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Inclusive Tourism: Some Definitions

© Scott Paul Rains

Inclusive Tourism is one important means through which persons with disabilities participate in society at a distance from their homes. At the same time, the presence of these tourists provides a model - and source of funding - for the inclusive practices and infrastructure necessary for their presence. Inclusive Tourism partially funds Inclusive Destination Development. Inclusive tourism is an example of democratization and the dissemination of human rights through a market-driven mechanism.

Known by various names in various places such as, accessible tourism or tourism for all, inclusive tourism is made possible by the widespread adoption of the Seven Principles of Universal Design:

1. Equitable Use: The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any group of users.
2. Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
3. Simple, Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
4. Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
5. Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
6. Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, and with a minimum of fatigue.
7. Size and Space for Approach & Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility.
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Related to Universal Design is the concept "Visitability." Visitability refers to private homes and a certain minimum set of standards that make them hospitable to one subgroup of those with disabiities - guests using wheelchairs:

While the concept of Visitability is very simple, the definition has several interactive layers: The spirit of Visitability is as important as the list of features.

That spirit says, it's not just unwise, but unacceptable that new homes continue to be built with basic barriers... These barriers cause daily, draining drudgery; physically unsafe conditions; social isolation; and undesired institutionalization... The features list must be partly rigid and partly flexible. The inflexible Visitability features are:

• Wide passage doors
• At least a half bath/powder room on the main floor
• At least one zero-step entrance

(source: http://www.concretechange.org/Definition...

Visitability is not directly relevant to the hospitality industry, and thus tourism, as it only seeks address the construction of new private homes. However, as the concepts of Universal Design and Visitability redefine the housing market, hotel and resort guests will come to expect non-exclusionary architecture in order to recreate the familiar sense of home and socialize with their disabled travel companions.