Determinants of Travel Participation and Experiences of Wheelchair Users Traveling to the Bodrum Region: A Qualitative Study

Although the number of people with disabilities and types of disability increases day by day, a sufficient point has not been reached regarding accessible tourism. The participation rate of people with disabilities (PWDS) in tourism activities is low, and there is a big gap in the travel and accommodation sector in this regard. Studies of previous scholars have concluded that the accessible tourism market is a significant and profitable area, but determinants of participation to travel and process of travel, such as wheelchair user expectations, are consistently ignored by the tourism industry. The main purpose of this study is to determine the determinants of travel by examining the motivations, expectations, processes and experiences of PWDS using wheelchairs to participate in tourism. Research was performed in Turkey’s Bodrum district; 25 wheelchair users were included in the study. The keywords that emerged in the theoretical framework in light of the answers given to 39 open-ended questions online were coded in the Nvivo program. The results showed that wheelchair users intended to go on vacation but were less motivated to participate due to the lack of travel conditions. Wheelchair travelers argued that a companion was required for an enjoyable holiday that could meet their needs. In addition, the results revealed that the types of wheelchairs used by disabled passengers differ. The disabled stated that the wheelchairs they use in daily life are not suitable for use on the beach, sand or water. Despite the economic, social and technological change opportunities, basic tourism service expectations of PWDS are not met. This research project is a comprehensive study that makes determinations in terms of examining the social status of disabled people in terms of social sciences, examining the place and importance of disabled tourists in the market and eliminating the deficiencies of facilities serving in tourism.

Online communication of accessibility conditions in touristic spots: the design–communication gap in Porto destination

Purpose It is important to design accessible destinations for disabled tourists. However, to attract this market segment, it is also important to efficiently communicate online the accessibility provided. This paper aims to analyse the online communication of physical accessibility conditions designed for disabled tourists, to discuss the existence or non-existence of a design–communication gap in tourist destinations. Design/methodology/approach The authors analysed the physical accessibility of a selection of touristic spots in Porto, Portugal. The online communication regarding the physical accessibility of these spots’ informative websites was also analysed. Subsequently, a content analysis of these same websites was conducted to ascertain whether accessibility conditions for disabled tourists are disclosed in line with the physical and online facilities observed. Findings The destination websites’ online contents targeting disabled tourists are generic and do not inform about all the accessible facilities provided by the touristic spots analysed. Originality/value The authors found a gap between the accessible destination design and its communication in destination websites. This situation creates a barrier for people with physical disabilities and it is particularly concerning, considering that this market segment seeks for information in online sources to plan trips and does not find on the internet all the information about the accessible facilities provided. This fact may hinder the positioning of destinations as inclusive places and impair accessible tourism competitiveness. A better online communication of the accessible destination design is recommended.

Adaptation of business hotels to the needs of disabled tourists in Poland

This paper presents an overview of the issues related to the readiness of Polish hotel establishments to develop the business tourism services for disabled tourists. The purpose of this study is to identify new innovative amenities for business tourism, with particular emphasis on disabled tourists.The paper has been divided into two parts: theoretical approach to disabled hotel guests in business hotel and the needs of disabled in the Polish business hotels. The authors conducted a study on Polish business hotels. Studies have confirmed that business hotels, like traditional hotels, are not accessible to people with disabilities. The study established a research hypothesis, which was proved in findings, i.e. the hotels are not prepared for older people and people with disabilities. Besides, the research results substantiated the necessity of the business hotels adaption to the needs of disable people. Also, the paper presents the suggestions on what the disabled guests expect from the Polish business hotels. In respect of doing this, further investments and financial support are necessary to allow creating friendly conditions for the disabled people.

Peculiarities of Tour Guides’ Communication with Disabled People

Disabled people tend to go on tours more often. Neither guide training programs nor the guidebooks of arranging and doing tours include the peculiarity of working and communicating with disabled people. The features of how guides communicate with disabled people are researched in the paper. The peculiarities of doing a tour for physically, visually, auditorily, and mentally disabled people are found out. The sources of scientific literature and the standard of disabled people service are analyzed; conclusions are presented on how important it is for a guide to recognize clients’ disabilities, understand the culture of communicating with disabled people, and discover the most suitable methods of communication. The service of disabled tourists that satisfies their needs, ensures their dignity, integration, self-reliance, and equal rights should be the aim of any professional tour guide. This paper lays out some recommendations for the guide training program on including instructions for communicating with disabled clients.

The employment of people with special needs within hotels in Dubai

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges and benefits of hiring individuals with special needs in the hospitality industry in Dubai; understand management, colleague and customer perspectives concerning the integration of individuals with special needs in the workforce; emphasize the need for awareness, communication and training when introducing special needs employees to hotel properties in Dubai; recognize laws and policies in respect to introducing the special needs workforce in hotels in Dubai; and classify the requirements needed to facilitate accessibility and integration of special needs employees in the workforce. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative research was conducted to better comprehend the benefits, challenges, policies/legalities and perceptions developed when considering employment practices of individuals with disabilities. Interviews with HR directors/managers in hotels in Dubai were conducted using a snowball sampling approach. Findings This study suggests that hotels in Dubai must increase their efforts to accommodate the special needs market through the provision of accessible areas, changes in perceptions and enactment of coherent laws and policies to prepare for the inflow of disabled tourists during Expo 2020. Further, that these efforts can be better accomplished by employment of individuals with special needs. Originality/value High turnover costs and shortages of labor in the hospitality industry have led to the need for the non-traditional labor force to fill the demand created by the upcoming Expo 2020. As the UAE won the bid for Expo 2020, there has been early construction of hotels to adapt to the increased demand in jobs by and influx of tourists including individuals with disabilities.

Difa City Tour dan Pemenuhan Kebutuhan Wisata Difabel

Various sectors seem to ignore the existence of persons with disabilities, including the tourism industry. The majority of tourist destinations have not provided accessible facilities for them. Transportation services also do not accommodate the mobility needs of persons with disabilities. This study focused on Ojek Difa in Yogyakarta. Through observation and interviews, qualitative data was obtained to see the recreational needs of persons with disabilities and how the roles of Ojek Difa. The study found that people with disabilities have different ways of defining tourism activities. Ojek Difa offers Difa City Tour to provide services for disabled people who want to take a tour in the city or visit other tourist destinations. The existence of Difa City Tour in the Ojek Difa organization shows the importance of involving service providers from groups of persons with disabilities in the tourism sector, especially in serving disabled tourists.[Berbagai sektor tampak mengabaikan keberadaan difabel, termasuk industri pariwisata. Mayoritas destinasi wisata belum menyediakan fasilitas yang aksesibel bagi difabel. Layanan transportasi juga kurang mengakomodasi kebutuhan mobilitas difabel. Penelitian ini terfokus pada Ojek Difa di Yogyakarta yang memberikan layanan mobilitas bagi para difabel. Melalui observasi dan wawancara, data kualitatif diperoleh untuk melihat kebutuhan wisata para difabel. Penelitian menemukan bahwa para difabel memiliki cara berbeda dalam mendefinisikan kegiatan wisata. Ojek Difa menawarkan Difa City Tour untuk menyediakan layanan bagi para difabel yang ingin melakukan tur dalam kota atau mengunjungi destinasi wisata lainnya. Eksistensi Difa City Tour dalam organisasi Ojek Difa menunjukkan pentingnya melibatkan pegawai atau penyedia layanan dari kelompok difabel di sektor pariwisata terutama dalam melayani para wisatawan difabel.]

The Hotel Industry in the Metropolitan Region of Rio De Janeiro: An Analysis of the Legacy of Accessibility in Civil Construction Projects Post Mega Events

This article aims to analyze the civil construction projects of the hotel industry in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, through statistical modeling, regarding the issue of accessibility. The key point of the study was to diagnose how these hotel construction projects were prepared to receive disabled tourists during the period of Mega events. The methodology used is based on an analysis of the data obtained through the Inventory of the Tourist Offer of the State of Rio de Janeiro in the counties of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói, applied to the quantitative of approximately 400 hotel units. From the point of view of civil construction projects, an accurate diagnosis of accessibility was possible, pointing to the development of a benchmarking model. The relevance of the study is also to contribute to raising awareness of the tourist and civil engineering markets relating to people with disabilities or reduced mobility and the possibility of reversing the current scenario in Rio de Janeiro, since it can be emphasized that the investigated hotels do not show the necessary accessibility, due to the small number of hotels that reach the accessibility requirements of Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT NBR 9050: 2015). For civil construction, there is the accurate confirmation that the hotel industry of the Metropolitan Region is not accessible. For society in general, it has been observed that the Mega events that occurred in the city did not leave a legacy of accessibility.

Adjustment for elderly and disabled tourists in polish hotels-strength or weakness

Purpose: The environment may create or maintain internal and external barriers to the participation of elderly people and people with disabilities in life. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate accessibility of hotels for the segment of elderly people and people with disabilities in Poland.Design: The study established a research hypothesis: The hotels are not prepared for the segment elderly people and people with disabilities. The paper analyses the market hotels in Poland.Findings: Results of the research conducted show that hotel must be adapted to the needs of the segment of elderly people and people with disabilities.Originality: Not a lot of research has been done on accessible hotel tourism for elderly and disabled guests. The paper presents suggestions on what the disabled guests await from the polish hotels.Keywords: disabled tourist, elderly, seniors, disability, accessible object

PENYEDIAAN AKSESIBILITAS BAGI WISATAWAN PENYANDANG DISABILITAS OLEH STAKEHOLDER DI KOTAMADYA DENPASAR KECAMATAN DENPASAR SELATAN

The purpose of this study is to determine the forms of provision and constraints experienced by stakeholders to provide accessibility for tourists with disabilities in the Denpasar City, South Denpasar District. The informant in this research use purposive sampling method. This research uses descriptive qualitative method, obtained by conducting interview, observation, documentation, and checklist to stakeholder which is divided into three, government, society, and tourism industry. The result of this research is the provision of accessibility for tourists with disabilities by tourism stakeholders in Denpasar City South Denpasar District not yet fully available. The provision of accessibility for tourists with disabilities by tourism stakeholders in Denpasar City, South Denpasar are form of physical accessibility of ram and sliding door while the form of non-physical accessibility are the availability of special services and regulations on the activities of people with disabilities. While the constraints faced by tourism stakeholders in Denpasar City, South Denpasar District in providing accessibility for tourists with disabilities are internal constraints, limited budget and external constraints, regulations that have not specifically regulated the needs of disabled tourists. Suggestion of this research is that among the tourism stakeholder could inisiate, change mindset, and work together in provision accessibility for tourist with disability.