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1.1 – 1.1 What does “inclusive tourism” mean?

The by now obsolete concepts of ‘suitable for the disabled’ or ‘suitable for wheelchairs’, although sporadically still used, is being supplanted by the holistic concept of ‘inclusion’, together with the specific concept of ‘accessibility’.

‘Inclusion’ means that any person – with or without disabilities – is placed in the position of being able to use all public space structures without limitations, external help or significant difficulties, and therefore of fully participating in social life.

1.2 – Which groups does inclusive tourism target?

The first group that the concept of inclusion calls to mind is that of people with disabilities who require accessible structures in order to be able to take part in social life. Other notable target groups for inclusive tourism, however, are the elderly due to the physical limitations linked to their age, children and their parents with prams/push chairs, persons with temporary disabilities, and service suppliers. Consequently, one could say that accessibility is essential for 10% of the population, necessary for 30%, and a quid pluris that can make life easier for 100%.

1.3 – What is intended with ‘accessibility of the entire chain of tourism services’?

The expression ‘accessibility of the entire chain of tourism services’ refers to a completely inclusive and well-structured tourism offer within a specific region. The chain of tourism services consists of three blocks: ‘before the holiday’, ‘during the holiday’ and ‘after the holiday’. If the offers proposed are inclusive for all three of these phases, guests with disabilities can enjoy an inclusive experience at any time during their stay.

1.4 – Which interest groups does inclusive tourism include?

Tourism service suppliers (hotels, tourist boards, etc.) play a leading role in the development of tourism. In creating inclusive structures, cooperation among these figures and the ‘organisations for people with disabilities’ (such as for example ÖZIV, Independent L., etc.) is of fundamental importance.

1.5 – 1.5 How should this cooperation be structured?

Cooperation towards developing inclusive tourism mainly stands on four pillars:

1. Coordination and control: the various interest groups should be aware of the great potential inherent to inclusive tourism. Each interest group, therefore, should actively commit within its own area of competence to boost inclusive tourism projects. To this end, it is important to plan sufficient resources (personnel, capital, etc.).
2. Communication: to this regard, one often observes excellent cooperation at regional level. To guarantee uniform development of inclusive tourism, however, cooperation must function at state level, too. In general, communication must also be accessible (Inclusive Web Accessibility) so as to provide everyone with easier access to the information supplied.
3. Role clarity: each interest group should have its own role in developing inclusive tourism. Although it may seem obvious, it is truly fundamental to achieve concertation, especially among the major interest groups, so as to learn from the other groups’ experience and eliminate ‘duplicates’ (different platforms with different interfaces and different evaluation criteria for the same tourist destinations).
4. Cooperation and integration: stemming from the cooperation among all of the interest groups described, the parties concerned exchange experiences, thereby providing sustainable development of inclusive tourism that is rid of ‘island solutions’, incompatible with one another, and instead featuring the creation of a unified set of inclusive structures.

1.6 – I would like my region to become ‘accessible’. How do I go about it?

In the course of the GATE Project, a manual was drafted with the aim of providing first orientation to interested regions. Readers approaching this topic should proceed as follows:

1. Read the manual
2. 2. Read the document “Guidelines” (Italian ver. | German ver.)
3. Read the document “Multisensory Signs”
4. View the educational videos
5. Train their employees
6. Contact experts (e.g.: “ÖZIV Bundesverband”, “independent L”, etc.).

1.7 – What is the economic potential of inclusive tourism?

Approximately 15% of the global population consists of people with disabilities or elderly people. In Europe, about 20% of the population has reached the age of 65 or over, and this group is increasingly suffering from the disabilities linked to ageing. Because of demographic changes, this group is expected to grow by 140% within 2030. Various studies claim that the potential of the inclusive tourist market in Europe stands at about 352 billion euros. For further information, consult the following literature:

Eurostat (2015): Disability statistics introduced
Eurostat (2016). Tourism trends and ageing (November 2016)
Eurostat (2019a). Seasonality in tourism demand (May 2019)
Eurostat (2019b). Population structure and ageing (July 2019)
Eurostat (2019c). Tourism statistics – participation in tourism (September 2019)

1.8 – What competitive advantages does inclusive tourism offer?

Inclusive tourism can offer the following competitive advantages:

• Escorts: guests with disabilities usually do not travel alone. On average, one can count on the presence of two escorts.
• Regular clients: people with disabilities tend more than others to return to the region chosen for their holiday if their stay was comfortable.
• Low season: thanks to the considerable added value for the elderly, they are more likely to travel in spring and in autumn.
• Word of mouth: people with disabilities form a well-connected network. For this reason, positive experiences are quickly and widely shared within the community.

1.9 – How much does it cost to make a region accessible?

The cost for implementing an inclusive type of tourism within a region depends on the measures implemented. Within the sphere of the GATE Project, the most diverse actions have been put in place to create better inclusion. (more info).
The adaptations required to guarantee better accessibility can often be achieved with very small financial means, as for example in the case of installation of ramps or lifts, in any case always envisaged by the construction specifications for new buildings. For this reason, when planning new tourism-oriented structures, such as excursion trails, panoramic platforms, parks, museums, etc. their accessibility should be considered and implemented where and as far as possible.