Social Diversity: A Look at Tourism in Italy

This paper takes a broader, quantitative approach to looking at social diversity within tourism by exploring the phenomenon of accessible tourism in Italy.


Viviani, A., & Giusti, A. (2013). W). Social diversity: A look at tourism. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, 4.2(8), 57-64. http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/issuedetails.aspx?issueid=773ad39b-e10e-452f-b4c9-4b9f42ffa791&articleId=5fcfc534-a7c7-4b31-81e6-81c1e0604084

Copyright © 2013 Association for Sustainable Education, Research and Science (ASERS). All rights reserved.

Social Diversity: A Look at Tourism

Viviani, Alessandro;

Guisti, Antonio

Abstract

Photo 1: no visit to Rome would be the same
without experiencing the Colosseum

This paper addresses the issue of social diversity, with reference to the phenomenon of tourism in Italy. Social inequality influences numerous socio-economic phenomena: tourism has been scarcely examined under this perspective. Tourism has significant effects at social level: both on travelers and on the inhabitants of the visited regions. Italy that is one of the most important touristic nations is significantly affected by the phenomena we are studying and, therefore, is an ideal context to analyze and identify the characteristics of tourism and its interaction on various aspects of social diversity. We could consider the interactions on tourism by persons with different economic and social conditions, race, gender, age, religion, mentality. These issues are usually considered by qualitative approaches. This paper attempts to give a quantitative dimension to these phenomena looking for possible statistical and administrative sources. We examined some, direct and indirect, official sources of the National Statistical System and other sources disseminated by European projects and research institutions. To get a more detailed picture of a particular form of social tourism, we used the data provided to us by a very active association in this area. This study is only a first approach in order to find a strategy to help assessing some quantitative characteristics of accessible tourism. The development of this type of tourism shall imply actions, techniques, and policies aimed at reducing the problems about social diversity in the sector, in order to make tourism become a factor of social inclusion.

Photo 2: the experience is enhanced with professional guiding experience that has an understanding of disability and access as used by Simon Darcy in 2012 as part of a tourist services testing http://www.romeanditaly.com/en

Photo 3: the experience would not be possible unless  the Italian authorities had provided the requisite infrastructure to support disability and access at the Coliseum. This picture shows a ramp leading to a lift - other historical cultural authorities should take note that if the Italians can do it to a major historical building then anyone can!

Keywords: social distress; statistical sources; tourism


Full reference:
Viviani, A., & Giusti, A. (2013). W). Social diversity: A look at tourism. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, 4.2(8), 57-64. http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/issuedetails.aspx?issueid=773ad39b-e10e-452f-b4c9-4b9f42ffa791&articleId=5fcfc534-a7c7-4b31-81e6-81c1e0604084