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Understanding Barriers, Tourism Participation and Disabled Tourists in India

Dr Sutheeshna Babu. SNodal Officer, National Institute of Watersports, Goa

TEANSED, Sept. 20, 2012

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Scheme of Presentation

A brief on the accessible tourism concept

Understanding barriers of disabled tourists

Barriers of disabled tourists in Indian context- At different stages of tour

Some suggestions

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‘Persons with disabilities’ are persons with any developmental, intellectual, mental, physical or sensory impairments including those mentioned in Schedule 11 of the Act, which are not of a temporary nature, and which in interaction with various barriers may hinder full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others;

- The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2011

Defining Persons with disabilities

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Tourism services should be available to all individuals irrespective of disabilities - Accessible Tourism

Concept

‘A process of enabling people with disabilities and seniors to function independently and with equity and dignity through the delivery of universal tourism products, services and environment’ (Tourism Australia: Adapted from Olympic Coordination Authority 1999)

What is accessible tourism and who are covered under it?

‘All persons who, owing to the environment being encountered, suffer a limitation in their relational ability and have special needs during travel, in accommodations, and other tourism services’- UNWTO- 2005

Who are they?

Individuals with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities. Other medical conditions requiring special care, such as

elderly persons and others in need of temporary assistance’.

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Accessible tourism is justified economically and socially

Many sections of the society suffers from some form of disability that reduces their access to leisure and holidaying

The global size of this segment is huge at 600 million persons (UNFPA-2005). Adding family members makes it nearly 02 billion persons or a third of the world’s population (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities- (UNCRPD- 2006)

Various socio-economic processes such as ageing, war and other forms of violence, accidents etc. cause disabilities of different types (U.N, 2010)

The economics of accessible tourism is huge and well acknowledged.

Why Accessible tourism?

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India (As per Census-2001) Count (mil.)

% of total population

Disabled people 21.9 2.1

Disabled and their family members and dependents

114.6 11.4

Including people over 60 years of age 71.7 6.7

Market size of disabled 186.3 18.1

Population over 60 years is factored into sizing irrespective of their disability status

Overlapping between disabled population and above 60 population is ignored for calculation

India statistics on disabled population

Size of accessible tourism market segment in India is around 18% of the country’s total population

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Accessible Tourism is Legal Obligation

Right to leisure is a fundamental right as per UNWTO Manilla Convention 1983 to which India is signatory.

Being signatory to The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), India is obliged to enact suitable legislation in furtherance of the rights recognized in the UN Convention.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2011- India guarantees the right to leisure, culture and recreation for disabled persons.

Why Accessible tourism?

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Understanding Barriers- Disabled tourists

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Major barriers of this market segment include financial constraint, access, family support and information

Lack of access-specific information and lack of special

communication such as websites featuring

WAI of W3C

Movements can be cumbersome owing to possibly vast areas, hilly terrains of tour

sites etc.

Barriers faced by disabled tourists

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‘Accessibility is an issue of importance in relation to vacation’

It is equally or more important compared to the non-disabled persons for various physiological and mental reasons because:

Their travel ‘push’ factor is more than just recreation/ get away from mundane/ just escape/ or rejuvenation.

Participation result gaining confidence, self-esteem and avenues to feel oneself.

It provides great opportunity for the family members for outing and also fulfill usual travel motivations.

How important is leisure/vacation to the disabled

Barriers are known and documented but the participation rate of the disabled in leisure and tourism in not known.

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Barriers of Disabled Tourists- An Indian perspective

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The study finds that access problems faced by tourists are many and varied

The findings are based on survey of the disabled as tourists at selected tourist sites.

Both domestic and foreign tourists come across problems of accessibility at different stages of tour experience, beginning from planning till end of tour.

This is reported by both the foreign and domestic tourists.

Access problems ranked as top five are also almost common across these two groups

See the details...

Major Findings

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Use of attendants is less and road travel used by both but air by foreigners and rail by Indians

Domestic ForeignNot Carrying Caregiver/ Attendant

Not required 48% 51%

Self-empowerment 10% 13%

Carrying some mobility equipments

Walking stick 38% 33%

Personal care equipments 19% 23%

Transport between destinations

Road 70% 62%

Rail 22% Insignif.

Air Insignif. 34%

Average expenditure per tourist (within India)

Independent travel Rs.11965/- Rs. 32925 /-

On package Rs. 11488/- Rs. 30597 /-

Total sample 1016 189

Travel Behaviour

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Attitude of employees of tourism establishments towards disabled tourists is found to be non-supportive by one third of respondents

Attitude of employees of tourism organizations towards disabled tourists

Two third of respondents opined the attitudes of employees

supportive and one third report attitudinal problems

Major reasons cited for unfavourable attitude

Need extra-time

Poor understanding of the needs of persons with

disabilities

Absence/ shortage of accessible equipments

Social stigma attached to disability.

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Both foreign and domestic tourists complain of poor understanding of their problems by employees and an inhospitable attitude

Rank Domestic Foreign

1 Poor understanding of their specific problem

Poor understanding of their specific problem

2 Inhospitable attitude of staff Inhospitable attitude of staff

3 Distance and inaccessibility of booking centres

Distance and inaccessibility of booking centres

4 Unreliable information Inaccessible booking centers/ offices

5 Unreliable travel agency service Unreliable information

Problems faced by Tourists During Booking Stage(rank values top 5)

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Both foreign and domestic tourists complain of intra-destination travel, lack of proper information and inadequate signage

Rank Domestic Foreign

1 Intra-destination travel Intra-destination travel

2 Lack of proper information Lack of proper information

3 Inadequate signage at major points of reference

Inadequate signage at major points of reference

4 Non-availability of personal aids/ equipments at the stations and in the vehicles

Travel between places of stay and transport station

5 Lack of disability awareness among ground staff

Non-availability of personal aids/ equipments at the stations and in the vehicles

Problems faced by Tourists During Touring Stage(rank values top 5)

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Both foreign and domestic tourists complain of inconvenient access of floors and rooms

Rank Domestic Foreign

1 Lack of necessary facilities in the rooms meant for them

Lack of necessary facilities in the rooms meant for them

2 Lack of understanding of staff about their special needs

Inappropriate location of rooms

3 Inappropriate location of rooms Inaccessible lobby

4 Comparatively higher rate of adaptable rooms

Absence of lifts

5 Absence of lifts Non-availability of personal aids/equipments

Problems faced by Tourists at Places of stay(rank values top 5)

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At tour sites, tourists find accessibility difficult such as public utilities and access points

Rank Domestic Foreign

1 Non-availability of special toilets and unhygienic conditions of the available ones

Non-availability of ramps in general or level differences in alternate ramps

2 Absence of public utilities such as telephone, water tap etc. at convenient places

Non-availability of special toilets and unhygienic conditions of the available ones

3 Ramps in general are available but not found at required points at attractions. Lack of ramp/lifts

4 Non-availability of ramps in general or level differences in alternate ramps

Inconvenient reach points at attractions and

5 Insufficiently laid pathways Slippery or coarse tracks

Problems faced by tourists at tour sites (Top 5 ranks)

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Factors influencing travel decisions are price, safety and support. Economic factors get top rating by domestic tourists and safety by foreign tourists.

Rank Domestic Foreign

1 Economic- reasonably priced tourism products and better income opportunities.

Providing safety and support devices

2 Trained staff and their friendly treatment of tourists

Proper information about availability of aids/ equipments at attractions

3 Providing safety and support devices Reasonably priced-tourism products

4 Change in attitude of the public towards disabled visitors

Change in attitude of the public towards disabled visitors

5 Information about availability of aids/ equipments at attractions

Availability of accessible vehicle at destinations.

Factors influencing Travel Decisions (Top five ranks)

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Suggestions

1. Information provision on special access

i. Compilation of information on access support at different tour points and its dissemination through promotion.

ii. Providing of WAI (Web access initiative) features in line with W3C and as provided by Govt. of India to make web space access friendly (suggestion given in last presentation).

2. Sensitization for access restrained tourists

iii. By incorporating it in tourism and hotel management curriculum

iv. Through promotional campaigns in general public

3. Building access features at Destinations- universal design standards to be adopted and may develop few ‘model destinations’

4. Formulation of a charter of best accessible tourism practices for the stakeholders

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Thank You