Inclusion In Tourism

This comprehensive volume seeks out ways in which those who are typically marginalized by, or excluded from, tourism can be brought into the industry in ways that directly benefit them. It addresses the central questions asked by an inclusive tourism approach: Who is included? On what terms? With what significance? Tourism is often understood and experienced as an exclusive activity, accessible only to the relatively wealthy. This volume seeks to counter that tendency by exploring how marginalized groups can gain more control over tourism. The book starts by defining the concept of inclusive tourism and discussing seven different elements which might indicate inclusivity in tourism. Research from a wide range of geographical contexts – from Cambodia to Australia, Sweden, Turkey and Spain – have been drawn upon to illustrate the need for more inclusive tourism. The examples encompass the actions of a multinational tour operator, hotel owners, and social enterprises, while also examining how to ensure tourism is accessible for those with disabilities. Inclusive tourism is offered here as both an analytical concept and an aspirational ideal. The authors hope that this book inspires a restless quest to find ways to include new actors and new places in tourism on terms that are equitable and sustainable. The chapters were originally published as a special issue of the journal Tourism Georgraphies.

This volume presents an international selection of invited contributions on policy and best practice in accessible tourism, reflecting current practices across a range of destinations and business settings. It brings together global expertise in planning, design and management to inform and stimulate providers of travel, transport, accommodation, leisure and tourism services to serve guests with disabilities, seniors and the wider markets that require good accessibility. Accessible tourism is not only about providing access to people with disabilities but also addresses the creation of universally designed environments, services and information that can support people who may have temporary disabilities, families with young children, the ever-increasing ageing population, as well as creating safer work places for employees. The book gives ample evidence that accessible tourism organisations and destinations can expand their target markets as well as improve the quality of their service offering, leading to greater customer satisfaction, loyalty and expansion of business.

Ethnodevelopment is a well-established concept in the field of development studies. Despite its relevance to tourism initiatives and processes in the Global South, it continues to be an underutilised concept in the field. This book bridges this gap, presenting an original conceptual framework to study the relationship between tourism and ethnodevelopment. It focuses on the processes of inclusion, empowerment, self-expression and self-determination to explore the effects of tourism initiatives on the identities, cultural resilience, livelihoods and economic opportunities of ethnic minority communities. Chapters explore a range of concepts and issues such as gender, authenticity, indigenous knowledge, tradition, the commodification of culture, community-based tourism, local entrepreneurship, cultural heritage, and tourism and the environment. Drawing on rich primary research conducted across South East Asia and South and Central America the book offers detailed evaluations of the successes and failures of various tourism policies and practices. This book makes a valuable contribution for students, scholars, practitioners and policy-makers alike interested in tourism, development studies, geography and anthropology.

Inclusion, disability, an ageing population and tourism are increasingly important areas of study due to their implications for both tourism demand and supply. This book therefore sets out to explore and document the current theoretical approaches, foundations and issues in the study of accessible tourism. In drawing together the contributions to this volume the editors have applied broader social constructionist approaches to understanding the accessible tourism phenomena. Accessible tourism, as with any area of academic study is an evolving field of academic research and industry practice. As with other areas of tourism, the field is multidisciplinary, and is influenced by various disciplines including geography, disability studies, economics, public policy, psychology and marketing. "As one would expect from two scholars at the height of their academic abilities, Dimitrios Buhalis and Simon Darcy have delivered a timely and much needed contribution to the under-served area of accessible tourism. Harnessing the best conceptual developments on the topic, Accessible Tourism is a scholarly yet hugely readable collection and readily communicates the various contributors' passion for and command of their subject. This collection is a must have text for anyone engaged in the theory, practice and policy of accessible tourism and will be essential reading on undergraduate and postgraduate courses across a range of disciplines and fields. I cannot speak highly enough of this endeavour and I'm sure it will take accessible tourism and universal design debates into the mainstream of academic enquiry and industry practice." Professor Nigel Morgan, The Welsh Centre for Tourism Research, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, Wales

This book combines studies of inclusivity in tourism with a future lens and provides timely insights into current research and discussions on social inclusion. The chapters examine a range of inclusivity issues and the different ways that inclusive tourism development can be enacted. The volume presents an opportunity to critically consider the different actors and voices in the field of tourism and how to channel these voices and who has the right to do so. It allows us to use our imaginations to consider a future that can be welcoming of different ways of being, doing and knowing to empower all participants in the planning and development of tourism and hospitality.

Inclusion in Tourism provides examples of discrimination and marginalisation in tourism practices and avenues designed to recognise and overcome personal or institutional biases, setting a road map for researchers interested in establishing a more inclusive approach to tourism and tourism research. Logically structured, multidisciplinary in approach, and compiled by a well-known scholar and leader in tourism theory, this volume comprises 13 specially commissioned chapters that provide concrete global examples of overcoming discrimination within tourism institutions, centred around examples of best practice, courses of action, and positive outcomes. Chapters outline, explain and challenge the existing view of tourism theory as inclusionary, destroying the myth that tourism is an equal opportunity endeavour, bringing a new level of scrutiny to "stand-alone" concepts of "discrimination" and "marginalisation" as a long-existing phenomenon in tourism studies. The book begins with an institutionalised and global approach to discrimination, focusing on immigration policy, academic teaching, research, grant policies, and destination image in relation to minorities; and xenophobia. The text then moves to the individual level, discussing aspects of institutionalised discrimination based on individual characteristics, such as sexual orientation, obesity, disability, and gender. International in scope, this book will be of pivotal interest to graduate students, researchers, and practitioners interested in diversity and inclusion.

Ethnodevelopment is a well-established concept in the field of development studies. Despite its relevance to tourism initiatives and processes in the Global South, it continues to be an underutilised concept in the field. This book bridges this gap, presenting an original conceptual framework to study the relationship between tourism and ethnodevelopment. It focuses on the processes of inclusion, empowerment, self-expression and self-determination to explore the effects of tourism initiatives on the identities, cultural resilience, livelihoods and economic opportunities of ethnic minority communities. Chapters explore a range of concepts and issues such as gender, authenticity, indigenous knowledge, tradition, the commodification of culture, community-based tourism, local entrepreneurship, cultural heritage, and tourism and the environment. Drawing on rich primary research conducted across South East Asia and South and Central America the book offers detailed evaluations of the successes and failures of various tourism policies and practices. This book makes a valuable contribution for students, scholars, practitioners and policy-makers alike interested in tourism, development studies, geography and anthropology.

This book addresses existing challenges and opportunities related to tourism for people with disabilities. A niche market that is largely underdeveloped, its potentials are also often underestimated. It examines the strategies, policies, and initiatives – at regional, national, and international levels – to foster the development of accessible tourism for people with disabilities. It does so by examining the different social, cultural, legal, and information/interactive barriers that represent important constraints to welfare, inclusion, integration, and promotion of civil rights, which bring difficulties and detriment to tourists with disabilities. Additionally, the book analyzes the characteristics and dynamics of that portion of the tourism industry that is more oriented to meet the distinctive travel demand of people with disabilities. In doing so, the book explores how preferences for travel services and facilities of people with disabilities differ from preferences of tourists without disabilities. All these issues are addressed from both a theoretical and a practical perspective by adopting a multidisciplinary approach, which leverages from the fields of management, economics, and statistical analysis. The book can be useful for a broad audience made of both researchers and practitioners (among which tourism companies and corporate trainers) who are expected to deal with the topic of tourism management.