In 25 chapters, Best Practice in Accessible Tourism provides a 'state-of-the-art' assessment of both theory and practice. This book establishes a new field of study and provides the benchmark against which other contributions will be judged. It integrates the work of all the key players and should be read by academics, managers and government policy makers.
Overall this pioneering, interesting collection and detailed discussion of Accessible Tourism best-cases and shortcomings in many destinations is a must-read for tourism policy makers and consultants at the international, national and local levels, and, one hopes, that quality tourism practitioners in the ecotourism sector will also take an interest.
The book makes a valuable contribution to a paradigm shift from extraordinary/special considerations for people with disability to inclusive citizenship for all. Best Practice in Accessible Tourism challenges the portrayal of people with disability as a burden and demonstrates with evidence the growing market potential of people with disability and the ageing.
The editors have assembled an excellent compilation of thought provoking, cutting edge international chapters on best practice in accessible tourism. The text provides important insights into current practices and policies, but also critically reflects on what more needs to be done. This timely work is a must read for practitioners, policy makers and academics.
This book, together with its preceding partner volume, makes a worthy contribution to the consolidation of an accessible base of knowledge on this important topic. It will be relevant as a broad introduction to the field for students, as well as providing inroads into the existing body of research and practice in accessible tourism. This book will be of value as a structured critical overview of current practice for tourism researchers, while also providing practical insights for those involved in the design and management of tourism attractions and facilities, and the formulation and implementation of tourism policy.
This volume contains a range of productive and worthwhile contributions...It is anticipated that the book will appeal to professionals and tourism providers addition to students, academics, and researchers.
Dimitrios Buhalis is a Professor and the Director of the eTourism Lab and Deputy Director of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research, Bournemouth University, UK. He is a strategic management and marketing expert with specialisation in ICT applications in the tourism and hospitality industries.
Simon Darcy is a Professor of Social Inclusion at the UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney. He is an interdisciplinary mixed methods researcher with expertise in developing inclusive organisational approaches for diversity groups. Simon's academic and industry-based work in disability, tourism and accessible tourism has defined the field and led to collaborations with local, regional, national and international destination management organisations including the UN World Tourism Organization. As one of the few researchers with a lived experience of disability as a high-level person with a spinal cord injury who uses a power wheelchair, he brings an insider's perspective that seeks to develop transformative solutions for transport, travel and tourism for the group.
Ivor Ambrose is the Managing Director and co-founder of ENAT, the European Network for Accessible Tourism. He has worked for over 30 years as a researcher, project manager, development and policy advisor in the fields of building design and evaluation, public housing, accessibility and assistive technologies for disabled and elderly people, accessible tourism and information systems.
