts and Issues , Chapter 2 , Channel View Publications , Bristol , pp. 21 - 44 .

Darcy, S. and Dickson, T. ( 2009 ), “ A whole-of-life approach to tourism: the case for accessible tourism experiences ”, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management , Vol. 16 No. 1 , pp. 32 - 44 .

Darcy, S. and Taylor, T. ( 2009 ), “ Disability citizenship: an Australian human rights analysis of the cultural industries ”, Leisure Studies , Vol. 28 No. 4 , pp. 419 - 41 .

Domínguez Vila, T. , Darcy, S. and Alén González, E. ( 2015 ), “ Competing for the disability tourism market – a comparative exploration of the factors of accessible tourism competitiveness in Spain and Australia ”, Tourism Management , Vol. 47 , pp. 261 - 72 .

European Network for Accessible Tourism ( 2015 a), Final Report: EU Study Mapping in Performance Check on the Supply of Accessible Tourism Services in Europe , European Network for Accessible Tourism , Brussels .

European Network for Accessible Tourism ( 2015 b), “Who we are”, available at: www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.en.who_we_are (accessed 15 August 2015) .

GfK ( 2015 ), Economic Impact on Travel Patterns of Accessible Tourism in Europe – Final Report , GfK, University of Surrey, The Neumann Consulting and PRO Solutions , Surrey .

Gillovic, B. and McIntosh, A. ( 2015 ), “ Stakeholder perspectives of the future of accessible tourism in New Zealand ”, Journal of Tourism Futures , Vol. 1 No. 3 , pp. 221 - 37 .

Leiper, N. ( 2003 ), Tourism Management , 3rd ed. , Hospitality Press , Sydney .

Mace, R. ( 1985 ), Universal Design, Barrier Free Environments for Everyone , Designers West , Los Angeles, CA .

Miller, G.A. and Kirk, E. ( 2002 ), “ The disability discrimination act: time for the stick? ”, Journal of Sustainable Tourism , Vol. 10 No. 1 , pp. 82 - 8 .

Naniopoulos, A. and Tsalis, P. ( 2015 ), “ A methodology for facing the accessibility of monuments developed and realised in Thessaloniki, Greece ”, Journal of Tourism Futures , Vol. 1 No. 3 , pp. 238 - 51 .

Naniopoulos, A. , Tsalis, P. , Papanikolaou, E. , Kalliagra, A. and Kourmpeti, C. ( 2015 ), “ Accessibility improvement interventions realised in Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki, Greece ”, Journal of Tourism Futures , Vol. 1 No. 3 , pp. 252 - 66 .

Packer, T.L. , McKercher, B. and Yau, M. ( 2007 ), “ Understanding the complex interplay between tourism, disability and environmental contexts ”, Disability & Rehabilitation , Vol. 29 No. 4 , pp. 281 - 92 .

Ronald, K. and Richard, P. ( 2001 ), “ Reasonable accommodation under the ADA: what’s an employer to do? ”, Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly , Vol. 42 No. 5 , pp. 24 - 33 .

Saarinen, J. and Rogerson, C.M. ( 2013 ), “ Tourism and the millennium development goals: perspectives beyond 2015 ”, Tourism Geographies , Vol. 16 No. 1 , pp. 23 - 30 .

Shaw, G. , Veitch, C. and Coles, T. ( 2007 ), “ Disability legislation and the empowerment of tourists with disabilities in the UK ”, in Church, A. and Coles, T. (Eds) , Tourism, Power and Space , Routledge , London , pp. 83 - 100 .

Small, J. and Darcy, S. ( 2010 ), “ Tourism, disability and mobility ”, in Cole, S. and Morgan, N. (Eds) , Tourism and Inequality: Problems and Prospects , Chapter 4 , CABI , Wallingford , pp. 1 - 30 .

Small, J. and Darcy, S. ( 2011 ), “ Understanding tourist experience through embodiment: the contribution of critical tourism and disability studies ”, in Buhalis, D. and Darcy, S. (Eds) , Accessible Tourism: Concepts and Issues , Chapter 5 , Channel View Publications , Bristol , pp. 72 - 96 .

Smith, R.W. ( 1987 ), “ Leisure of disabled tourists – barriers to participation ”, Annals of Tourism Research , Vol. 14 , pp. 376 - 89 .

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United Nations World Tourism Organisation ( 2015 ), Manuals on Accessible Tourism , United Nations World Tourism Organisation, ONCE & European Network for Accessible Tourism , Madrid .

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Zajadacz, A. ( 2015 ), “ Evolution of models of disability as a basis for further policy changes in accessible tourism ”, Journal of Tourism Futures , Vol. 1 No. 3 , pp. 187 - 200 .

Further reading

United Nations World Tourism Organization ( 1999 ), “Global code of ethics for tourism”, available at: http://ethics.unwto.org/en/content/global-code-ethics-tourism (accessed 21 August 2015) .

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Accessibility of Information

Making accessibility information easily available creates an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere from the first time someone visits your website. It enables people with accessibility challenges to properly plan out their visit and also helps show that your destination values every visitor’s experience.

On Episode 103 of Destination on the Left we spoke with Cory Lee , a travel blogger and accessibility advocate. When he is planning a trip, he searches for wheelchair accessibility on the destination’s website. If accessibility information isn’t readily available, it becomes very difficult for people with disabilities to plan their visit. DMOs can start by adding accessibility information to their FAQs section of their website and then incorporating the information throughout the site so it’s easily searchable.

Discover Lancaster is a fantastic example of a DMO making their accessibility information readily available. Discover Lancaster spent over a year developing a comprehensive guide on their website to show they are an accessible destination. Olivia Novak , Marketing Manager at Discover Lancaster, described how they worked with partners to create a list of all ADA-accessible attractions and hotels and provide local resources and travel tips for visitors with varying abilities. They also hosted a panel to educate partners. An influencer campaign will show what visiting Lancaster is like for individuals with varying abilities.

Where to Find Information

One of the most important things to remember is that decisions about accessibility should not be made without the individuals affected being part of the conversation.

In Episode 339 with Santiago C. Corrada , he recalls the moment he learned they needed to add accessibility to their diversity efforts. The team at Visit Tampa Bay brought in a group of ambassadors and influencers to consult on the development of videos, campaigns. Now accessibility representation is integrated throughout all of their tourism marketing efforts.

When we spoke with Billy Kolber, CEO of Hospitable ME, at the Travel Unity Road Show , he emphasized the importance of inviting historically marginalized or excluded groups to the table to help make informed decisions. By including these people in the conversations, destinations can make sure that their voices and experience are reflected in all accessibility efforts.

At the Destinations International Annual Convention in 2022, we learned about resources for accessibility information. AccessNow is an app about accessibility in travel where travelers can log their experiences in a destination, much like other review sites. AccessOutdoors is a related app that maps accessibility of outdoor trails (currently available for Canada). The best information comes from people living with disabilities. Residents in your destination are a great resource for getting the information travelers will need.

Inclusive Experiences

Accessibility also goes beyond those facing physical disabilities. Creating inclusive experiences for people with other types of limitations opens opportunities for both the traveler and the destination.

Autism Certified City

We spoke with Marc Garcia of Visit Mesa (episode 275) about his journey helping Mesa, Arizona earn the first-ever Autism Certified City distinction. Garcia sought to have Mesa certified by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards . Over 58 businesses and almost 5,000 people in Mesa completed training to help the city receive its certification. These trainings helped people understand what the world looks like to someone who lives with Autism. As a result of Garcia’s efforts, Visit Mesa booked several conferences and experienced a high return on investment.

After earning the certification, Visit Mesa continued its efforts to make the city welcoming for individuals with autism. They partnered with two microbreweries to release a Spectrum Double IPA in honor of National Autism Awareness Month. Destinations can learn from the efforts put forth by Garcia and the city of Mesa. There are many creative ways destinations, attractions and professionals in our industry can make individuals feel welcomed and safe.

Autism Nature Trail

Attractions looking to become more accessible can learn a valuable lesson from the Autism Nature Trail (ANT) at Letchworth State Park. Loren Penman (episode 221) , a retired educator who brought the ANT to fruition, spoke with us about this first-of-its-kind experience. What started as a project with a focus on individuals on the spectrum resulted in an ADA-compliant one-mile natural trail with eight sensory stations. After learning the calming effects of the combination of moving water and pine trees, Penman worked with an expert from Colorado State University and a retired Speech and Language Pathologist to develop the trail. The ANT was paid for through a public fundraising initiative, raising $1.9 million in 10 months to fund the trail. It would not have been possible without collaboration and strong community partners .

The travel, tourism and hospitality industry has the ability to bring people together, bridge gaps between cultures and celebrate diversity. We need to take steps towards inclusivity and accessibility if it is truly going to be an enriching experience for all. Let’s make the world more enjoyable for everyone by exploring opportunities to include detailed information about accessibility or teaming up with other organizations for memorable experiences that welcome everybody. Together, we can have a positive impact and create an even better world ready to be discovered!

Tourism for all

Accessible tourism.

All tourism businesses and institutions should aim to be universally accessible and create barrier-free tourism. This means ensuring tourist destinations, products and services are accessible to all people, regardless of their physical limitations, disabilities or age. Accessible tourism aims to allow tourism destinations to be enjoyed equally by everyone.

As an entrepreneur, you have to consider accessibility of tourism and leisure spaces as a basic quality factor – but you should also see it as an opportunity for differentiation and as a way to attract new customers.

While designing, executing, operating, maintaining and communicating about your tourism business, you must ensure that it is accessible and available to everyone.

Types of accessibility

There are various types of accessibility

• physical accessibility – improving spaces and infrastructure to create an environment where citizens can move around freely
• communication accessibility – helping people with communication difficulties to get their message across via tools and trained staff
• web accessibility – making booking services and related websites easier to access ( view the EU tutorial on making your website e-accessible )

How should I adapt my tourism business to be accessible?

Accessible tourism is about making it easy for everyone to enjoy tourism experiences. Making tourism more accessible is not only a social responsibility – there is also a compelling business case for improving accessibility as it can boost the competitiveness of tourism businesses.

Evidence shows that making basic adjustments to a facility, providing accurate information, and understanding the needs of disabled people can result in increased visitor numbers.

Areas that need to be adapted according to subsectors

For more on how to apply physical accessibility measures in your tourism company, consult information on accessible tourism .

Benefits of physical accessibility for your business

• Increase in the potential demand – according to the World Health Organisation, there are over 1 billion permanently disabled people in the world (15% of the world population) – this proportion rises to around 40% of the world population when including other categories of people who may temporarily need accessible services
• ‘Multi-client’ segment – on average, every 2 disabled guests will bring one companion
• Promotion of off-season travel – some senior citizens and disabled people can travel in low season – since these periods are less busy, travellers can often have greater accessibility to services
• Improving the company’s reputation – businesses that offer comprehensive accessibility will be seen in a better light than those that don’t, since they are taking steps to ensure their product or service can be used or enjoyed by everyone.

What is the current legislation on the topic?

Physical accessibility is regulated not only by international and European regulation, but also by national regulation. The main accessibility regulations and other instruments on an international and European level are as follows

• UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
• The global code of ethics for tourism
• Council of Europe recommendation on ageing and disability
• Council of Europe resolution on universal design to achieve full participation
• Committee of the Ministers recommendation on the action plan to promote the rights and participation of the disabled
• Commission regulation on rights of disabled people in air travel

Useful resources

• visit Britain offers case studies on physical accessibility in tourism .
• watch the ‘Mind the accessibility gap’ conference video summary from June 2014.
• the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT)
• Europe For All accessible tourism directory – where you can register as a provider of accessible tourism services, evaluate your property and get in touch with customers
• learn about some good practices of accessible tourism from the European Capital of Smart Tourism competition’s compendium of best practices

Giving the right information on accessibility services

Find out what information you should transmit to disabled people, when this information should be transmitted and how to do so.

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What Is Accessible Tourism?

Accessible tourism is defined as all-inclusive tourism and travel. This means that people with or without disabilities have equal access and enjoyment of touristic activities and travel in general. 

According to Simon Darcy and Tracey J. Dickson, authors of the article A Whole-of-Life Approach to Tourism: The Case for Accessible Tourism Experiences , “ Accessible tourism 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 also includes seniors and those traveling with children in strollers.

The three dimensions of accessibility are physical access, sensory access, and communication access. 

• Physical access for those with physical disabilities that require wheelchairs, walking aids, or handrails
• Sensory access for those who have sight or hearing impairments 
• Communication access for those who have impairments involving speech, vision, and hearing

Accommodation makes up a big part of tourism and travel. Therefore, as a vacation rental owner, you have a significant role in creating these equal opportunities. By providing the right services and design in your vacation home, you can be part of a positive shift in sustainable and responsible tourism while attracting new guests. 

Examples of Accessible Vacation Rentals

So, how can the hospitality sector adapt to accessible tourism ? What changes can we make as individuals to ensure an equal and inclusive experience for all? 

While the first step in creating accessible tourism is a change in mindset, another extremely important factor is universal design. Stephen Cluskey , CEO of Mobility Mojo, a company that helps hotel groups improve their accessibility, defines this as “the design of products and environments that are usable by everyone to the greatest possible extent, without the need for adaptations.” 

The ADA states that entrance doors should be at least 32 inches wide. If the path to the entrance door requires a stairway, a stable ramp (or a lift) should be built with a slope no greater than 1:12. A ramp longer than 6 feet should have railings between 34 and 38 inches high.   

Regarding the entrance door, handles should be operable with a closed fist and not higher than 48 inches. If there is an alternative accessible entrance, there should be signs clearly indicating this to the guests. 

Furniture behind the entryway should be cleared to ensure easy access. 

For an accessible vacation rental bathroom, ensure that the doorway is at least 32 inches wide and that there is a 36-inch-wide path to the shower, sink, and toilet. 

Toilet seats are recommended to be 17 to 19 inches high with grab bars behind and around them. The sink rim shouldn’t exceed 34 inches in height and the faucet should be operable with a closed fist. Ensure that soap dispensers, towels, and toiletries are within reach and also usable with a closed fist. 

Walk-in showers should be equipped with handles, seating options, and a detachable showerhead. 

Add a large mirror in the room that allows full visibility. 

If possible, lower kitchen countertops for those who are not able to reach high surfaces. By removing floor cabinets, you can facilitate access to the counter. However, you can also consider investing in cabinets that allow toe kicks for people in wheelchairs. 

Install an ADA approved wall oven that opens from side to side. This is useful for anyone with mobility issues. While adding enough space under the kitchen sink and cooking areas, it is also recommended to set up a tilted mirror above the stove to allow full visibility. 

Take advantage of today’s advances in technology by researching new devices that can help improve the overall experience of your guests. 

Like all other rooms in the vacation rental, the accessible bedroom entryway should be at least 36 inches wide. Start off by making the bed accessible and allowing enough space for pathways between all furniture. 

To make it easier for people with disabilities to get in and out of bed, the recommended height is 20 to 23 inches from the floor to the top of the mattress. Add bed rails or grab bars for support and put any bedside light switches or lamps at an easy reach.

To minimize the risk of injury, avoid carpet flooring or materials that are slippery and remove unnecessary clutter. Double-check that all wires are attached to the wall as this can be a hazard for those using a wheelchair. 

Windows should be placed 35 inches from the floor and equipped with lever handles. For the visually impaired, make sure that closets and cabinets are well-lit. 

Other Examples of Amenities for Accessible Vacation Rentals

While the list is endless, here are some more examples of ways to provide accessible tourism as a vacation rental owner: 

• Walking-stick holders for seniors and those who need support when walking
• Wheelchair access and barrier-free paths 
• Elevators to all floors 
• Special parking areas
• Improved communication and translators for those who are hearing or voice impaired
• Availability of assistive devices like wheelchairs, memory aids, and pill organizers
• Access to screen readers
• Having a trained staff that can help with accessibility issues

Why Is Accessible Tourism Important?

First and foremost, accessible tourism is crucial because it is a human right for everyone. As a society, it is our social responsibility to provide accessibility in tourism. The World Health Organization indicates that 15% of the global population has some disability. That’s 1 billion people who have experienced disadvantages when it comes to traveling. 

Accessible tourism is also beneficial to the economy because it’s an exceptional business opportunity for destinations to expand their range of tourists. By catering to a much wider audience, business owners can attract new clientele. 

While there’s still a long way to go before achieving universal accessibility in tourism, the advances and positive changes that have been made in the past few years show that society is going in the right direction. With the collaboration of tourism stakeholders (which includes governments, tourism organizations, businesses, and tourists), we can work towards becoming a more equal and inclusive sector.

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Road Trips: How to Plan an Accessible Getaway

By Syren Nagakyrie

Planning an accessible road trip is getting a little easier for people with disabilities. There are more resources created by and for the disability community, and the tourism industry is starting to recognize the value of accessible travel. As a disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent person, I take road trips every year and have learned some tips and tricks along the way.

Renting a vehicle

Most major car companies offer adaptive driving devices for their vehicles at no additional cost. Enterprise , for example, offers hand controls, left foot accelerators, pedal extenders and spinner knobs to facilitate steering. Budget can provide hand controls, spinner knobs, a panoramic mirror, swivel seats and transfer boards. Be prepared to request adaptive devices at least three business days in advance.

For a wheelchair-accessible van with a ramp or a lift, rent from a mobility company like BraunAbility , one of the largest builders of wheelchair-accessible vans in the country, with rentals at many locations. MobilityWorks , an accessible-vehicle and adaptive-equipment dealer, has rental locations in 34 states. AccessibleGO , which offers a one-stop shop for adapted rental cars and wheelchair-accessible vans, has agreements with 100 wheelchair van rental locations nationwide; request a quote on their website. For accessibleGO’s rental cars, you can request hand controls and a spinner knob at checkout.

Route planning

You can use Google Maps, Waze and MapQuest for initial accessibility research using photos and street view. Google Maps provides directions for some wheelchair-accessible pedestrian and transit routes.

Sites such as Roadtrippers and Furkot can plot an entire itinerary. While these websites are not disability specific, they are invaluable tools. (Roadtrippers does have a wheelchair-accessible check box in the search function.) You can filter by types of destinations such as national parks or museums, and search for hotels and campgrounds. Furkot allows you to input how long you want to drive each day, whether you want to travel on Interstate highways or take more scenic roads. The app will determine the best route and length of time between stops, and suggest where to stay overnight.

Finding lodging

While hotels and other accommodations are required to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, many hotels do not meet all accessibility needs. Most of the booking sites list hotels with accessible rooms for those with mobility, hearing and vision needs, but this information is not always verified. Do additional research on review sites and look for photos. Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton and Fairmont hotels offer allergy-friendly and scent-free rooms in some locations. Call the hotel to verify accessibility and to make sure a specific room is reserved for you.

Vacation rentals are typically not required to be A.D.A. compliant, but some do provide accessibility information. Airbnb recently rolled out an adapted category with accessibility search features and homes that have been scanned for accessibility. Review photos and contact the host for more information. Some hosts will make accommodations, such as changing the cleaning supplies or shifting furniture, but document your request using the in-app messaging system so that customer service can help if you run into issues.

Wheel the World is an accessible travel agency offering bookings at over 3,000 verified accessible hotels in the United States. The hotels have been reviewed in person by trained assessors; only those that meet the criteria are listed. Sign up as a disabled traveler or a companion and complete a personal profile that includes options for a variety of disabilities and accessibility needs. The site will provide listings that match your profile with partial, adequate and outstanding match options.

Food and medication

There are a variety of options to keep food or medication cold while traveling. Electric coolers can plug into your vehicle’s 12-volt outlet, but pay attention to the type of cooling mechanism — the less expensive versions are usually thermoelectric and will cool only to about 30 degrees below ambient temperature (if it is 70 degrees in the car, it will cool to 40 degrees). Compressor coolers are more expensive but maintain normal refrigerated temperatures.

Many hotels provide mini-refrigerators. When you know you will be stopping somewhere with a fridge almost every night, layer large ice packs and supplies in a cooler, then top them with another insulating layer like a cooling bag. This keeps everything cold for a couple of days at a time.

It’s also a good idea to travel with a single-burner cooktop — electric to use inside, or propane to use at rest areas and campgrounds — and a camp mess kit so that you can safely cook meals.

Some of the best apps to find food, restaurants and grocery stores that accommodate dietary needs are Fig for allergy-specific options, Happy Cow for vegan-friendly options and Find Me Gluten Free for celiac-safe spots. Add your favorite options to the route-planning app so that you know where to stop.

Finding activities

In addition to the apps mentioned in the route-planning section, state and local tourism organizations are good sources for accessible destinations.

National parks and monuments, which are required to meet federal accessibility guidelines, typically have visitor centers and recreation sites with accessible features. Each park website has information, as well as programs and services within the park. While accessibility varies, you can usually find information on wheelchair-accessible trails and campsites, tactile and audio features, assistive listening devices, and American Sign Language interpreters.

At state parks, accessibility features may not be consistent, but you can usually find some information on each park’s website.

Apps like AllTrails list wheelchair-friendly trails across the country, but the information may not be verified, so contact the park or land manager for verification. Among the parks with notable accessible trails are Redwood National and State Parks, North Cascades National Park, Badlands National Park, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park .

Syren Nagakyrie, the founder of the nonprofit Disabled Hikers and the author of “The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western Washington and Oregon” and “The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Northern California,” among other guidebooks, leads group hikes and conducts assessments throughout the United States.

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

Web accessibility and inclusivity of tourist destinations at social media management. An intercultural analysis of Andalusia and Northern Morocco

• Open access
• Published: 23 August 2023

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• Alexander Aguirre Montero   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8109-9342 1 ,
• Lola Hernández Sales   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2877-1726 1 ,
• Mohammed Youbi Idrissi 2 , 3 &
• José Antonio López-Sánchez   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5774-7442 4  

963 Accesses

Explore all metrics

Tourists with disabilities, representing approximately 15% of the world's population, especially need everything planned for their tourist experiences. Therefore, the contents and level of digital accessibility are vital and significantly impact the final decision to travel to one destination.

This work analyses a total of 165 digital contents (152 in Andalusia and 13 corresponding to Northern Morocco) from the perspective of web accessibility and inclusive communication in social media. The method used is multidisciplinary, carrying out a series of analyses through the statistical language R, TAW as an online tool to analyse the website's accessibility and synthesise guidelines for communicating inclusively in social networks.

The main results show the scarce involvement of public bodies in inclusive communication and digital accessibility, designing content from the universal design perspective. There is no substantial difference between the two regions studied, identifying that European legislation and national regulatory framework in Andalusia's case do not favour a better level of web accessibility, although this is a mandatory aspect. Furthermore, very few differences have been noted in analysing the level of Smart Tourism Destinations when accessibility is fundamental in their conceptualisation. Finally, this research can be identified as state-of-the-art in tourism marketing as a conceptual approach and a starting point for measuring inclusive communication in social networks.

Nowadays, accessible tourism is an opportunity to be placed at the centre of recovery plans in the post-COVID-19 era. Therefore, let us facilitate more inclusive societies, using tourism as a lever to achieve this goal.

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1 Introduction

Hereafter, the literature review introduces the research on Accessible Tourism, and contextualises this work. The term “accessible tourism” is relatively new in scientific research, characterised by its transversality. The databases of scientific articles in Web of Science and Scopus were analysed, searching with the terms “Accessible tourism”, “Inclusive tourism”, “Web Accessibility”, and “Inclusive Communication” both in the title and in the abstract and keywords for the selected dates, from 2000 to 2021. A total of 252 research articles have been obtained related to this topic, from the first use of these terms in 1989 to the considerable increase in scientific production related to this research topic from 2018 onwards. Focusing on the terms “Web Accessibility” and “Inclusive Communication”, the following figure shows the evolution of the most used keywords over time, where both concepts are not linked to the most relevant research topics, nodes configured by accessible tourism, accessibility or travel, among others. (see Fig.  1 ).

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Keywords clustering in accessible tourism research.

In contrast, all the terms related to “inclusive tourism”, i.e. “inclusion”, “inclusive development”, “responsible tourism”, or “responsible tourism”, are within the most current node identified in yellow in the cluster around 2019. The term “Inclusive Communication” itself is not yet represented, although work like this will help narrow this gap.

Analysing the term “Web Accessibility” in the literature review, a total of 29 research articles have been identified in the supplementary (Table 1). The selected articles are from the last decade following the criteria: articles from 2022 regardless of the number of citations; articles from 2018 to 2021 if they have at least one citation; finally, articles from 2012 to 2018 if they have at least ten citations with the aim of identifying papers that have a high level of support for their scientific contribution through the citations obtained during the last decade, as well as more current papers in recent years to analyse the current trend in this research topic. In general terms, the aspect most covered by the previous literature is tourism websites accessibility analyses through automatic tools to destinations management organisations, global airlines, hotels or event sectors. The general results showed that the Web accessibility of tourism websites is generally low. However, there is diversity according to the type of tourism activity, which means that disabled users may have substantial problems accessing websites, as seen in recent works [ 1 , 2 ]. Being one of the specific objectives of this work for the specific case of Andalusia, it has been noted in full support of the results of previous work [ 1 ], that none of the websites of the smart tourism destinations fully complied with the international WCAG 2.1 framework. Moreover, as will be seen in the section dedicated to Smart Tourism Destinations in Andalusia, it has not been possible to verify a better performance in terms of web accessibility for those classified as Smart destinations than those not.

Another issue that has been extensively addressed in these previous works [ 3 ] is that the studies published mainly use manual or automatic evaluations. However, the number of studies using mixed approaches (both manual and automatic) is minimal as well as another identified gap is related to the need for studies using WCAG 2.1. In order to fill these gaps, this paper analyses both manual and automatic web accessibility under WCAG 2.1. In line with the results of some previous works [ 4 ], this paper supports the idea that countries with a long tradition of accessibility in legislative terms do not necessarily perform better in web accessibility analysis. Likewise, the recommendation to carry out comparative research work between continents is another aspect that this work addresses in line with the gaps identified by authors of previous works to complement existing research [ 3 , 4 ].

Finally, the framing of this work concerning research studies shows that people with disabilities use social networks to expand their knowledge related to tourism services [ 5 ], constituting a fundamental tool for eliminating barriers through inclusive communication. Information on social networks to promote tourism services for people with disabilities is minimal. This study contributes to filling this gap by studying the level of inclusive communication used in the different social network profiles by the tourist destinations in the sample studied. To the authors’ knowledge, it is one of the first existing studies in this regard. However, it would be necessary to complement it by assessing the perception of people who experience a disability when interacting with social media platforms.

In this sense, this research addresses the challenges identified on websites and social media in terms of accessibility and inclusive communication, as well as the application that the competent administrations carry out in this area with the existing regulations in both countries. The particularity of this article lies in the fact that accessible tourism is a real opportunity for both mature and emerging destinations for different reasons. For this reason, the study area for this work was Andalusia, a region in southern Spain made up of eight provinces (some inland, such as Seville, Cordoba and Jaen, others eminently coastal, such as Huelva, Cadiz, Malaga, Granada and Almeria) and the northern region of Morocco, i.e. the region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al-Hociema (this region includes other smaller destinations such as Larache, Chef Chaouen, Ouazzane, Bab Berred and Tarquist). These are two territories in which there has been a historical relationship of economic, social and cultural cooperation, primarily in the area known as the “Círculo del Estrecho” [ 6 ]. Relations between these intercontinental territories have been strengthened in recent years, especially in the tourism sector [ 7 ], although there is still room for improvement, for example, on issues such as the one analysed here.

Proof of this is that only 9.2% of tourism facilities and services in EU countries have some level of accessibility. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis has noted that 90.8% of tourist facilities are not adequately prepared for people with special accessibility needs [ 8 ]. In the case of Morocco, mainly due to its proximity to Europe, it has a potential of 138.6 million customers and a gross turnover of 786 billion euros.

Despite these, this article focuses on the universal right to travel on equal terms, and to this end, the information available and its level of digital accessibility are fundamental. The challenges of accessible tourism in today’s digitised world require content designed to be consumed by all, regardless of personal circumstances, disabilities or temporary or permanent limitations [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. At the same time, public promotion agencies have an opportunity to introduce the inclusive use of digital marketing in the tourism industry [ 12 , 13 ].

In this regard, it must be remembered that it is crucial for tourists with special needs to have everything planned and organised before they go on a trip. Therefore, the information available and its accessibility are of vital importance. This significantly influences the final decision to travel to one destination or another. Related web accessibility is the inclusive practice of making it possible for anyone to access a website and consume its content regardless of their circumstances [ 14 , 15 ].

However, this statement is difficult to address when applying established standards of eAccessibility, especially in terms of geographic area. To solve this problem, international initiatives such as the one promoted by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) aim to standardise websites [ 16 , 17 ]. In Europe, Directive (EU) 2016/2102 on the digital accessibility of websites and apps for mobile devices of public sector bodies was published in December 2016 to harmonise the accessibility requirements for websites and apps of public bodies at the European level. In Spain, in general, and for Andalusia, the directive is set out in Royal Decree 1112/2018, of 7 September, on the accessibility of public sector websites and mobile devices. Establishing the obligation for public portals to have an Accessibility section following the model published by the European Commission (EU) 2018/1523, the EU establishes an accessibility declaration model with the information that must be provided and the requirements must be met. As for the United Nations, accessibility to information and communications was established in the Manila Declaration and Recommendations on 7 March 2003 https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/maniladecl.htm . Similarly, the UNWTO digital accessibility statement has published the first international standard on accessible tourism for all, led by UNWTO, ONCE foundation and UNE https://www.unwto.org/news/publication-of-first-international-standard-on-accessible-tourism-for-all .

Morocco does not currently have mandatory legislation on the digital accessibility of public websites. The recommendations followed by some administration areas align with the standards stipulated by the W3C through (WCAG) 2.1. Furthermore, to the regulations issued by the United Nations.

As can be seen, info-accessibility is not an isolated element but a generalised pattern worldwide. On the other hand, the state of research on digital accessibility in tourism websites is limited to a few previous works [ 2 , 4 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].

Because of the above, the general objective of this research is to analyse the levels of digital web accessibility and social media inclusive communication of the main tourist destinations in the “Círculo del Estrecho”. Conducting a cross-cultural study this work aims to analyse the differential component between the European regulatory framework applicable to the case of Andalusia and that applicable to Morocco in the Northern region.

Based on this goal, we address the following research questions:

What are the main good practices and problems regarding digital accessibility in Andalusian and Northern Morocco Tourism Public websites?

Is the regulatory framework for digital accessibility in Andalusia having a positive differentiating effect on the tourism sector compared to the destination of Northern Morocco?

In Andalusia, are Smart Tourist Destinations (STDs) improving the web accessibility of public tourism promotions bodies?

Do tourism administrations in Andalusia and Northern Morocco communicate inclusively on social media?

The research method used was multidisciplinary. The multidisciplinary contribution can be interpreted as the grouping of disciplines that retain their problem-solving approach to find a solution to a common problem. In the research process, the sample under study takes into account in Andalusia, the 22 tourist points established by the National Statistics Institute (INE) https://www.ine.es/index.htm as tourist destinations, 7 of them are included in the network of Smart Tourist Destinations (DTI) ( https://www.destinosinteligentes.es/destinos-inteligentes/).This gives a total of 17 initiatives in 32 tourist destinations. It should be noted that the province of Jaén does not include in the sample any tourist destination based on the two selection criteria belonging to the list of tourist destinations defined by the INE, as well as not currently having any tourist destination in the Smart Destinations Network. As for northern Morocco, in the region of Tangier-Tetouan-Al-Hociema, 5 websites and 8 profiles on social networks have been identified. Tourism promotion in Morocco is centralised in the institutional portal of the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, which does not have promotional websites or profiles on social networks. It should also be noted that there is currently no STD initiative in Northern Morocco, neither with the framework followed in Spain, the SEGITTUR methodology [ 23 ], nor with other frameworks, although there is a growing interest in these issues. Thus, has been obtained a final sample of 37 destinations in Andalusia and Northern Morocco has been obtained, identifying 37 official websites (33 in Andalusia and 5 corresponding to Northern Morocco) and 127 official profiles on social networks (119 in Andalusia and 8 corresponding to Northern Morocco). A total of 165 digital contents (152 in Andalusia and 13 corresponding to Northern Morocco) will be analysed from digital accessibility and inclusive communications perspectives.

Thus, during this process, techniques and tools of data science have been used through the R statistical programming language. TAW, was used to analyse web accessibility in non-social reach, following a decalogue of good practices on accessibility in social reach to analyse whether public bodies promoting tourism communicate inclusively on social networks. Finally, a comparative study through a cross-cultural analysis of the results obtained for both Andalusia and Northern Morocco was conducted. For this purpose, the statistical R programming was used to perform linear regression analysis, principal component analysis for the quantitative variables mainly related to digital accessibility errors, and correspondence analysis for the factor variables related primarily to good practices of inclusive communication in social networks.

TAW is an automatic online tool to analyse the accessibility of websites ( https://www.tawdis.net/index .), it was created by the CTIC Foundation, Parque Científico Tecnológico, Gijón, Asturias, Spain, taking as a technical reference the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) of the W3C consortium ( https://www.w3.org/ ) . TAW has been the reference tool in Spanish-speaking countries for more than 15 years. However, it is a checking tool suitable for web pages whose language is English. In our study, by using both English and Spanish pages for the cases that do not have translated pages it is understood that it is the tool that best adapts to our specific reality under study.

The main approach when applying accessibility to a website should be to reach the highest possible level. The levels of digital accessibility of a website are measured with the WAI-W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines WCAG 2.0, classified as follows:

WCAG 2.1 A. Meets all Priority 1 checkpoints. Websites that do not satisfy this checkpoint will result in one or more groups of users finding it impossible to access the information;

WCAG 2.1 AA. Websites that do not satisfy this checkpoint will result in one or more groups of users encountering difficulties in accessing the information;

WCAG 2.1 AAA. Websites not satisfying this checkpoint will result in one or more user groups encountering difficulty accessing the information.

Digital accessibility is based on four principles:

PERCEPTIBLE (perceived by all people). Information and user interface components must be presented to users in ways they can perceive. This means that users must be able to comprehend the information being depicted: It can’t be invisible to all their senses;

OPERABLE (all people can interact with it). The interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform;

UNDERSTANDABLE (messages understandable by everyone, especially in social networks). Users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface;

ROBUST (ICT products and services compatible with other types of systems or assistive technologies that facilitate accessibility). As technologies and user agents evolve, the content should remain accessible and compatible with a range of assistive technologies.

The sum of the total number of errors committed in the above variables is considered in the analysis as an aggregate variable called Total Errors.

Related to the decalogue of good practices for inclusive communication in social media, the base of the model recently published by Alexa Heinrich [ 24 ] has been followed. It is an eminently practical guide developed considering the experience of both accessibility experts and disability experts  https://www.accessible-social.com/ . Accessible Social is committed to being accessible to everyone who wishes to learn more about inclusive best practices for social media ongoing accessibility efforts work towards conforming to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria. These guidelines help make web content accessible not only to users with sensory, cognitive, and mobility disabilities, but also ultimately to all users, regardless of ability. The main points to be checked under this framework are divided into the following sections: Copy, Images and Audio-visual (see Table 1 ).

The methodology described above is then applied, analysing web accessibility and the level of inclusive communication on social networks both in the main tourist destinations in Andalusia and Tangiers, Tetouan and Al-Hocima, in the northern region of Morocco.

This section presents the results from this study, related to Web Digital Accessibility Analysis and Social Media Accessibility Analysis.

3.1 Webs digital accessibility analysis

First, a database was created containing all the public tourism promotion websites of the tourist destinations in both regions. The database will also support the analysis of digital accessibility, including the results provided by TAW to specify the total number of accessibility errors for each website under study. The different digital accessibility principles, i.e. Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust , were checked for each website (see supplementary Table 2 Destination’s webs digital accessibility analysis).

3.1.1 Accessibility modules by regions and provinces

Next, data of the websites in Andalusia and Northern Morocco that have information on accessible tourism through a specialised information module on accessible tourism and/or decalogue of digital accessibility was gathered (see Table 2 ).

As seen in Table 2 above, the websites with an information module on accessible tourism or a digital accessibility decalogue represent only 36.36% of the total in Andalusia. In Morocco, on the other hand, after analysing all the websites in the northern region, there are no modules with specialised information on this market segment. Andalusia’s improved positioning is due to a digital accessibility decalogue that is mandatory for all public promoting websites. In addition, of the 12 websites with the mandatory digital accessibility decalogue, half (50%) have specialised content or information on accessible and inclusive tourism. It is worth highlighting the lack of information on accessible tourism on the institutional portals of such emblematic destinations as Malaga, Marbella, Granada and Seville.

3.1.2 Web accessibility errors by regions and provinces

The level used to analyse web accessibility in the public tourism promotion portals of Andalusia and Northern Morocco is the W3C Standard Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA. It included a wide range of guidelines to make content more accessible for people with disabilities: blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, limited movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity, and combinations of these, and some accommodation for learning disabilities and cognitive limitations, using TAW as an analysis tool to measure web accessibility by total errors detected on sites’ HTML and CCS languages. As a quantitative variable ( Total Errors) , a mean and standard deviation analysis was performed for each of the two geographic locations or regions (see Table 3 ).

As shown in the previous figure, the average total errors of the websites analysed in Andalusia are 48.88. At the same time, 142.40 are the average errors of the websites available in the North of Morocco. Seville and Cadiz have the lowest number of errors, averaging 21.33 and 29.28, respectively.

Continuing with the analysis under the WCAG 2.1 AA standard, each kind of error has been analysed, for each principle: Robust, Understandable, Operable and Perceivable, by each destination in Andalusia and the north of Morocco as shown in the figures below (see Figs.  2 , 3 ).

Source prepared by the authors using R

Andalusia Region websites’ errors by component WCAG version 2.1 (level AA).

Errors in Moroccan websites by component WCAG version 2.1 (level AA).

As the previous figure shows, perceivable and operable are the principles with the most errors, with 576 and 382 errors, respectively, with a similar distribution among the different tourist destinations in Andalusia, except Rincón and Córdoba. While the minor errors are related to the principles understandable and robust with 91 and 562, respectively, the latter is on the level as the two most frequent error categories; this is because only two destinations, Benalmádena and Almería, account for almost 50% of the total number of errors identified in the robust category with 271 errors out of the total.

As seen in the previous figure, perceivable and operable are the principles with the most frequently occurring errors on the websites analysed in the destination of northern Morocco. Thus, the most significant digital accessibility problems were identified as the scarce use of alternative texts for images and other accessibility problems linked to the components of the interfaces. In the other two categories, understandable and robust, the errors are more limited, from this, a good performance in the comprehension of the content can be deduced, which is generally interpreted reliably by a wide variety of users, including technical aids.

Complementing the previous analysis, the analysis went deeper into the fundamentals of the accessibility variables of the WCAG 2.1 AA standard: Robust, Understable, Operable and Perceivable, through two complementary analyses. These in a linear regression model to determine which variables are related to digital accessibility and a principal component analysis (PCA) through which the relationship between these variables, that explains digital accessibility, has been analysed. The linear regression model is set out as follows:

Model_Digital_Accessibility  = lm (TOTAL_ERRORS  ~  ROBUST  +  UNDERSTANDABLE  +  OPERABLE  +  Perceivable_estandar  +  ACCESSIBILITY_MODULE  +  REGION, data  =  Webs_Digital_Accesbility_Analysis).

Firstly it has proceeded to standardise the scale of the different types of errors. In the specific case of Perceptible, the number of images on the respective websites has also been considered because most images have a high potential number of errors. In this way, it has not been penalised large portals such as  https://www.visitmorocco.com/en  or  https://www.andalucia.org/en/home , which depend on the Ministry of Tourism of Morocco and Turismo Andaluz, a public promotional entity dependent on the Junta de Andalucía (Andalusian Regional Government).

The model’s outcome is statistically significant, with an R2 of almost 90%. When performing the Shapiro test, it was indicated that the independent variable under study in the Total_Errors model does not follow a normal distribution, which is why we performed a Wilcox test to check the statistical significance of the means of this variable in Andalusia and Morocco and found it to be significant. Therefore, the variable Region is significant, so it can be argued that the geographical location, Andalusia or Northern Morocco, influences the level of digital accessibility of the websites analysed.

In this order, the statistically significant parameters or estimators are Operable, Robust and Perceivable_Standardized. At the same time, Understandable is not significant, a situation that is explained by the fact that the average number of errors of the variable is 2.81, while the errors related to the variables Perceivable_Standardized, Robust or Operable are 29.46, 15.59 or 13.92, respectively. Therefore, it is not that Understandable is not an essential characteristic of digital accessibility, but rather that in the websites analysed, there are fewer errors in this variable compared to the others studied.

Finally, a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. Principal component analysis is one of the most widely used multivariate data analysis methods that allow us to investigate multidimensional data sets when dealing with quantitative variables, reducing the analysed variables to two principal components, PC1 and PC2, which describe, in this case, more than 75% of the original variance (see Fig.  4 ).

Principal components by region.

The previous figure shows how the websites relate to the variables that explain digital accessibility. The analysis works in practice as a digital accessibility performance index, where the further to the right on the abscissa axis, the greater the number of total errors the analysed website will have. Also, it identifies the variables Perceptible, Robust and Operable as the most significant influence on the total number of errors and worse relative performance for tourism promotion websites in Northern Morocco.

In the following subsection, for the specific case of Andalusia, the question of some tourist destinations working within the framework of Smart Tourism Destinations has been analysed.

3.1.3 Smart tourism destinations in Andalusia

As a consequence of the proliferation since 2014 of Smart Tourism Destination (STD) initiatives linked to the development of smart cities [ 25 , 26 , 27 ], the variable STD in the particular case of Andalusia has been included in our study to analyse whether the process of converting a mature mass destination into STD has any relationship with better performance on the levels of digital accessibility of tourism promotion websites. Even more so when, by definition, one of the fundamental pillars of smart destinations is accessibility.

From the sample under study, 53.13% of Andalusia´s destinations are immersed in converting to STD. Deepening the distribution of STD initiatives in the provinces of Andalusia (see Fig.  5 ).

Smart tourism destinations in Andalusia by provinces.

The figure above shows the distribution by provinces of the current initiatives launched for developing STDs in Andalusia. Malaga, Seville and Cadiz are the Andalusian provinces with the highest number of STD initiatives. Cordoba, together with Jaén, the fewest, with none. In the case of Jaén, it must also bear in mind that it does not have a tourist destination considered by the INE, which is why it is not represented in the above graph. This is because the development of STDs is primarily linked to mature sun and beach destinations. Supplemented the above data by performing a principal component analysis for this factor (see Fig.  6 ).

Principal component analysis by STDs.

The previous figure has been analysed through principal components of the quantitative and multidimensional data of supplementary (Table 2), developing factors that will be used later in a modelling method through linear regression. As shown, no pattern in the point cloud differentiates STD and NON-STD behaviours, which means that it cannot identify a better performance of these destinations that do not work within the STD framework than those that do. Therefore, the STD variable is not a positive differential component concerning digital accessibility.

3.2 Analysis of inclusive communication in social networks

Firstly, a database has been compiled, which includes the profiles on social networks used by tourist destinations in Andalusia and Northern Morocco to promote tourism content (see supplementary, Table 3 Tourist destinations’ social media analysis).

In supplementary (Table 3), profiles in social networks have been classified geographically by region, province and city. In some cases, the managing body of the tourist destination corresponds to a group of cities or provinces; for these cases, we proceeded with an NA, indicating that this data is unavailable. We carried out a manual collation task for each social network to identify cases of good practices of inclusive communication in their tourism promotion content. These good practices include the appropriate use of the following qualitative variables:  Plain Language, Alternative Text, Captions, Transcriptions, Hashtags  and finally, limited use of  Emojis . The database includes the date the analysis was done, delimiting this study in time.

3.2.1 Inclusive communication, descriptive and correspondence analysis

In this part of the study related to social network analysis, an initial descriptive analysis of the variables that make up the total of good practices has been conducted. In addition, it complements it with a correspondence analysis, as these are qualitative variables or factors, to find out the tendency of the relationship between the different variables, if there are any (see Figs. 7 , 8 ).

Good practices by components.

Good practices correspondence analysis.

As shown in the previous figure, the use of plain and informative text is the most widespread good practice, although it accounts for only half 50.41% of the copies analysed. The use of other good practices of inclusive communication is considerably reduced, and in some of the variables analysed, they are almost anecdotal. This is the case with alternative texts, a good practice to facilitate reading images by screen readers, limited to 1.63% of the profiles analysed, or the transcription of audiovisuals, with only 4.07%. Subtitling is another good practice of inclusive communication on social media that should be encouraged, as it is only presents 8.95% of the social media profiles analysed. Even practices that are simpler a priori to implement are being minimally employed, such as the use of hashtags to classify contents and facilitate their search with 13.82%, or the limited use of emojis so as not to interrupt the reading sequence of screen readers frequently, with the appropriate use of emojis being a practice found in 22.32% of the contents analysed.

Figure  8 shows a correspondence analysis of the good practices of inclusive communication on social networks by the destinations belonging to the sample under study.

As shown in the previous figure, the use of good practices in inclusive communication is reflected in the graph in the right-hand area of the ordinate axis. The variable  Region  corresponding to the  North of Morocco  is also relevant in this area. On the other hand, the worst performance of these variables is located on the left, with profiles belonging mainly to destinations in Andalusia. Regarding inclusive communication, based on the decalogue of good practices and the sample under study, Northern Morocco is in a better relative position than Andalusia. However, one must bear in mind that the total number of profiles analysed is much higher in the case of Andalusia, depending on different public entities. In the case of Morocco, the profiles belong mainly to the public accounts of the Moroccan Ministry, thus organising the communication process in a more centralised way.

At this point, the profiles of tourist destinations on social networks will be analysed, classifying them into five groups, from those that do not comply with any good practices to those that comply with four good practices in terms of inclusive communication (see Fig.  9 ).

Total good practices correspondence analysis.

The previous figure shows how the groups of profiles with the worst performance with 0 or 1 good inclusive communication practices are located in the left area, with a reasonably close position. In contrast, the groups of profiles in social networks with 2 to 4 good practices are in the right area of the graph. Visually, the groups or clusters with the worst results are those with the highest number of members, confirming how little interest is devoted to the issue of inclusive communication by tourist destinations. To illustrate this point, we complete the previous quantitative analysis with a qualitative analysis based on the good practice guide for inclusive communication on social networks. In this case, collecting through the UX Check some of the worse practice cases examples trying to limit them (see supplementary, Table 4). A complimentary comment to the previous table can identify a generalised lack of good practices in inclusive communication through the social media profiles of tourist destinations, in some cases, a profound lack. For example, only 1.63% of images use alternative text or a meagre 8.94% use video subtitles. However, the performance of profiles from Northern Morocco is somewhat better, considering that the number of profiles is lower than those from Andalusia. The room for improvement in communicating more inclusively on social networks is enormous for both regions.

3.2.2 Inclusive communication, linear regression analysis

The present section has analysed inclusive communication through social media destinations profiles in Andalusia and North Morocco with a linear regression model where each variable belonging to good practices is the estimator of this explanatory variable. The variables  region  and  social network were added, and their statistical significance was analysed, using the following regression model:

Model_Comunicate_Inclusively  = lm (TOTAL_GOOD_PRACTICES  ~  `PLAIN LANGUAGE`  +  `ALTERNATIVE TEXT`  +  CAPTIONS  +  TRASNCRIPTIONS  +  HASHTAGS  +  EMOJIS  +  REGION  +  Network, data  =  Social_Media_Analysis).

In order to include the latter variable, social networks, a preliminary analysis of mean and standard deviation and correspondence analysis has been conducted (see Fig.  10 ).

Social networks correspondence analysis.

In this first approximation, Instagram and Facebook are the social networks with the highest number of good inclusive communication practices, along with Pinterest, significantly the most inclusive in the group of other social network profiles (OTHER). In contrast, Twitter and YouTube are positioned last, shown as the worst-performing networks to the left of the graph. Social networks such as Facebook and Instagram are positioned to the right, with their position in the diagram depicting a better performance in inclusive communication. The sphere represented by Others reflects the level of inclusive communication of the group of minority social networks in use by the tourist destinations analysed: Flickr, Issuu, Spotify, Blogger, LinkedIn and Pinterest. However, they are the ones that accumulate the highest number of good practices in inclusive communication. This is mainly due to the high performance of LinkedIn and Pinterest. Both social networks perform better in audio videos with subtitles, transcriptions, informative copies and no abusive use of emojis.

Focusing on the regression model, the variables that make up the total of good practices, i.e. plain language, alternative text, captions, transcriptions, hashtags and emojis are significant as expected, as each variable forms a necessary component to communicate inclusively. Concerning the region and the level of good practices in social media, it must be noted the better performance of social media profiles of the main destinations in Northern Morocco, Tangier, Tetouan and Al-Hocima, with an average of two good practices per profile. At the same time, Andalusia has a low average of just one good practice per social media profile (see Fig.  11 ).

Good practices regional analysis.

In the previous figure, the outliers in Andalusia are the profiles that communicate more inclusively on social networks, taking into account the sum of both regions, coinciding with the destination of Malaga and Nerja in the province of Malaga.

4 Discussion

4.1 1st phase discussion. website digital accessibility analysis: accessibility modules by regions and smart tourism destinations in andalusia.

Taking into account the averages and correlations obtained in the previous section, either the limitations presented in the international context, the following reflections are considered relevant to understand the current state of this subject.

According to the results presented in this study, Table 2 shows that of the 33 websites analysed in this article for Andalusia, only 12 websites (36.36%) refer to accessibility or accessible tourism. In contrast, the rest of the websites, i.e. 21, do not make any reference, representing 63.64% of the total. Comparing this study with the data presented [ 2 ], among the results of a total of 19 websites analysed in Portugal, the territories with references to accessibility or accessible tourism are only 10, which represents 53.63% of the total. Thus, better relative performance can be seen concerning digital accessibility corresponding to the websites of Andalusian tourist destinations. In this regard, it should be borne in mind that Portugal has a long history in favour of digital accessibility, as it was one of the first countries to become a member of the accessibility guidelines of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Regarding the most common web accessibility errors identified in the pages analysed for Andalusia and Northern Morocco, the results obtained and shown in Figs.  2 and 3 highlight those related to Perceptible, Robust and Operable. In this case, the results coincide with the work carried out in the framework of web accessibility for Portugal [ 2 , 18 , 20 ]. Regarding the understandable principle, some problems and warnings were identified, as shown in Fig.  2 , the web accessibility error with the most insignificant impact on the web pages analysed. This low average of accessibility problems linked to the comprehensibility principle is consistent with previous work [ 21 ].

The results are focused on the web accessibility of public tourism promotion bodies. As mentioned in the methodology, the most relevant destinations in Andalusia and the north of Morocco have been selected, for different reasons, as seen in Table 1 (supplementary). After carefully studying the state of the art, it can be appreciated that some works analyse the web accessibility of public and private entities in the value chain of a tourist destination. These are museums, hotels or leisure activities websites [ 18 , 19 ]. Recent works confirm that more attention is given to the analysis of digital accessibility in official tourism organisations’ websites and Municipal websites, as shown in [ 3 ]. In this sense, there is no previous reference to analyse the accessibility of the official websites of the “Círculo del Estrecho” tourist destinations.

The results aim to raise awareness among the managing bodies of tourist destinations in Andalusia and northern Morocco of the importance of increasing the levels of digital accessibility of websites in both regions for several reasons. Firstly, in the case of Andalusian destinations, the minimum legal requirements still need to be met in many cases. Secondly, in both regions, few websites have a specialised information module on accessible tourism or even a digital accessibility decalogue, even though the latter is compulsory. Thirdly, concerning the northern region of Morocco, no information related to accessible tourism has been identified. Therefore, in the case of this region, web accessibility should be addressed from the initial process—design and implementation—based on international standards of digital accessibility, thus highlighting the level of web accessibility and good practices of inclusive communication on social networks in Malaga, Andalusia as an accessible destination. This destination presents an above-average performance in both parameters of this study; despite this, there is still significant room for improvement since, as shown in Table 2 , it lacks reference to accessible tourism on its official website.

4.2 2nd phase discussion. Analysis of inclusive communication in social networks

The comparative framework with previous works must be more present in this new concept of inclusiveness in social networks. Some studies include the concept of inclusion from the perspective of branding [ 28 ] or the language used [ 29 ] but not from analysing the level of inclusive communication on social networks by compiling the good practices used for tourist destinations. In this sense, as shown in supplementary (Table 3), the results provided in this work aim not only to raise awareness among the managing bodies of tourist destinations in Andalusia and northern Morocco but also to encourage the tourism sector itself to reflect on the importance of increasing the levels of inclusive communication for three main reasons. Firstly, all tourists, regardless of their disabilities or permanent or temporary limitations, have the right to consume the promotional content generated by tourist destinations through social networks without discrimination. Secondly, communicating more inclusively will make it easier for tourist destinations to reach more tourists and, therefore, more potential customers. Third, communicating inclusively the content generated by tourist destinations facilitates the work of organic positioning of digital content at the end of the destination itself.

5 Conclusions

Answering the first research question, the connection between web accessibility and inclusive communication concepts leads to cross-cutting approaches based on concepts such as universal design. In this sense, in a first approximation, these terms are receiving increasing attention from researchers and communication professionals. However, there is still a considerable margin for improvement, as this paper shows. Regarding info-accessibility, a considerable need for digital accessibility on promotional websites of the main tourist destinations in Andalusia and Northern Morocco has been identified. Likewise, there is a critical need for awareness-raising and training for professionals in charge of communication within the tourism marketing function. Related to the most significant digital accessibility errors is the general lack of alternative texts for the images included on the destinations’ websites in both regions. However, Andalusian websites have a slightly higher level of digital accessibility than the northern region of Morocco. This circumstance should not hide the significant shortcomings in terms of digital accessibility which have been detected in the websites of Andalusian destinations. Websites with an accessible tourism information module or a digital accessibility decalogue only represent 36.36%, which should be mandatory for all of them according to regulations.

Concerning the second question, related to the comparison of the websites of tourist destinations in the Strait of Gibraltar, it can be stated that there are no significant differences, highlighting the shortcomings of many websites of destinations in Andalusia not complying with the mandatory legal requirements. The point to note is that the mandatory legislation emanating from the European Union and included in the Spanish regulatory framework (in the case of Andalusia) is not offering a significant differential component in terms of digital accessibility in their websites of public tourism promotion.

Regarding the third research question, currently, a significant number of initiatives in mature mass tourism destinations in Andalusia focused on accessible tourism, supported by new models of tourism management such as Smart Tourism Destinations (STDs). Although the analysis results are conclusive, they do not identify a better performance of the tourist destinations included within the STDs framework than those that do not, which is even more striking when accessibility is a fundamental pillar in the smart destinations. At this point, the component to highlight is that STDs must develop into more accessible tourist destinations by conceptualisation.

Focusing on inclusive communication practices in Andalusia and Northern Morocco as the fourth research question, minimal performance is identified, possibly due to the need for more awareness of this emerging concept in both destinations. Thus, there is a strong need for good practice in using alternative texts to describe images beyond those self-generated by some platforms. The misuse of emojis is widespread hindering the readability of the technologies on which screen readers. The inappropriate use of hashtags frequently mixed with the copy itself or the non-use of the CamelCase style makes screen readers’ work difficult. For all these reasons, there is a considerable gap in the use of good inclusive communication practices, which could also represent an opportunity for those destinations that are increasingly interested in the accessible tourism segment. Currently, most social networks offer help pages to design content that everyone can consume from the universal design paradigm [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ].

The originality of this work is that it represents the first analysis of the accessibility of the websites of the tourist destinations of the “Círculo del Estrecho”, and, more specifically, it is the first time that the northern region of Morocco has been analysed. Moreover, this study represents a step forward compared to previous studies, which were limited to digital accessibility. However, this article opens up a new line of research by analysing inclusive communication on social networks. This research will be significant in tourism marketing due to its conceptual approach and as a starting point for measuring inclusive communication in tourism destinations and social networks.

As a limitation of this work, we can identify several different stages of development of tourist destinations on both sides of the Gibraltar Strait and different regulatory levels. However, the most significant is the difference in tourism management models in both regions, which has led to a significant difference in the number of websites and social network profiles to be analysed for each case. Therefore, future studies should consider the current trends of digital content consumption through any device, considering both the concepts of Web Responsive Design [ 47 ] and Mobile First [ 48 ]. We must recognize that, at present, the most significant number of searches and digital content consumption is done through mobile phones.

Finally, accessible tourism in general and digital accessibility and inclusive communication, as part of social sustainability, are fundamental for transforming tourism destinations. Future work should include indicators to measure these variables in the framework of recent studies on measuring the sustainability of tourism destinations [ 49 ].

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Conceptualization: Alexander Aguirre Montero, Mohammed Youbi Idrissi, José Antonio López Sánchez; Methodology: Alexander Aguirre Montero, José Antonio López Sánchez; Formal analysis and investigation: Alexander Aguirre Montero, Mohammed Youbi Idrissi, María Dolores Hernández Sales; Writing—original draft preparation: Alexander Aguirre Montero, María Dolores Hernández Sales; Writing—review and editing: Alexander Aguirre Montero, María Dolores Hernández Sales; Funding acquisition: José Antonio López Sánchez; Resources: José Antonio López Sánchez; Supervision: José Antonio López Sánchez, Mohammed Youbi Idrissi.

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Montero, A.A., Sales, L.H., Idrissi, M.Y. et al. Web accessibility and inclusivity of tourist destinations at social media management. An intercultural analysis of Andalusia and Northern Morocco. Univ Access Inf Soc (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-023-01020-y

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KAMAGAJU: That's a leopard, yeah.

SUMMERS: Oh, my gosh, it's crossing right now.

KAMAGAJU: Crossing the road, yeah.

SUMMERS: It doesn't seem to see us. He's staring at the car now. He's beautiful. He's walking away. I mean, it's - I've never seen a leopard in real life before. It's absolutely gorgeous. It's walking across the path.

This is one of Africa's oldest national parks, sitting just at the border with Tanzania. After many people fled the violence of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, some people and their cattle ended up inside the park, which put a strain on the park's ecosystem. For a time, the park was floundering. Some species disappeared.

JEAN PAUL KARINGANIRE: It was the aftermath of genocide. Everyone was concentrated on unity and reconciliation. So the government has a lot of tasks, and conservation was not a priority.

SUMMERS: That's Jean Paul Karinganire, a park tourism manager. As the country rebuilt, a big part of the park land was given to Rwandan refugees looking to start their lives over. The country took steps to encourage international tourism. Today, it makes up 11% of Rwanda's GDP. And the country wants to keep growing tourism, but it's a balance.

KARINGANIRE: Tourism is really growing so fast, to the extent that we are afraid that it may destroy the integrity of our conservation purpose.

(SOUNDBITE OF WALKIE-TALKIE BEEPING)

KARINGANIRE: Alpha one five, Alpha one five...

SUMMERS: Inside a big control room, rangers monitor the entire park around the clock. They keep tabs on everything on this big digital map - not just the animals, also the tourists.

So just looking at the screen here, I mean, I see the little icons that looks like a hiker. So you're able to track tourists in the park, vehicles and animals all through the same system.

KARINGANIRE: Yes, through the same system in one screen.

SUMMERS: More than 50,000 people visited Akagera last year, and nearly half those visitors came from outside of Rwanda. As we drive through the park, though, on this day, it's not too busy. At times, it feels like we have the whole park to ourselves. We stopped for a bit near a campsite to stretch our legs and take in the view.

What's that over there?

KAMAGAJU: Those are impala.

SUMMERS: Impala.

Bounding past us are two impala, a mother and her baby.

What's your favorite part about your job? You have the coolest job in the world.

KAMAGAJU: Thank you. I'm always like to see the nature. I'm always like to be in the nature. But the things which was interesting to me - I like to hear the melody for the nature.

SUMMERS: The melody of nature. Penina is a birder, and she's carrying a big, heavy pair of binoculars. And sometimes she shares them with me.

(SOUNDBITE OF BIRDS CHIRPING)

SUMMERS: She says there are more than 500 species of birds at the park, and she shows me a tree full of village weaver birds.

KAMAGAJU: They're called the village weaver because they weave their nest.

SUMMERS: So many of the animals we see as we drive - they are just feet away from us.

I don't know if I've ever been close to that many wild animals before. And you get to do this every day at work.

KAMAGAJU: Yes. That's why I'm rocking (ph). I say to everybody, my office is very interesting.

SUMMERS: Thank you for bringing us into your office today. We loved every minute of it.

KAMAGAJU: Great. Thank you. We are very, very pleasure to have you because we need a lot of people who be in the eyes of us, be like our ambassador for the park. Thank you so much.

SUMMERS: Tomorrow we wrap up our reporting from Rwanda with a look at the country's rapid development. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has been celebrated for transforming his country post-genocide, promoting Rwanda as a safe tourist destination and a hub for tech startups.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME: Our journey has been long and tough.

SUMMERS: But he has also been criticized for cracking down on dissent and jailing his opponents, charges the Rwandan government denies. We'll take a closer look at that complicated image and what it might mean for the country's future.

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Sky-high car rental fees are already scuttling tourist plans for this summer, inn owner says

Guests told him they had to cancel because they didn't know about the vehicle rental costs.

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A hospitality business in eastern Newfoundland has received cancellations long before the summer even started, because guests couldn't find an affordable way to get there.

Luke Fisher, owner of Fishers' Loft in Port Rexton, says operators see the same scenario play out every year.

"We had a family that were coming and they had to cancel because they had no idea of the cost [of a rental car]," Fisher said.

He says many of the cancellations are from people who booked, expecting to find an affordable rental — and often customers find they can cannot rent anything at all.

CBC News checked the prices of renting a car from the St. John's airport for one week in July. The range for available rentals was between $1,300 and $2,900.

"It's sort of disheartening. The smaller businesses in rural areas are the ones that's going to suffer from this the most and it affects everybody," said Fisher, whose family has been running the inn since the 1990s. 

WATCH | They booked their flights, and wrongly assumed they can rent a car, says this business owner:

A bus service runs to the town once a day, but there are no taxi services, Fisher said. 

He says the provincial government should have a "sit down" with the rental companies to reach a solution.

Why so expensive?

Craig Hirota, vice-president of the Associated Canadian Car Rental Operators, says the high prices at the peak of summer are due to available vehicle supply.

Car manufacturers prioritize new vehicles to retail customers, he says.

"Some manufacturers actually prohibit their dealers from selling to fleet customers because they don't want those vehicles diverted from the retail demand," he told Here & Now . 

Running a rental car fleet on an island is especially challenging since rental companies have to pay for shipment to the island and plan to the tourism season that often lasts only a few months in a year.

"You've either got to be able to get vehicles on and off the island affordably…that cost of ingress and egress of the fleet vehicles is going to be included in the rate," Hirota said.

• Audio Some are raising red flags about the effects Uber could have on labour and transit in the province
• Uber gets the green light to hit the streets of N.L.

There have been ongoing conversations with the provincial government and rental car businesses, he says, since 2006 to try and change the auto insurance to be the same as in provinces like Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia.

Currently, registered owners of vehicles in Newfoundland and Labrador are vicariously liable for anything a driver does to an "unlimited level," Hirota says.

In the three other provinces, the liability is capped to $1 million and if a renter has their own auto insurance, that policy will respond first, therefore giving some shield to car rental companies.

"Anything that that makes it easier to operate in Newfoundland will will help encourage greater business development."

Download our  free CBC News app  to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.  Click here to visit our landing page .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Arlette Lazarenko is a journalist working in St. John's. She is a graduate of the College of the North Atlantic journalism program. Story tips welcomed by email: [email protected]

With files from Carolyn Stokes

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Your 2024 Illinois Solar Eclipse Guide

Jan 03, 2024 • Outdoors & Regional

Explaining the 2024 Solar Eclipse

Imagine being in the Middle of Everything to witness a   twice-in-a-lifetime astronomical event . If you make your way to Southern Illinois, you'll get that chance. 

What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse is a rare, celestial event that occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, causing the sun to be partially or completely obscured from view as observed from a specific region on Earth. This happens because the moon's shadow is cast onto the Earth's surface, blocking or partially covering the sun's light.

When is the next total solar eclipse?

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse is set to occur, marking the final one visible from the United States until the year 2045.

Where will the eclipse be visible?

This celestial event will pass through a path of totality encompassing 13 states, including Illinois.

Where is the best place to view the eclipse?

While a partial solar eclipse will be visible across the entire country including much of the rest of Illinois, the special characteristics of a total solar eclipse can only be experienced within the narrow path of totality that will traverse Southern Illinois - specifically in areas such as Carbondale. It is only within this specific region and during this precise moment that you can observe the sky transitioning to darkness, resembling nighttime, as the Moon completely obstructs direct sunlight and unveils the solar corona—the Sun's outer atmosphere.

This means only residents of Southern Illinois and visitors alike will have the rare, unique opportunity to see this truly remarkable event and be witness to the rare astronomical phenomenon known as a total solar eclipse. Carbondale is on the center-line of the path of totality and will see 4 minutes and 9 seconds of totality for eclipse 2024 (nearly double what was seen in 2017). For other spots to view the eclipse in Illinois, keep reading!

How do I plan to see the eclipse?

If you're planning to travel, be sure to   view the Illinois Department of Transportation's website   for travel tips and info on how to prepare.

Read on for more details on what you'll need to bring with you, the best places to see the eclipse, events, and more. Let's have a solar-bration!

Get in a Celestial State of Mind

Before embarking on your eclipse adventure, take a moment to delve into all things out-of-this-world by visiting these planetariums and observation centers. These celestial phenomena have fascinated humanity for centuries, and understanding them can add a whole new layer of wonder to your experience.

William M. Staerkel Planetarium

With a state-of-the-art digital projection system and special programs, visitors to Champaign can learn about the stars, planets and more at the second largest planetarium in Illinois.

Strickler Planetarium

Come witness the history of the universe in Bourbonnais from its fiery birth to the formation of our own solar system on a state-of-the-art digital projector that gives a multimedia and full-dome show.

Adler Planetarium

Located in Chicago, America’s First Planetarium is more than a museum. It's a laboratory, a classroom, and a community. Enjoy interactive exhibitions, live planetarium shows and more.

Cernan Earth & Space Center

Triton College's on-campus space center in River Grove is an educational, engaging attraction with galactic appeal. It features a variety of earth and sky shows, children's shows and laser light shows.

Road Trip Hotspots:  Roadside Stops  

As you head off on your road trip to Southern Illinois, there's a bounty of iconic attractions and features to stop by along the way. 

Kaskaskia Dragon , Vandalia

Is a dragon really a dragon without fire-breathing? Of course not. And this ferocious metallic statue in Vandalia agrees. On your way to experiencing something celestial, stop by this attraction for a fun dose of mythical. 

Big Things , Casey

Yes, seeing a total eclipse will make you feel small. But so will the town of Casey just off of Interstate 70. Host to a variety of larger-than-life attractions like the world’s largest rocking chair, mailbox, golf tee and driver, pencil, keys, and so much more. This town will make you feel like you’ve just stumbled upon a lost suburb of giants.

Fort Massac Encampment , Metropolis

For those history lovers, Fort Massac is Illinois’s first state park and home to a wooden fort built by French soldiers in 1757.

Superman Statue & Museum , Metropolis

Metropolis is the home of Superman! Take a photo with the 15-foot-tall statue of the Man of Steel. A statue of Lois Lane is also located nearby. And be sure to visit the world's largest collection of Superman memorabilia at the  Superman Museum .

Walker’s Bluff Casino & Resort , Carterville

Keep an eye out for a variety of hosted activities related to the eclipse, plus enjoy all the amenities on offer including a spacious indoor/outdoor pool, fine dining venues, and a variety of gaming and entertainment.

Road Trip Hotspots:  Nature Walks

Don't forget to visit a few local state parks and rolling hills to get in some of your steps and take in the wondrous beauty of the natural landscapes that surround you.

Starved Rock State Park , Utica 

Seasonal waterfalls, awe-inspiring bluffs, and rugged canyons dominate the storied landscape at Starved Rock. Rich with history and beauty, Starved Rock’s hiking trails meander through towering trees and scenic overlooks along the Illinois River. 

Matthiessen State Park , Utica

Located in central LaSalle County, approximately four miles south of Utica and three miles east of Oglesby, Matthiessen is a paradise for those interested in geology as well as recreation.

Pere Marquette State Park , Grafton

With nearly 8,000 acres of scenic beauty, Pere Marquette State Park is one of the most picturesque and beautiful locations on the Illinois River and the largest state park in Illinois.

LaRue Pine Hills , Wolf Lake

LaRue-Pine Hills is one of the most unique areas in the world. As with many places in the Shawnee National Forest, the beauty we see today is rooted in geologic history. Scenic drives, hiking, and camping are available.  

Best Places to View the Eclipse in Illinois

The Path of Totality will span across 13 states. A large section of Southern Illinois lies along the path, hitting multiple towns and cities. Take a look at the map below and see which parts of Southern Illinois lie within the Path of Totality, so you can discover which places will be best to view the eclipse! 

Marketing itself as the Crossroads of the Eclipses, this is a great spot for eclipse-chasers. Southern Illinois University is planning a public viewing at a football stadium – with NASA Edge in attendance.

Garden of the Gods, Shawnee National Forest

Situated in Shawnee National Forest, a beautiful, unspoiled wilderness area in Southern Illinois, Garden of the Gods is a perfect spot for viewing astronomical events.

Bald Knob Cross, Alto Pass

As well as being close to the point of greatest eclipse duration – Bald Knob Mountain is one of the highest places in the area. Expect low horizons and a big crowd.

Traffic Information

There'll be an increased amount of traffic on the roads around the eclipse event. Make sure you plan ahead and check out the below links for further details.

• Road construction:  Road Construction (gettingaroundillinois.com)
• Traveler info:  Traveler Info (gettingaroundillinois.com)

Solar Eclipse Events in Illinois

Fairfield eclipse (fairfield), april 8, 2024.

Event date(s): April 8, 2024 Location: Fairfield, IL

Join us for the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8th, 2024 in Fairfield, Illinois – The Center of it All!

Solar Eclipse At Historic Bell Hill (Cobden), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024, 12-3 pm Location: Cobden, Illinois

Total Eclipse of the Art: at Alto Vineyards

Event date(s): April 6, 2024, 12-5 pm Location: Alto Pass, Illinois

Come and enjoy this day in celebration of local talent with an eclipse theme, in Alto Vineyard's comfy & pleasurable environment. This is a perfect opportunity to purchase that one-of-a-kind memorabilia of this historic crossover eclipse that will engulf Southern Illinois.

Total Eclipse Run (Vienna), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Location: Vienna, Illinois

Get a move on and Run on the Day of the 2024 Total Eclipse by participating in the Total Eclipse Run presented by Revive Vienna. SAG Station (Drinks and Snacks) and SAG Driver will be available during the run times.

Solar Eclipse Wine Glass Painting at StarView Vineyards (Cobden), April 7, 2024

Event date(s): April 7, 2024, 1-3 pm Location: Cobden, Illinois

Get ready to unleash your creativity while enjoying a glass of wine, great food and friends. StarView Vineyards are are hosting a Solar Eclipse Wine Glass Painting event where you can personalize your very own wine glasses or beer mugs. Choose between a solar eclipse-themed design or make your own unique design! By the end of the event, you'll have two glasses to sip out of while you watch the once in a lifetime total Solar Eclipse the next day!

Solar Eclipse at Blue Sky Vineyards (Makanda), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024, 11:00 am - 6:30 pm Location: Makanda, Illinois

Blue Sky Vineyard is perfectly positioned along the path of the 2024 eclipse with scenic views of the vineyard, open skies above and surrounded by rolling hills of the Shawnee National Forest.

Join us at the Eclipse Crossroads for the second total solar eclipse at Blue Sky Vineyard. Did you know that Blue Sky Vineyard was NASA’s Point of Longest Duration for the 2017 eclipse? We thoroughly enjoyed celebrating the 2017 event with so many wonderful guests and are now planning our 2024 experience.

Total Solar Eclipse Olney Illinois 2024 (Olney), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Olney, IL

Marshall Illinois Eclipse (Marshall), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Location: Marshall, IL

Come join us for the Marshall Illinois Eclipse event!

Southern Illinois Eclipse (Carbondale), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024, 1:59 pm Location: Southern Illinois

Twice in a Lifetime Solar Eclipse (Chester), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024 Location: Chester, IL

View the NEXT Total Solar Eclipse On The Mighty Mississippi! Come join us for the Twice in a Lifetime Solar Eclipse event. Totality... totally worth it!

Discover Totality, Discover Carmi (Carmi), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024, 12:45 PM Totality Begins: 2:01 p.m. CDT Location: Carmi, IL

Carmi is on the centerline of the path of totality and will see 4 minutes and 1 seconds of totality for the April 8, 2024 eclipse. This is double what was seen during the 2017 solar eclipse.

Eclipse on the Bricks (Albion), April 6-7, 2024

Event date(s): April 6-7, 2024 Location: Albion, IL

Come celebrate the historic Total Solar Eclipse with the Eclipse on the Bricks festival !

Bald Knob Cross of Peace Eclipse (Alto Pass), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024, 12:00 PM Location: Alto Pass, IL

Get your tickets early! There has been a great amount of interest shown in their “spot on” location for the best viewing of this rare eclipse. They're working with the Solar Eclipse Committee and other area businesses on planning this incredible event, but suffice it to say that Bald Knob Cross will be a very popular spot for viewing this phenomenon. Gates will open at 10 AM. Please plan on arriving by 12 Noon to experience the Partial Eclipse beginning around 12:40 PM CDT, and the Maximum Eclipse around 2:00 PM CDT.

2024 Solar Eclipse (Newtown), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Location: Newton, IL

Southern Illinois Crossroads Eclipse Festival (Carbondale), April 8, 2024

Event date(s): April 8, 2024, 1:59 pm Location: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois

On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse path stretched across the entire United States, reaching its point of greatest duration (GD) a few miles south of Carbondale. This region in Southern Illinois is not only in the path of the 2017 eclipse, but also the 2024 eclipse, making it a unique location for being able to perform observations of both eclipses from the same location. Carbondale is on the center-line of the path of totality and will see 4 minutes and 9 seconds of totality for eclipse 2024, nearly double what was seen in 2017. The two eclipse paths form an intersection just south of the SIU campus around Cedar Lake.

Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center (Makanda), April 6-9, 2024

Event date(s): April 6-9, 2024, 1:59 pm Location: Makanda, Illinois

Located in the path of totality for the 2024 Solar Eclipse, Touch of Nature is the perfect location to turn the eclipse into a fun filled experience. The second of two once in a lifetime eclipses will be taking place in Southern Illinois and Touch of Nature is in one of the most ideal spaces for the viewing of this event. For nearly 4 minutes and 9 seconds, the sun will be completely blacked out in the middle of the day!

Eclipse Events: Market, Music, Trivia, Viewings & More (Greenville & Centralia), April 6-8, 2024

Event date(s): April 6-8, 2024 Location: Greenville, Centralia & Salem, Illinois

Head to Greenville and Centralia to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event, and support some great public libraries at the same time. There's a variety of events during the weekend before and day of the eclipse including music, trivia, murder mystery nights, markets and eclipse viewings and parties.

VISIT THESE ILLINOISAN ARTISANS

Illinois Makers in the Area

Show more in category of Food

Crown Brew Coffee Co.

Bryn’s cookie bin, st. nicholas brewing.

Show more in category of Activity

Rendleman Orchards Farm Market

Starview vineyards, pomona winery, scratch brewing company.

Show more in category of Product

Shawnee Hills Lavender

C's bees, rolling oak alpaca ranch, alto clay works, alto vineyards winery & tasting room, 17th street bbq.

What to Bring with You

As you travel down to Southern Illinois, you might be wondering what essentials you'll need to bring with you to have a great solar eclipse road trip. We got you.

Bug Spray/Repellent

If you choose a remote outdoor spot to enjoy the eclipse, make sure you stay one step ahead of pesky critters and bring some bug spray to keep them away (especially if you've followed our advice and packed a tasty lunch).

Plenty of Food and Water

Depending on how early you get to your spot, the experience can last a while—and you might as well make a day of it! So bring plenty of food and water to keep you fed and hydrated—you don’t want to miss it trying to find lunch!

Make a Pinhole Projector

In a pinch, a pinhole camera/projector can help you watch the eclipse unfold in a safe way. All you need is white card stock, aluminum foil, tape, scissors, and a pin or paper clip. It's also a great project to help pass the time.

Sun Protection (Of Course!)

This should be an obvious one! Make sure you’re prepared to be outside in the sun for a while. Bring sunscreen, a hat, sun umbrellas, and anything else that'll help make your viewing experience relaxing (and burn-free).

Solar Eclipse Glasses

The actual full eclipse lasts a couple of minutes, but before it happens, the Sun, even a sliver of it, is still way too bright to look at with your own eyes. These glasses allow you to look right at it and see the outline of the moon move over.

Check the Weather!

Bad weather can impact your solar eclipse experience. Make sure you check the weather forecast. If it's looking a little cloudy, dress appropriately and cross your fingers—but it's a rare occurrence so don't let a little cloud put you off.

A Good Quality Camera

Don’t rely on your phone camera to get a good picture. If you're experienced and come prepared, you might just get that magic shot. You may need to use a “solar filter” to prevent harming your camera’s imaging sensor.

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