Access tourism

In 2011, the New Zealand National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD) commissioned NZTRI to conduct research into the tourism, travel, and hospitality experiences and needs of people with hearing impairments.

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.

NZTRI Research Programme Leader in Access Tourism Sandra Rhodda has been invited to sit on an advisory committee for the Interdependence 2012 Conference and Exposition to be held in Vancouver Canada May 15-18, 2012. The conference will be co-hosted by the Rick Hansen Foundation and the Rick Hansen Institute, and is part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Rick Hansen Man In Motion World Tour.

The leading countries in terms of visitor arrivals are taking the issue of access tourism very seriously. Three guest articles written on http://www.accesstourismnz.org.nz by NZTRI students and interns show that France and Germany are very conscious of the importance of providing good access to people with disabilities, for ethical concerns but also for economic reasons.
 

Abstract: The necessity of developing an accessible tourism industry is recognized by a wide range of tourism academics and is increasingly recognized by international organizations such as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). A part of this development will be the creation of easily-recognized universal system of accessibility symbols. This report looks at a wide range of accessibility communication systems currently being used in ten countries from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and the South Pacific.