Academic Book (Tourism and Disability Studies).
https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.21832/9781845411626/html
After exploring the relationship between neurodiversity and tourism through previous research, I wanted to expand my understanding of how accessibility is currently considered within the wider tourism industry. While my previous research focused more specifically on neurodivergent experiences of travel, this source allowed me to explore the broader concept of accessible tourism and the industry's approach to inclusion.
I chose this research because it explores accessibility from a tourism perspective rather than focusing solely on disability theory. I felt this was important because my project sits at the intersection of multiple areas: neurodiversity, travel, and design. Understanding how tourism currently defines accessibility helps me identify where gaps may exist and where design could contribute.
One of the first things that stood out to me was that accessible tourism has traditionally been discussed primarily through the lens of physical accessibility. Examples often include wheelchair access, adapted accommodation and accessible transport infrastructure.
Although these areas remain important, I began to question whether this definition of accessibility fully considers the experiences of neurodivergent travellers.
Many barriers experienced by neurodivergent individuals are not always visible. Instead, challenges may relate to sensory environments, information processing, navigating uncertainty, and understanding unfamiliar situations.
This connected strongly with my previous research, as it suggested that accessibility needs to move beyond adapting physical spaces and begin considering different ways people experience and interact with the world.
A key theme throughout accessible tourism research is the movement towards a more inclusive understanding of accessibility.
Travel experiences are made up of many different stages, including: