German Research Shows That Holidays Enhance Life Satisfaction of PwD

Drawing on data from Germany, this study finds that in many ways, holidays have a more positive effect on people with disability than they do on people without disability.

Copyright © 2014 Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

The Impact of Holiday Trips on Life Satisfaction and Domains of Life Satisfaction: Evidence for German Disabled Individuals

Ricardo Pagán

Abstract

This study analyses the contribution of holiday trips to the levels of life satisfaction reported by individuals with and without disability by using an approach in which life satisfaction is seen as a combination of various life satisfaction domains (health, job, housework, household income, dwelling, and leisure). Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we estimate a two-layer model which proposes that satisfaction with different domains of life are interrelated and wherein life satisfaction depends on the weight that the individual allocates to each of these domains. The results show that disabled people who participate in holiday trips obtain higher levels of satisfaction with health, job, and housework than do nondisabled ones, especially when this participation is more intense. In addition, satisfaction with health and household income has a significant effect on the overall life satisfaction reported by disabled individuals. Public policy recommendations are given.

Keywords: holiday trips, life satisfaction, domains of life satisfaction, disability, Germany

Full reference:

Pagán, R., 2014, 'The impact of holiday trips on life satisfaction and domains of life satisfaction: Evidence for German disabled individuals', Journal of Travel Research, DOI: 10.1177/0047287513517424.

http://jtr.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/01/08/0047287513517424.abstract   

For further information on the paper please contact:

Ricardo Pagán
Applied Economics Department, University of Malaga
Plaza de El Ejido s/n, Malaga, 29.071, Spain
Email: rpr@uma.es

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

 

National Tourism Dialogue and Communiqué on Accessible Tourism

The National Information Communication Awareness Network for the arts, sport, recreation and tourism (a.k.a. NICAN) recently held a National Tourism Dialogue that brought together stakeholders with an interest in the area disability, access and inclusive or accessible tourism http://www.nican.com.au/news/communique-national-tourism-dialogue

The Dialogue was opened by Sen Jan McLucas the current Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers where she issued a media release http://www.janmclucas.fahcsia.gov.au/mediareleases/2011/Pages/increase_access_tourism_20062011.aspx and the text of her opening speech http://www.janmclucas.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87:nican-national-dialogue-on-tourism&catid=4:speeches&Itemid=17

The day adopted a participatory action research approach (Denzin & Lincoln, 2003; Goodley & Lawthom, 2005; Kitchin, 2000; Taylor, 1999) and a background paper on Setting a Research Agenda for Accessible Tourism (Darcy, 2006) was circulated as a starting point for the participants. Research can be a foundation for policy development and change particularly where industry groups demand a business case. Historically disability, access and accessible tourism have been challenged by industry groups as they do not believe that people with disability are a market segment or believe that they are a low yield group or that provision for accessible accommodation does not provide a reasonable return on investment (Australian Hotels Association & Tourism and Transport Forum, 2010). To counter these arguments, two presentations were incorporated within the agenda to provide a research base  from nationally collected government statistics,  and to challenge market myths and stereotypes (Dwyer & Darcy, 2011; Forrester, 2011). The afternoon was then devoted to a stakeholder brainstorming session aimed at coming to a group consensus for a call to action to action to improve the tourism opportunities for the group through leveraging industry engagement. Photo 1 is the group present at Parliament house with a number of other speakers joining by teleconference - Sheila King, Access for All Alliance Inc.,  Associate Prof Simon Darcy, UTS Business School.

Photo 1 - National Tourism Dialogue Group Photo plus others who joined by teleconference.

The agenda for the day was:

National Dialogue

Stakeholders in Disability Tourism 

Monday 20 June 2011

9:30am – 3:00pm

Parliament House, Canberra 

AGENDA

9:30     Welcome and introductions (Patron Annette Ellis)

a.     Apologies

b.     Brief introductions (all)

c.      Scene setting and purpose of forum (CEO NICAN Suzanne Bain-Doniohue/Marketing Manager NICAN Craig Wallace)

10:00  Formal opening and keynote

     Current directions in disability & the importance of access tourism

                Senator the Hon. Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers

Morning tea [Group photograph]



10:30  The Case for Accessible Tourism

a.     The value of disability tourism - what the research tells us?

(Ass. Professor Simon Darcy, UTS Business School - University of Technology, Sydney)

 (Bill Forrester, Travability)

b.     Other sources and gaps in our knowledge (all)

12:30 Lunch

1:30    Taking action (brainstorm of all stakeholders)

a.     What do we want to happen?

b.     Who do we need onside to make it happen?

c.      What could we do to make it happen?

d.     What are the barriers to getting there? 

2:30     Next steps

a.     Possible joint communiqué (draft with papers)

b.     Recap key outcomes & agreements (Annette Ellis)

3:30     Close

For inquiries please contact Craig Wallace at Nican on (02) 6241 1220 / 0451 199 750

The communiqué from the National Dialogue is now reproduced for your convenience and can be accessed from http://www.nican.com.au/news/communique-national-tourism-dialogue

National Dialogue

Stakeholders in accessible and inclusive tourism 

Wednesday 22 June 2011

Parliament House, Canberra 

COMMUNIQUÉ

Inclusive and Accessible Tourism – an opportunity for Australia

A National Dialogue of key stakeholders in inclusive and accessible tourism was opened on Monday 20 June by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers at Parliament House, Canberra.  The Dialogue, hosted by Nican and chaired by Annette Ellis, National Patron and former Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers, has agreed on a call to action for the tourism industry, government and the Australian community:

Tourism by people who have a disability or who are ageing is an opportunity for Australian Tourism to seize the competitive advantage in a tight market. It is also a great way to demonstrate corporate social responsibility.  The time is right for action as Australia’s baby boomers retire.

Key stakeholders including researchers, tourism operators and referral providers have joined forces, with the support of the Australian Government, to build awareness about the opportunities and to address barriers to tourism by these groups. 

Together, we believe that there is a growing understanding of the potential of the tourism market for people with disability, including seniors, which goes hand-in-hand with boosting visitor numbers and strengthening our place as a top draw tourism destination for people around the world. 

We recognise that access to leisure and recreation, including taking a holiday, is an important part of living an ordinary life and helps realise the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with a Disability and the National Disability Strategy. 

Ultimately, this will help to build a more welcoming and inclusive society, where individuals and families with a disability have choices and no longer feel shut out.

There are significant advantages to developing better tourism products, services and experiences to people with disability as well as information about opportunities, venues and services. 

This is good business sense and is also consistent with rights, access and corporate social responsibility. 

With the right planning this can be a real win for both people with disability and the tourism industry. 

Now is the time to promote the business case for disability tourism where:   

·        Some 88 per cent of people with disability take a holiday each year which accounts for some 8.2 million overnight trips.

·        The average travel group size for people with disability is 2.8 people for a domestic overnight trip and 3.4 for a day trip.

·        There is a myth that the inclusive tourism market does not spend because of economic circumstance.

·        People with disability travel on a level comparable with the general population for domestic overnight and day trips.

·        The total tourism expenditure attributable to people with disability is $8bn per year or 11 per cent of overall tourism expenditure (Dwyer & Darcy, 2011).

The business case is clear and draws on landmark research from Associate Professor Simon Darcy, with the University of Technology’s Business School, who presented at the session. 

We welcome the Government's commitment in the area of travel and tourism through the National Disability Strategy as well as work on Access to Premises and Transport Standards, access to airlines and cinema access. 

More could be done including an inclusive/accessible tourism category within a mainstream tourism award; a marketing strategy; a practical information guide; a National Forum with Tourism operators and further work to refresh and promote the business case for inclusive and accessible tourism, especially with industry.

We commend these ideas to government and each of us is committed to moving from commitment to action.

We are excited by the opportunity to deepen the understanding of the importance and potential of inclusive and accessible tourism for all Australians.  We will continue to work together and promote the benefits across the tourism industry, agencies of governments at all levels, tourism promoters, and the Australian community.

Issued by:

Australia For All Alliance Inc

Greatvenue

Disabled Motorists Association

Disability Information and Resource Centre

Nican

IDEAS

Travability

Leadership plus (formerly Inclusive Leisure Vic) 

Media contact: Craig Wallace, Marketing Manager, Nican – 0451 199 750

References  

Australian Hotels Association, & Tourism and Transport Forum. (2010). Accessible Rooms In Short Term Accommodation: A Look At Supply and Demand. Canberra: Australian Hotels Association and AZthe Tourism and Transport Forum.

Darcy, S. (2006). Setting a Research Agenda for Accessible Tourism (pp. 48).  Retrieved from http://www.sustainabletourismonline.com/137/universal-access/setting-a-research-agenda-for-accessible-tourism

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2003). Strategies of qualitative inquiry (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

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.

Forrester, B. (2011). What’s happening overseas - Learning’s from the SATH Conference Paper presented at the National Tourism Dialogue, Parliament House, Canberra. http://www.nican.com.au/news/communique-national-tourism-dialogue

Goodley, D., & Lawthom, R. (2005). Epistemological journeys in participatory action research: alliances between community psychology and disability studies. Disability & Society, 20(2), 135-151.

Kitchin, R. (2000). The Researched Opinions on Research: disabled people and disability research. Disability & Society, 15(1), 25-47.

Taylor, G. (1999). Empowerment, identity and participatory research: Using social action research to challenge isolation for Deaf and hard of hearing people from minority ethnic communities. Disability & Society, 14(3), 369-384.

  

World Report on Disability - The Travel Chain

The World Health Organization (2011) has produced an extensive research report on disability, which reviews evidence about the situation of people with disabilities around the world. It draws together the most recent sources to present a comprehensive overview of the major areas that affect the lives of people with disability. The report consists of 10 chapters including:

• Introduction
• Understanding Disability
• Disability - the global picture
• Genera health care
• Rehabilitation
• Assistance and support
• Enabling environments
• Education
• Work and Employment
• Recommendations

Interestingly, addresses many of the key concepts discussed in the blog including constraints and barriers to participation, universal design and market dynamics but the report does not mention tourism specifically. It does, however, draw attention to United Nations’ (2006) Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and how the articles relate to the importance of participation in all areas of citizenship. While it could be argued that the key chapters discussed in the report cumulatively provide a guide for developing accessible destinations, there is no doubt that the overriding priority of the report in ensuring that all people with disability have accessible environments, services and attitudes in their place of residence. Of course, once this has been completed for local residents, then the same local areas become accessible to tourists with disability visiting the areas.

With regard to travel, the report discusses the concept of the "travel chain" that is defined as

The “travel chain” refers to all elements that make up a journey, from starting point to destination – including the pedestrian access, the vehicles, and the transfer points. If any link is inaccessible, the entire trip becomes difficult (81). Many mass transit providers, particularly in developing countries, have implemented accessibility only partially, for example by providing a limited number of accessible vehicles on each route, making improvements only to the main stations, and providing access only on new lines. Without accessibility throughout the travel chain, the job is incomplete. Inaccessible links require taking an indirect route, creating the barrier of longer travel times. The goal must be for people to have access to all vehicles and the full service area, as well as the pedestrian environment (82). But progressive realization may be the most practical short-term response (WHO 2011, p.179).

Photo 1: Blog Author Simon Darcy boarding low floor accessible bus that forms an important part of the "travel chain" since their introduction in many countries since the late 1990s (© Fiona Darcy 2000)

Photo 1 shows a low floor accessible bus that is one part of a "travel chain" that also needs to be supported by for example accessible timetables, continuous pathways, tactile ground surface indicators and disability awareness trained bus drivers to name a few. In recognising the inherent pragmatism required to ensure the travel chain, this report together with the World Health Organization (2007) Global Age Friendly Cities, provides an impetus for nations and city states to meaningfully address the disability and ageing issues through creating sustainable approaches to these issues as part of addressing disability citizenship across all areas of social participation. The World Health Organization documents can be used to provide a foundation for providing a global understanding within local contexts and to draw the attention of those who are resisting the addressing of these issues. The document concludes by asking three questions that need to be addressed in a policy context: What do we know about people with disabilities?; What are the disabling barriers? And. How are the lives of people with disabilities affected?. In conclusion, the report makes nine recommendations:

·        enable access to all mainstream policies, systems and services;

·        invest in specific programs and services for people with disabilities;

·        adopt a National disability strategy and plan of action;

·        involve people with disabilities;

·        improved human resource capacity;

·        provide adequate funding and improve affordability;

·        increased public awareness and understanding of disability;

·        improve disability data collection; and

·        strengthen and support research on disability.

Interestingly in my own first major report, Anxiety to Access (Darcy, 1998), these recommendations are not dissimilar and provide a sound blueprint for improving travel and tourism industry approaches to disability, access and accessible tourism.

References  

Darcy, S. (1998). Anxiety to access: tourism patterns and experiences of New South Wales people with a physical disability (pp. 76). Sydney: Tourism New South Wales. http://corporate.tourism.nsw.gov.au/Anxiety_to_Access_p783.aspx

United Nations. (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. New York http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/convtexte.htm: United Nations General Assembly A/61/611 - 6 December 2006.

World Health Organization. (2007). Global Age-friendly Cities Guide from http://www.who.int/ageing/age_friendly_cities/en/index.html

World Health Organization, & World Bank. (2011). World Report on Disability, from http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/report/en/index.html

  

Accessible Tourism Book now published

Accessible Tourism: Concepts and Issues

It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce the publication of Accessible Tourism: Concepts and Issues that I have co-edited with Prof Dimitrios Buhalis of Bournemouth University and published with Channel View Publications.

http://www.channelviewpublications.com/display.asp?isb=9781845411602 

The book brings together the underlying concepts and issues relating to accessible tourism so as to provide a foundation for industry, government and the not-for-profit sector understanding of the area. A foundation of the book explores accessible tourism from the perspective of the experiences of people with disability whether they have a mobility, vision, hearing or cognitive disability. As Photo 1 shows this begins with front cover of book where a photo was selected depicting an all ability trek.

Photo 1: Book Cover features an all abilities trek to the summit of Mount Kosciusko that is Australia's highest peak

The book consists of 19 chapters:

• Chapter 1 – Introduction (Darcy and Buhalis);
• Chapter 2 – Conceptualising Disability: Medical, Social, WHO ICF, Dimensions and Levels of Support Needs (Darcy and Buhalis);
• Chapter 3 – Accessibility: A Key Objective for the Tourism Industry (Eichhorn and Buhalis);
• Chapter 4 – Disability Legislation and Empowerment of Tourists with Disability: The UK Case (Shaw and Veitch);
• Chapter 5 – Understanding Tourist Experience through Embodiment: The Contribution of Critical Tourism and Disability Studies (Small and Darcy);
• Chapter 6 – Tourism in the Leisure Lives of People with Disability (Foggin);
• Chapter 7 – Travelling with and beyond Depression: Women’s Narratives of Recovery and Identity (Fullager);
• Chapter 8 – Encounters of Disabled Customers on the Tourism Stage (Arola – Edited by Cooper, C.);
• Chapter 9 – Blind People’s Tourism Experiences: An Exploratory Study (Poria, Reichel and Brandt); Chapter 10 – Demographic Drivers of Change in Tourism and the Challenge of Inclusive Products (Shaw and Veitch);
• Chapter 11 – Ageing Travellers: Seeking an Experience and not just a Destination (Patterson and Pegg);
• Chapter 12 – Ageing Travel Market and Accessibility Requirements (Wang);
• Chapter 13 – Attitudinal and Experimental Differences of Disabled and Ablebodied Visitors to Heritage Sites (Pearn);
• Chapter 14 – Economic Contribution of Tourists with Disabilities: An Australian Approach and Methodology (Darcy and Dwyer);
• Chapter 15 – Developing a Business Case for Accessible Tourism (Darcy, Cameron and Pegg);
• Chapter 16 – Stakeholder Analysis (Michopoulou and Buhalis);
• Chapter 17 – Webdesign, Assistive Technologies and Accessible Tourism (Puhretmair and Nussbaum);
• Chapter 18 – Technology Platforms and Challenges (Michopoulou and Buhalis);
• Chapter 19 – Conclusion: A Call towards Universal Approaches to Accessible  (Darcy, Ambrose, Schweinsberg and Buhalis)

The book is available in a variety of formats and is available for purchase please see:

http://www.channelviewpublications.com/display.asp?isb=9781845411602

Vancouver 2010 Winter Paralympic Games Research?

In keeping with the accessible tourism theme of the Olympics, I draw attention to the opening ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games and all competition coverage that it is provided free online by the International Paralympic Committee’s own broadcaster (Paralympic Sport TV, 2010). Brilliant coverage! The Games sites and Vancouver generally will get a full access testing by the 40 countries competing with their 1350 athletes, officials and countless supporters (Tourism Vancouver, 2010) testing the Accessible Tourism Strategy set up by a consortium of organizations (2010 Legacies Now, 2010). The premise of the strategy incorporates access for the major dimensions of disability access including: mobility; Deaf or hearing impaired; and blind or vision impaired. To this end, the Vancouver Organising Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games has produced an accessibility guide as a compendium to the spectator guide (Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), 2010). This guide is also being supplemented by participants and visitors to the Paralympics by some excellent local access guides and blogs such as Whistler for the Disabled (2010) that provides a wealth of information for travelers and white powder lovers. As previously mentioned on the blog, a book is currently in the preparation on Paralympic legacy by David Legg and Keith Gilbert titled The Paralympic Games: Legacy and Regeneration (2010). Yet, a notable omission is that not one of the chapters deals with Winter Paralympic Games. Hopefully, someone in Vancouver will rectify the situation by documenting the planning, operation and legacy of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games. What is quite often lost from the “official” history of Olympic and Paralympic Games is the central role that disability advocates play in ensuring an equitable, dignified and independent experience for those that attend as participants, team management, employees, volunteers, spectators and tourists alike. For example, the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games was one where the official record (Olympic Coordination Authority, 2001; Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee, 2001) differed to more critical observations of Games processes (Cashman & Darcy, 2008; Darcy, 2003; Goggin & Newell, 2001; Olympic & Paralympic Disability Advocacy Service, 2000). What was omitted was the critical role of the underlying human rights framework, building codes and standards, and the advocacy of disability organizations and individuals with disabilities had in contesting, collaborating, protesting, litigating and assisting all aspects of planning and operations in the seven years prior to the opening ceremonies. Let’s hope that some Canadian researchers document the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games disability and access processes.

References

2010 Legacies Now. (2010). Accessible Tourism Strategy: accessibility rating icon guidelines business Available from http://www.2010legaciesnow.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Accessible_Tourism/Brand_Standard-Business.pdf

Cashman, R., & Darcy, S. (Eds.). (2008). Benchmark Games: The Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. Petersham, NSW Australia: Walla Walla Press in conjunction with the Australian Centre for Olympic Studies.

Darcy, S. (2003). The politics of disability and access: the Sydney 2000 Games experience. Disability & Society, 18(6), 737-757.

Goggin, G., & Newell, C. (2001). Crippling Paralympics? Media, disability and Olympism. Media International Australia, 97(Nov), 71-83.

Legg, D., & Gilbert, K. (Eds.). (2010). The Paralympic Games: Legacy and Regeneration. Champaign, IL USA: Commonground Publishing.

Olympic & Paralympic Disability Advocacy Service. (2000). Final Report to the Department of Family and Community Services. Sydney: Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services.

Olympic Coordination Authority. (2001). Accessible Operations Post Game Report - Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympics Games. Sydney: Olympic Coordination Authority.

Paralympic Sport TV (Producer). (2010, 15 March) Vancouver 2010. Paralympic Sport TV. Live TV feed

Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee. (2001). Paralympic Post Games Report (1 Vol). Sydney: SPOC.

Tourism Vancouver. (2010). 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games. Retrieved 15 March, 2010

Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). (2010). Spectator guide: accessibility. Retrieved 14 March, 2010, from http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-spectator-guide/accessibility/

Whistler for the Disabled. (2010). The 2010 Whistler Accessibility Blog. Retrieved 14 March, 2010, from http://www.whistlerforthedisabled.com/blog/accessible-whistler-1-888-933-9383/