Destination Governance - Accesible Tourism

As defined by Darcy and Dickson, The Accessible tourism enables people with access requirements, including mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive dimensions of access, to function independently and with equity and dignity through the delivery of universally designed tourism products, services, and environments. 

According to the WHO's world report on disability, there are over1 Billion people worldwide with some disability,
What are various disabilities and what does this mean for the tourism industry infrastructure;

Infrastructure = Transport(Taxis)+Facilities(Airports)+Establishments(Hotels)+Venues( Museums, parks)

Walking disability - on prams, on wheelchairs, slow-moving seniors, senior who cannot climb stairs - need wheelchair access infrastructure,
Hearing disability - people who can walk and see but can not hear - need a sign or other visual modes of communication or vibration senses - need global standard visual directional and instructional signages everywhere and sign language explainer videos on all material
Vision disability - who can not see but hear and walk and climb - needs hearing aids, brail signs, guided paths, etc.
Speech disability - who can see, hear, climb and walk but cannot talk, need visual modes of communication. may be an Artificial speaker, like the text to speech converter.
Cognitive disability - who has certain limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communicating, taking care of himself and social skills.
I am elaborating cognitive disability to two more disabilities;
Language disability - who can hear, walk, talk, climb but cannot express themselves in a foreign language such as English or Chinese or French.
Technological disability - people who cannot use smart technologies of today's world and are dependent on old traditional systems, as the generation gaps increase and the development intensifies all the more, this disability could be the biggest disability in the future.

What specific problems are faced found by travelers or tourists with disabilities?

• Inaccessible, or only partly accessible, web sites, 
• Lack of accessible airport transfer, with wheelchair ramps, guides for blinds, braille access
• Lack of wheelchair accessible vehicles
• Lack of well-adapted hotel rooms
• Lack of professional staff capable of dealing with accessibility issues
• Lack of reliable information about a specific attraction's level of accessibility
• Lack of accessible restaurants, bars, and other facilities
• Lack of adapted toilets in restaurants and public places
• Inaccessible streets and sidewalks
• Lack of technical aids and disability equipment such as wheelchairs, bath chairs, and toilet raisers, wearable devices, etc.

This is not a new concept but the advent of technology and increasing innovative business landscape has brought this need into the forefront, as every problem is a business opportunity, Modern society is aware of the integration of people with disabilities to the normal people, most of the accessibility of tourism at present comes at a price, But! what accessibility tourism needs to address is accessibility at the same affordability to the normal people, and with sustainability is that possible?
Destinations would need to create

• Barrier-free destinations: infrastructure and facilities
• Transport: by air, land, and sea, suitable for all users
• High-quality services: delivered by trained staff
• Activities, exhibits, attractions: allowing participation in tourism by everyone
• Marketing, booking systems, web sites & services: information accessible to all in all forms.
• Activity Props - Accessible by all, Imagine a go-kart, a camel ride, a hot air balloon, a beach banana boat equally accessible to Children, Teenagers, Men, Women, Blind, Deaf, Dumb, Paralyzed, etc.

Accessible tourism consciousness is growing and the future is looking bright, the destination governance agencies must take it seriously and make sure that their destinations are accessible, else they will lose the game in the Era of Digital Revolution.