Travelling from Perspective of Persons with Disability: Results of an International Survey

Abstract

Full inclusion of people with disabilities means their full participation in community life and the same opportunities to work and spend their free time that other members of the community have. This also applies to travel and tourism. Offers available to people with various types of disabilities are seldom adapted to their needs. They face numerous barriers and obstacles when travelling or at their destination. The article presents selected results from an international comparative study concerning travel of people with sensory disabilities. The study was carried out in the first quarter of 2022 using the PAPI method on a group of 131 respondents from Poland, Greece, Cyprus and Portugal. To analyse the results, we relied on statistical inference using an independent two-sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Tests of the equality of two means were preceded by Levene’s test for homogeneity of variances. According to the study, people with sensory disabilities can see many barriers to travel that pose a significant constraint on their activity. These barriers vary depending on the type of disability, gender or the country of origin of the respondent, but the list of indications often includes the need to train service staff in the specific needs of people with different types of disabilities. Taking into account development opportunities that people with disabilities create for the tourism industry, including people with sensory disabilities who are frequently overlooked, it is worth considering measures aimed at improving knowledge and skills in this area in the future.

Traveling with special needs: investigating constraints and negotiation strategies for engaging in tourism activities

“…More than one billion people worldwide, representing approximately 15% of the world's population, is estimated to live with some type of disability (permanent or temporary) (Rucci and Porto, 2022; WHO, 2011; Zaluska et al , 2022). However, this number increases considerably when all people with access needs are considered, such as pregnant women, seniors, families with young children, and people with food and respiratory allergies, among others.…”

“…In recent years, the number of published studies concerning leisure constraints has increased considerably (e.g. Allan, 2015; Daniels et al , 2005; Devile and Kastenholz, 2018; Evcil, 2018; Lee et al , 2012; McKercher and Darcy, 2018; Poria et al , 2009; Portales, 2015; Kong and Loi, 2017; Rickly et al , 2022; Rucci and Porto, 2022; Smith, 1987; Tao et al , 2019; Yim, 2013; Zaluska et al , 2022). A great number of these studies reference the works of Crawford and Godbey (1987).…”

“…Furthermore, some published studies highlight the relevance of participating in tourism activities on well-being and quality of life of people with special needs (PwSN). This group includes PwD and people with other special needs (PwoSN), such as the elderly and people with other functional limitations (Allen, 2003; Alves et al , 2020; Carneiro et al , 2022; Devile, 2009; Edington et al , 1992; McQuoid, 2017; Moura et al , 2022; Rucci and Porto, 2022; Tekin, 2004; Zaluska et al , 2022; Wang, 2017).…”

“…However, a reduced number of studies analyze the view of PwSN concerning the travel constraints and challenges that they face when participating in tourism activities (Alves et al , 2020; Lee et al , 2012; Rucci and Porto, 2022; Suárez Henríquez et al , 2022) and regarding the strategies used to overcome the travel constraints faced when planning and carrying out a tourism trip. A better comprehension of these travel constraints is a critical issue for supply tourism agents in providing more accessible tourism products, services and facilities to increase the engagement of PwSN in different tourism experiences (Allan, 2015, Rickly et al , 2022; Rucci and Porto, 2022; Zaluska et al , 2022).…”

“…Travel constraints prevent PwSN from participating in tourism (Lee et al , 2012). The studies published in this field show that PwSN face various physical, communications and attitudinal barriers (Allan, 2015; Devile and Kastenholz, 2018; Rickly et al , 2022; Rucci and Porto, 2022; Yim, 2013; Zaluska et al , 2022). However, at present, unfortunately, not much research emphasizes the travel constraints of PwSN and the strategies that they use to overcome these constraints.…”