Access tourism: testing the waters

The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute has been working with the NZ National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD) to understand the needs of people with hearing loss in terms of tourism, travel and hospitality. NZTRI’s research programme areas include researching and developing Access Tourism, which is tourism, travel, and hospitality for people with permanent or temporary disabilities, seniors, parents with strollers, and anyone needing improved access.

Earlier this year, the institute ran two online surveys for people with hearing loss –one aimed at people living in New Zealand (160 responses), and the other at those in other countries (nearly 200 responses). Participants were asked to comment on how well New Zealand tourism offerings cater for people with hearing loss, and to describe any barriers they faced as visitors. They were also asked to comment on how they could be encouraged to travel more often in, or to, New Zealand, how often they take a holiday and how much they spend. NZTRI presented their findings to NFD at the end of September, and the NFD gave a brief summary of the research project in the latest issue of their magazine, Hearing Matters. They will be doing an in-depth review of the findings, and will report on the results in the next issue of the magazine. This is due out during Hearing week in March, 2012, and will be available by visiting the NFD website then or by subscribing here.