USV Annals of Economics and Public Administration (Jun 2019)
THE OPPORTUNITIES IN ACCESSIBLE TOURISM
Abstract
In recent years people with disabilities have played increasingly important role in tourism. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) chose themes in 2014 (Community Building) and in 2016 (Tourism for All), in connection with the World Tourism Day and several conferences focusing on people with disabilities. Nowadays, more than 1 billion people live with some kind of disabilities and their number will increase in the coming years, due to the growing average age (17). People with disabilities have to fight with a lot of things, whether it is to do their daily life or to travel to another town or country. In recent years steps have been made in the field of accessibility, development, but in this respect Hungary is still lagging behind. It will take several years to reach the level of Western European or Northern European countries in terms of being socially responsible and infrastructure-oriented. The increase in the average age of the earth's population, motorization (accidents) are also contributing to increase the number of people in this segment, so the development and existence of accessible tourism is becoming essential. In the light of the above, the study highlights the concepts and importance of accessibility, the actors of accessible tourism, its potential and beneficiaries. As we will see, apart from people with disabilities, accessibility affects more people than we would first think. It also has a greater potential, more visitors and more revenue for the economy of a given destination, so it becomes clear why we should invest in accessible tourism.
