Architects, and their students, from the Rhode Island School of Design take a different approach. They are linking environmentally sensitive -"green" - construction methods and building materials with accessibility. They are creating an accessible eco-lodge at St. John's in the US Virgin Islands This resort, known as Concordia Estates, allows people with disabilities close access to unspoiled nature.
The tourist hotels in Hawai'i have gone beyond simple compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. They can provide guests with comfortable accessible rooms, advise them on accessible places for food and entertainment, or arrange for things such as a specialized beach wheelchair to rent that will set mobility disabled visitors loose on the beach.
All these tourist destinations have learned the cruise ship secret of success. Disabled tourists will come when they find variety, value, service, and accessibility woven together seamlessly. They are learning to include people with disabilities as free and equal participants in leisure activities.
Now, notice something about these examples. Hawai'i, St. John's, Japan, te United Kingdom, Tenerife, and Tasmania are all islands. It seems that innovation in accessible tourism, at this point in history, is flourishing in places that are manageably small and administratively unified. Is it possible that an island like Taiwan will become a world-class example of accessible tourism? The fact that we are all gathered here for this conference makes me think that Taiwan plans to become just such a leader.
We have a name for the model that is developing in the areas that I just mentioned. We call it "Inclusive Destination Development." The phrase combines two other phrases "Inclusive Development" from economic development practice and "Destination Development" from the tourism industry.
The World Bank promotes "Inclusive Development" as economic and regional development that allows for full social participation of people with disabilities.
"Destination Development" is the phrase used by the tourism industry to describe the strategic application of planning, development, and marketing resources to enhance a location as a desired destination for travelers. Inclusive Destination Development uses the word "Inclusive", in the sense it is used by the World Bank, to mean "allowing for the full social participation of people with disabilities."
