Examining the Perceptions of Mobility-Impaired Travelers: an Analysis of Service Expectations, Evaluations, and Travel Barriers

Abstract

This study examines tourism experiences of mobility-impaired individuals, their evaluations and expectations from tourism service providers, and their satisfaction with the services provided. Data were collected from a sample of respondents in Eskisehir, Turkey. The findings suggest that health is not the main barrier to travel; instead, income is found to be one of the most important factors affecting the travel patterns of the mobility impaired. Additionally, while the respondents are found to have a generally favorable evaluation of hotel attributes, transportation services are found to present a significant barrier to travel. Implications and recommendations for strategic tourism management are provided.

Responsible Tourism—Integrating Families with Disabled Children in Tourist Destinations

“…In the Romanian culture, in the past, especially in rural environments, having a child with disabilities was considered to be a shameful situation, and the whole family became anti-social. In a family with a child with disabilities one of the parents-usually the mother-gives up on working, so the family income is affected (as in other countries [41,76]). In addition, an important share of the family income is spent on therapies or medication.…”

“…Transport also represents an important component of the touristic experience, and different categories of stakeholders -both local authorities and private operators -must assure proper traveling conditions for people with disabilities. In the literature there are a lot of studies regarding the urban transportation system to meet the needs of these people [38][39][40][41][42] or other ways of transport, such as air transport [43,44]. Even though some improvements were achieved during last years, the needs of people with disabilities are still insufficiently understood; companies have to be creative not only to facilitate the access for people with disabilities, but, also, to decrease the cost of transportation for them [45].…”