The blog seeks to present a brief history of accessible tourism through reviewing key documents and presenting new research as it is published. Central to the examination of the history of the field and contemporary innovation, is an understanding that accessible tourism is complex, multilayered and involves stakeholders from the commercial, government and the third sectors. Solutions need to be developed through collaboration and understanding stakeholder perspectives.
All abilities trek to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko - Australia's highest peak
Following on from the previous blog post Australian Accessible Tourism Data module, what are the key learnings on the accessible and inclusive tourism market coming out of the Tourism Research Australia's 2017 Q1 National Visitor Survey? There are two key documents that use similar but slightly different methodologies that summarises the economic impact and basic tourism behaviour information. They are:
University of Technology Sydney - Institute for Public Policy and Governance, & with assistance from the UTS Business School 2017 Inclusive Tourism: Economic Opportunities; &
The following Infographic from UTS IPPG & UTS Business School summarises some key components of the Tourism Research Australia's 2017 Q1 data together with the economic impact figures of major overseas studies in the UK, EU and the USA.
Infographic: Australian, United Kingdom, European Union & United States of America economic estimates of accessible and inclusive travel markets
In 2016 an opportunity
arose for Prof Simon Darcy to work with Tourism Research Australia on developing a
disability module for inclusion in the 2017 National Visitor Survey (Tourism Research
Australia, 2017). This was the first time that such data was
collected in Australia since 2010. After a number of months working with TRA we
had agreement on a disability module shown in Figure 1 that included:
a screening question;
a dichotomous question asking whether the respondent
identified as having a disability or long term health condition lasting
longer than six months;
the disability type; and
levels of support needs
The module was included in
the 2017 first quarter data collection but unfortunately not to the other three
quarters of data as had been the case in 1998, 2003, 2009, and 2010 when the
modules had been previously included. However, even with this limitation the
data has been well used in producing a number of government and industry based
outcomes that will be documented over the coming months on this blog (Darcy & Hergesell, 2018; Michopoulou, Darcy, Ambrose, & Buhalis,
2019; My Travel Research & Childs, 2017; Pavkovic, Darcy, & Ryan, 2017;
Pavkovic, Lawrie, Farrell, Huuskes, & Ryan, 2017). Providing any sort of
evidence base for business or government relies on appropriate research being
collected on a regular (preferably annual) basis. If this is not done all we
have is a series of data snapshots rather than a continuous understanding being built of the
phenomenon or having data on which a business case can be presented.
Figure 1: The disability module included in Tourism Research Australia's 2017 National Visitor Survey first-quarter data
Photo 2 shows an example of such a social enterprise that would benefit from regular data collection with the author at Sargood on Collaroy, which is a relatively new boutique wellness resort targeting people with spinal cord injury. Sargood on Collaroy sets itself apart by not just providing accommodation but a series of accessible destination experiences from a specialist gym, yoga, fishing, tennis, darts, swimming in an ocean pool, inclusive surfing and scuba diving. The enterprise has a person centred approach where the individual with a disability and their family or friends are able to holiday knowing that they have access to the best available expertise, equipment and community connections.
Photo 2: Simon and Fiona Darcy enjoying Sargood on Collaroy - a boutique spinal cord injury accessible accommodation and wellness resort (source: Sargood on Collaroy with permission)
References
Darcy,
S., & Hergesell, A. (2018). Supplementing
the NVS 2017 Q1 with Additional Insights on People with Disabilities.
Retrieved from Sydney:
Michopoulou, E., Darcy, S.,
Ambrose, I., & Buhalis, D. (2019). Accessible
hospitality and tourism: opportunities and challenges. Paper presented at
the 27th CouncilforHospitalityManagementEducation(CHME)- InnovationinHospitality:connectingallstakeholderstodelivermemorableexperiences
My Travel Research, c., &
Childs, C. (2017). Understanding the
Opportunity for Australia in Accessible Tourism, final report. Retrieved
from Canberra:
Pavkovic, I., Darcy, S., &
Ryan, R. (2017). Infographic of
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Economic Data. Retrieved from University
of Technology Sydney
Pavkovic, I., Lawrie, A., Farrell,
G., Huuskes, L., & Ryan, R. (2017). InclusiveTourism: Economic Opportunities.
Retrieved from University of Technology Sydney
Hotel Albergo Etico staff receive integrated life skills
and vocational training. Photo: Supplied
The Albergo Etico in Italy is a hotel
with a difference: sprouting from the desire of a group of friends to help one
young man find a placement, today the hotel is staffed by people with Down
Syndrome training in all facets of the hospitality business.
The hotel is owned and operated by the "Download Albergo
Etico" Project, an integrated life skills and employment project for
people with Down Syndrome that is garnering interest internationally, including
in Australia.
“We aim to make people with Down Syndrome the real protagonists
of their working life,” the project’s Chair Alex Toselli says. “I believe
people with disabilities must have the same rights to dream, to make money, to
drive a car,” he told a recent seminar at UTS Business School.
As well as being paid industry-standard wages, the hotel staff
receive integrated life skills and vocational training so they gain a level of
independence they can carry with them throughout their lives and careers.
Toselli is now working with groups in Australia, Argentina,
Finland, Norway and Slovakia interested in the concept.
'I believe people with disabilities
must have the same rights to dream'
Consultant and former Executive Director of Down Syndrome NSW Tracylee
Arestides – who experienced Hotel Etico first-hand last year – recently
established Project Etico Australia and is working closely with Toselli on the
goal of setting up a hotel here.
“We’ve had a tremendous response across the sector to the whole
working, living, learning concept embodied by Project Etico,” says Arestides, a
UTS alumna.
The success of Albergo Etico is largely due to the positive
attitudes of, and relationships formed with, the business, hospitality and
tourism industries, as well as the local community, Toselli told the
“Ospitalità or HospitABLE” seminar at the University of Technology Sydney.
But continued innovation in the hospitality, education and
tourism sectors is needed to ensure sustainable and inclusive employment
becomes widespread globally, he says.
Debbie and Brendon Coombes have been running a
Livvi's Cafe in Blacktown, Sydney. Photo:
Supplied
Australia ranks 21st out of 29 OECD countries
when it comes to employment of people with a disability, says Professor Simon
Darcy of UTS Business School. Among those of working age, more than half are
either officially registered as unemployed or counted as not participating in
the labour force.
Discrimination in employment based on disability is a
significant issue, as identified in a recent analysis of Australian Human
Rights Commission complaints, he says.
Further, due to the history of “sheltered workshops” in Australia,
underpayment remains a big problem, along with the amount of time spent looking
for work, which is significantly higher among people with disabilities than the
non-disabled.
“But we know there are innovative ways to connect training,
employment and inclusive approaches to organisational practice and we want to
show that people with disability can make long-term and sustainable
contributions to Australia economically and socially,” Professor Darcy says.
That’s clearly an opportunity for the hospitality industry,
where high staff turnover compromises customer service and sustainability, the
seminar heard.
'Australian businesses that do employ
people with a disability report greater
roductivity and higher staff morale'
Social enterprise Livvi’s Café is another group trying
to change the employment statistics for people with a disability.
As a social enterprise, Livvi’s Café – an offshoot of the
not-for-profit organisation Touched By Olivia – operates under a
business model where profits are generated but with the aim of funding social
good.
The initial idea of the café chain was to create safe and
inclusive play spaces for children with disabilities, founded on the principle
that “every child has a right to play”. But the goals soon expanded to include
providing employment opportunities for young people with disabilities.
Chief Executive Bec Ho says the move into cafés two years ago
was well received by the community – people were more than happy to wait a
little longer for a coffee – and the project is improving the wellbeing and
confidence of its young employees.
Aviva Redmond, who works as a service provider with service
provider LifeStart and has a close family member with a
disability, is excited to see projects like Download Albergo Etico and Livvi’s
Café. “It’s really fantastic to see truly inclusive workplaces – workplaces
that actually just treat people with disabilities like everyone else and pay
them a fair wage,” she says.
Louise Geaghan from Willoughby Council says there’s still a lot
of work to be done in Australia but the National Disability Insurance Scheme
means Australia is on the cusp of a new world of choice and opportunity.
“As we move away from people with disabilities being in
institutions or staying with their family for all of their lives, then we all
start to think about them having those needs just like all of us do – and I
think that’s really good,” she says.
This story is not about accessible tourism but what happens when a person acquires a high-level spinal cord injury, questions of insurance, compensation, cost of disability and quality of life. Of course quality of life and cost of disability are inextricably linked to accessible travel where the type of disability and a person's support needs affect the extent to which a person is able to travel. Without the requisite resources to be able to pay for the extra cost of disability with regards to tourism, a person may be unable to travel to the extent, to the destinations, the length of time that they would like to be on holiday for. We hope you find this article of interest.
No other recourse but to sue? The implications of Alex McKinnon's lawsuit against the NRL
Simon Darcy, University of Technology Sydney and Paul Jonson, University of Technology Sydney
Alex McKinnon, who was left in a wheelchair following an on-field tackle in an NRL match in 2014, is set to sue the league and the player deemed responsible for his injury, Jordan McLean.
The legal circumstances are only part of the questions raised by a case like McKinnon’s. There are also discussions to be had over compensation and insurance, and the personal impact of spinal cord injury.
A legal first
McKinnon’s case marks the first time a player has directly sued rugby league’s national governing body over an on-field injury in Australia.
Previously, players have sued other players over injuries deemed to have resulted from illegal play. In other cases, players have also cited the club of the player regarded as having caused the injury.
These cases have tested the legal concepts of:
duty of care: that is, to whom one is responsible for the negligent behaviour that resulted in the injury and why;
voluntary assumption of risk: that is, whether the injury arose from behaviour that was an inherent part of the activity and to which the injured party had tacitly accepted the risk, so therefore no-one was legally liable for the damage caused; and
vicarious liability: that is, the employer is legally responsible because the behaviour that caused the injury occurred while the employee was carrying out their work duties, albeit negligently.
The tackle that injured Alex McKinnon.
Workers’ compensation and sports insurance
In any other sphere of life, if a person is injured at work they are covered by workers’ compensation.
In Australia, depending upon the state you live in, such claims have been limited with respect to monetary compensation. For example, in New South Wales a person acquiring a spinal cord impairment similar to McKinnon’s is limited to a one-off lump-sum payment of A$231,000.
Under any circumstances this figure can be regarded as grossly inadequate when you consider home modifications, purchase of assistive technology, and ongoing care and medical expenses.
Any sportsperson taking to the field typically does so under their state’s sports injuries insurance scheme. However, it is open to the sporting organisation to opt for private insurance as a substitute or complement.
Under the sports injury insurance scheme, payments of benefits are made in respect of deaths and certain injuries suffered by people participating in sporting and recreational activities.
Significantly, the benefits payable are predetermined and limited, with a maximum benefit for a single incident capped at $171,000. Hence – unless private insurance has been taken out – under workers’ compensation or the sports injury insurance scheme the degree of coverage for spinal cord injury is inadequate.
Spinal cord injury
There are around 12,000 people living with spinal cord injury in Australia, with some 370 new cases each year. Of these, some 80% are male and 20% female. Most occur through motor-vehicle accidents (23%), unprotected road users (23%, including cyclists or pedestrians), high falls (18%), low falls (10%), being struck by objects (9%), or water-related injuries (9%).
Of those injuries, some 20% occurred in sport or leisure activities and 15% in work-related environments. Once a person has a spinal cord injury their employment rate declines from 78% pre-injury to 29% post-injury.
Any spinal cord injury is devastating to the person involved, their immediate family, and their circle of friends. At best it can be a lengthy hospitalisation, and end in a “miracle” story of the person walking out of the hospital.
Medically, spinal cord injury is at worst a lifelong change that affects every daily function of the human body – beyond merely walking. Socially it can mean a loss of job and income, the family home requiring major modifications if it can be made accessible, changes in family responsibilities, and the way members of the family relate to each other.
On top of all this, McKinnon has had his spinal cord injury and circumstances played out in the public realm.
As the tackle that injured McKinnon shows, spinal cord injury can take place in a split second. Whether the person is an elite athlete or not, there is a massive psychological adjustment that takes place. This period of adjustment can go on for years.
Depending on level of injury, personal care is an ongoing cost that is essential to maintaining good health and a functioning family unit. Then there is transport, housing modifications, assistive technology, ongoing medical expenses and specialised equipment for work and leisure. These have been estimated at a lifetime cost of $9.5 million for a quadriplegic.
As McKinnon progresses in his recovery, the true cost of disability and his needs over a lifetime are only just starting to be realised. He has said:
It’s only been in the last few weeks that I have understood that it will cost $100,000 per year just to get me up out of bed in the morning.
The love of McKinnon’s partner, family and friends can only do so much where professional allied health, medical and therapy interventions are required to lead an independent and dignified life as possible.
While the NRL has been supportive and offered McKinnon a job for life, he is starting to realise the real ongoing costs of disability may not be met by the generous charity that has already been provided.
McKinnon does not just want his basic needs met; he wants to be compensated for the life he envisioned a professional football career would give him, and what has been taken away through catastrophic injury. While the National Disability Insurance Scheme will provide for his basic needs, it does not provide for everything people with disability require to offset all loses because of their disability. Instead, it only meets requirements that can be regarded as “fair and reasonable”.
Given these circumstances, McKinnon has been left with no other recourse than to litigate to receive compensation for his loss of lifestyle. Simon Darcy, Professor & Co-Director Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre - UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney and Paul Jonson, Associate Professor, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Masters research candidate Ana Rucci, from the National University of La Plata Argentina, showcased her research on accessibility in tourism at a talk for the UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney on 17 November 2016. Ana's research aims to develop a uniform methodology that could measure accessibility in tourism as a competitiveness factor across different countries.
Destination competitiveness and sustainability (Ritchie and Crouch, 2003) is a robust framework used by academics and industry to identify competitive advantage by nation states. In 2016 the World Tourism Organization recognised the growing importance of accessible tourism as a commitment to their charter on universally accessible tourism products and services, however, what constitutes accessibility for destinations remains largely unexplored.
Case studies from Argentina and Brazil were a particular focus point in the preliminary findings Ana presented, as the recent FIFA World Cup and Olympic and Paralympic Games boosted tourism in the area while incorporating issues involving accessibility for the host nation and cities. By contrasting these examples in relationship to findings from Australia and New Zealand, Ana's research builds on an examination of overarching tourism destination competitiveness from a disability and accessibility perspective.
Photo 1: Ana Rucci & Prof Simon .Darcy at the UTS Business School
Ana's presentation was part of a larger research project that Ana, Dr Natalia Porto (also from the National University of La Plata Argentina), and Professor Simon Darcy from UTS Business School are undertaking on global accessible tourism metrics and policy.
Masters research candidate Ana Rucci, from the National University of La Plata Argentina, showcased her research on accessibility in tourism at a talk for the UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney on 17 November 2016. Ana's research aims to develop a uniform methodology that could measure accessibility in tourism as a competitiveness factor across different countries.
Destination competitiveness and sustainability (Ritchie and Crouch, 2003) is a robust framework used by academics and industry to identify competitive advantage by nation states. In 2016 the World Tourism Organization recognised the growing importance of accessible tourism as a commitment to their charter on universally accessible tourism products and services, however, what constitutes accessibility for destinations remains largely unexplored.
Case studies from Argentina and Brazil were a particular focus point in the preliminary findings Ana presented, as the recent FIFA World Cup and Olympic and Paralympic Games boosted tourism in the area while incorporating issues involving accessibility for the host nation and cities. By contrasting these examples in relationship to findings from Australia and New Zealand, Ana's research builds on an examination of overarching tourism destination competitiveness from a disability and accessibility perspective.
Photo 1: Ana Rucci & Prof Simon .Darcy at the UTS Business School
Ana's presentation was part of a larger research project that Ana, Dr Natalia Porto (also from the National University of La Plata Argentina), and Professor Simon Darcy from UTS Business School are undertaking on global accessible tourism metrics and policy.
The Asia Pacific Network on Accessible Tourism (APNAT) will soon see the establishment of country chapters, which would help champion barrier-free travel for all people with disabilities in the region. This move was agreed upon at the recently concluded 5th International Conference on Accessible Tourism. APNAT itself was formed after recommendations from participants who attended the first South-east Asia Conference on Accessible Tourism in 2012 (SEACAT). Sia Siew Chin, protem committee chairman of APNAT, said: “Through APNAT, we would like to be able to reach out to governments, people in the tourism industry and service providers to provide for the access needs of everyone in society, in particular people with disabilities.” Saowalak Thongkuay, regional coordinator for Abilis Foundation Mekong, said: “APNAT gives us a strong and collective voice to negotiate with governments to include accessible tourism into their development agenda.
It is hoped that all links in the tourism chain will become accessible. Speaking at the conference, Annagrazia Laura, president of European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), stressed that providing barrier-free environment means that from arrival to departure, visitors must be guaranteed an unbroken and seamless chain of accessibility. “If just one link in the chain is broken, such as inaccessible monuments and tourist attractions, the holiday experience will be spoilt” said Laura.
Joseph Kwan, chair, International Commission on Technology & Accessibility, Rehabilitation International also attended the conference. “Once governments realise that people with disabilities and the senior market are a sizable population with disposable incomes to spend and can contribute significantly to foreign exchange earnings, employment generation and social inclusion, they will be more willing to act, to create barrier-free travel for all” said Kwan. Kwan stressed the importance of governments to do audits on the current status of tourism accessibility in order to develop policies and plans regarding accessibility and human rights.
On Wednesday 11 May 2016 a New South Wales Ministerial Forum on Accessible Tourism was held at NSW Parliament House in the Strangers Room. Building upon the work by NSW Family and Community Services (FACS) on inclusive communities over the last two years, the Ministerial Forum was held to reflect on past approaches and future opportunities with the impending NDIS for accessible tourism in NSW. Organised by NSW FACS and facilitated by the University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Public Policy and Governance, the forum was opened by the Minister for Disability Services and Multiculturalism the Honourable John Ajacka. The format for the day included two forums. The first forum was chaired by Donna Rygate the CEO of Local Government NSW with the purpose of reflecting on past initiatives that had worked well. With the background of the NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014, Donna outlined the opportunities and potential for developing inclusive communities and accessible tourism at the local government level. She stressed the importance that an inclusive community is also a great community to visit as a tourist. The panel consisted of Martin Heng, the accessible travel manager and editorial advisor for Lonely Planet, Dr Helen Margarita Smith - the bush walking program office of the National Parks Association of NSW, and Sean Willenberg – Disability Inclusion Officer, NSW Business Chamber. The overriding outcome of the first forum was the importance of information provision and information systems so that consumers can make an informed choice about tourism product offerings. This was also supported through the discussion with the audience that people with disabilities and others with access needs want great accessible destination experiences and don't travel hundreds or thousands of miles to stay in hotels/other forms of accommodation. The second panel was chaired by Prof Simon Darcy, UTS Business School who presented recent European research undertaken by the EU and the UN World Tourism Organisation. This research work reinforced a great deal of similar findings from the US, the UK and Australasia (see references), with Prof Darcy concluding that the time for research was over and a knowledge base existed for industry action to improve the tourism citizenship of people living in NSW or visiting it from other states or overseas. The other members on the panel were Geoff Buckley - ex-head of Tourism Australia and Managing Director of New Earth Tourism, Andrew Bowring -Business Head of Zomato, and Jenny Spinak, Access Manager of the Sydney Opera House. Discussions on this panel examined the opportunities for engaging an industry led supply side digital platforms across travel information, accommodation, attractions, restaurants/bars and the share economy. Jenny Spinak also shared experiences of the importance of driving cultural change with internal and external stakeholders of organisations and provided examples of the successful transition of the Sydney Opera House to an organisation embracing inclusion and receiving a multitude of benefits including increased patronage, corporate social responsibility outcomes and opportunities for sponsorship. After each session lively discussions were held with the approximately 50 people in attendance from the tourism industry, disability advocacy and government sectors. The outcome of the forum is to produce an action plan for NSW to facilitate accessible tourism opportunities across the state including rural and remote areas. The Institute for Public Policy and Governance provided background papers and will be working on an action plan agenda arising from the meeting. For further information please contact Ivan Pavkovic Ivan.Pavkovic@uts.edu.au
Photo 1. Bill Forrester of Travabilityposing a question for Donna Rygate of the NSW Local Government and Shires Association
References
Buhalis, D., & Darcy, S. (Eds.). (2011). Accessible Tourism: Concepts and Issues. Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications.
Buhalis, D., Darcy, S., & Ambrose, I. (Eds.). (2012). Best Practice in Accessible Tourism: Inclusion, Disability, Ageing Population and Tourism. Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications.
Dwyer, L., & Darcy, S. (2011). Chapter 14 - Economic Contribution of Tourists with Disabilities: An Australian Approach and Methodology. In D. Buhalis & S. Darcy (Eds.), Accessible Tourism: Concepts and Issues (pp. 213-239). Bristol, UK: Channel View Publications.
GFK, University of Surrey, Neumann Consult, & Pro A Solutions. (2015). Economic Impact and Travel Patterns of Accessible Tourism: European Commission in conjunction with GFK - University of Surrey - Neumann Consulting - Pro A Solutions.
Michopoulou, E., Darcy, S., Ambrose, I., & Buhalis, D. (2015). Accessible tourism futures: the world we dream to live in and the opportunities we hope to have. Journal of Tourism Futures, 1(3), 179-188.
Open Doors Organization. (2015). Research among Adults with Disabilities: Travel and Hospitality (USA). Chicago: Open Doors Organization.
Darcy, S. (2013). Case study: An act of omission, resourcing and will: Tourism, disability and access within the public policy sphere. In B. Lovelock & K. M. Lovelock (Eds.), The ethics of tourism: Critical and applied perspectives (pp. 172-175). Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxam UK: Routledge.
An act of omission, resources and will - Tourism, disability and access within the public policy sphere.
The acting Prime Minister of Australia Wayne Swan, the opposition leader Tony Abbott, the Commonwealth, Sen Jan McLucas the Parliamentary Sec for Disability and Carers, State Disability Ministers and a large number of VIPs welcomed home the Australian Paralympic Team from the London 2012 Paralympic Games on Thursday, 13 September 2012. The Australian Paralympic Team had done extraordinarily well and were greeted by speeches lauding their performances, their inspiration and their sportsmanship. They were told what a wonderful performance they had done on the world stage and how all Australians supported them. Yet, these same Australians do not have an equal opportunity when it comes to tourism within their own country or when they travel abroad unless they are part of an elite sporting team. Why is this so?
An examination of all Tourism Australia, Australia's Commonwealth tourism marketing authority on its corporate site has no reference to disability or accessible tourism outside of human resources statements about recruitment where it states,
“Tourism Australia is committed to eliminating any adverse action against a person who is an employee, or prospective employee, of the employer because of the person’s sex, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, race (including colour, national or ethnic origin), age, sexual preference, disability, religious or political conviction” (Tourism Australia, 2011).
With regards to its consumer website it has a single paragraph that states
“Accessible Travel
If you have a disability and are planning to explore Australia, there is a host of services and special deals to meet your needs. Thorough preparation is essential to a successful trip, so speak to your travel agent about your specific requirements. For more information on accessible tourism in Australia go to NICAN or the AustraliaForAll websites” (Tourism Australia, 2012).
Yet, on the corporate site that they identify the market segments that they target including: the Australian cruise industry; the youth segment; the family segment; the holidaymaker segment; and the honeymoon segment. Nowhere is there any recognition that people with disabilities could be part of all of those segments but require specific information if they are able to participate. This overt omission by the premier Australian tourism marketing authority is a failure to be inclusive for Australians travelling domestically or tourists from overseas.
The situation in Australia is made even more disappointing as in 2011 NICAN (an organisation providing inclusive information for sport and tourism) together with Sen Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Sec for Disabilities and Carers hosted a National Tourism Dialogue at Parliament House that brought together stakeholders in disability and tourism in Australia. The outcome of the dialogue was the joint issuing of a Communiqué, where the stakeholders called for increasing access to tourism for people with disability. Sen Jan McLucas issued a media release supporting the communiqué (McLucas, 2011; NICAN, 2011). Yet 18 months on, there has been no further commitment to increasing access to tourism for people with disability at a Commonwealth level.
Yet, the above reflects historically Australian approaches to disability and tourism policy that have seen a series of well documented policy inclusions (Darcy, Cameron, & Schweinsberg, 2012) that have not been resourced. This lack of leadership at the Commonwealth level can partly explain the cases of disability discrimination in tourism outlined elsewhere in this chapter. The Commonwealth's role as a coordination agency for information, marketing and promotion needs to lead the industry as a benchmark for inclusive approaches to tourism information that acts as a foundation for tourism trip planning. Under the Disability Discrimination Act applies to all services open to the public and states that they should provide an equality of opportunity for people with disability. However, as the disability discrimination cases highlight, even in this most basic of tourism function there has been an abject failure to treat people with disability equally before the law. As we have seen in this chapter, the Australian situation is very similar from a disability discrimination perspective to that of the UK and the United States where similar types of omission, considerations or will lead to discrimination.
The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability was adopted by over 150 nations in 2008. This presents a significant challenge to government tourism marketing authorities and the industry as Article 30 clearly identifies their responsibilities to provide an equality of tourism experiences for this group. This requires more than policy rhetoric and a significant contribution towards ensuring that the travel chain offers people with disability the opportunities that the rest of the population take for granted (World Health Organization & World Bank, 2011, p. 179). The travel chain in tourism starts with information to allow tourism planning, and then goes on to include transport, accommodation, attractions and other destination experiences.
So, with the closing of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games we can take heart in the extensive programme of new offerings that Visit England have undertaken over the last three years. These include research, policy, industry collaboration, awareness workshops and a celebration that the Olympic and Paralympic Games offered an opportunity to improve accessibility for all those coming to the UK (VisitEngland, 2012). We can only hope that other destination marketing authorities consider their economic management and equity responsibilities in the same way. As the world looks towards the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we can only hope that the Parliamentary Sec for Disability can in the future truly welcome back our Paralympians and offer them an equality of tourism experience in the same way that they experience sport at the elite level.
