Building accessible destinations. Tourism, transport and disability in Europe

Tourism is a strategic sector in Europe, and accessibility is not only a right but also represents a key element in achieving quality tourism. Thus, tourism can be understood as a matter of social justice and an integral strategy to improve destinations’ competitiveness and sustainability, as well a...

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Main Authors: David Rodríguez Guillén, Juan Antonio Clemente Soler, Juan Carlos Solano Lucas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Social Sciences and Humanities Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125002852
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author David Rodríguez Guillén
Juan Antonio Clemente Soler
Juan Carlos Solano Lucas
author_facet David Rodríguez Guillén
Juan Antonio Clemente Soler
Juan Carlos Solano Lucas
author_sort David Rodríguez Guillén
collection DOAJ
description Tourism is a strategic sector in Europe, and accessibility is not only a right but also represents a key element in achieving quality tourism. Thus, tourism can be understood as a matter of social justice and an integral strategy to improve destinations’ competitiveness and sustainability, as well as the overall tourist experience. Based on the understanding of accessibility as a fundamental principle in providing quality tourism that is free of discrimination, this study uses a structured questionnaire to comprehensively address key elements related to tourist accessibility. We identify potential actions for improvement; for example, making professionals in the field of accessibility available for consultation when creating tenders, improving aspects of European legislation, promoting best practices and information exchange, and improving sensitisation and awareness around this issue in society, the workplace, and educational institutions. In addition, the use of artificial intelligence or improved budget allocation at the European level could be highly useful.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2590-2911
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Social Sciences and Humanities Open
spelling doaj-art-063c0781b6fb483bb30fb7fa98eb1c4c2025-08-20T03:30:51ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112025-01-011110155710.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101557Building accessible destinations. Tourism, transport and disability in EuropeDavid Rodríguez Guillén0Juan Antonio Clemente Soler1Juan Carlos Solano Lucas2Corresponding author.; University of Murcia, SpainUniversity of Murcia, SpainUniversity of Murcia, SpainTourism is a strategic sector in Europe, and accessibility is not only a right but also represents a key element in achieving quality tourism. Thus, tourism can be understood as a matter of social justice and an integral strategy to improve destinations’ competitiveness and sustainability, as well as the overall tourist experience. Based on the understanding of accessibility as a fundamental principle in providing quality tourism that is free of discrimination, this study uses a structured questionnaire to comprehensively address key elements related to tourist accessibility. We identify potential actions for improvement; for example, making professionals in the field of accessibility available for consultation when creating tenders, improving aspects of European legislation, promoting best practices and information exchange, and improving sensitisation and awareness around this issue in society, the workplace, and educational institutions. In addition, the use of artificial intelligence or improved budget allocation at the European level could be highly useful.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125002852TourismAccessibilityInclusionEurope
spellingShingle David Rodríguez Guillén
Juan Antonio Clemente Soler
Juan Carlos Solano Lucas
Building accessible destinations. Tourism, transport and disability in Europe
Social Sciences and Humanities Open
Tourism
Accessibility
Inclusion
Europe
title Building accessible destinations. Tourism, transport and disability in Europe
title_full Building accessible destinations. Tourism, transport and disability in Europe
title_fullStr Building accessible destinations. Tourism, transport and disability in Europe
title_full_unstemmed Building accessible destinations. Tourism, transport and disability in Europe
title_short Building accessible destinations. Tourism, transport and disability in Europe
title_sort building accessible destinations tourism transport and disability in europe
topic Tourism
Accessibility
Inclusion
Europe
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125002852
work_keys_str_mv AT davidrodriguezguillen buildingaccessibledestinationstourismtransportanddisabilityineurope
AT juanantonioclementesoler buildingaccessibledestinationstourismtransportanddisabilityineurope
AT juancarlossolanolucas buildingaccessibledestinationstourismtransportanddisabilityineurope