Perceptions of Disabled People on Public Transport as an Enabler of Inclusive Domestic Tourism in South Africa

Abstract

The article aims to investigate the perception of disabled people on the public transportation system as an enabler for their participation in domestic accessible tourism and leisure in South Africa. The principles of Grounded Theory guided the methodology to develop a theoretical framework inclusive/ accessible tourism and leisure directly from the collected data. Capability theory informed the study. In-depth interviews only gathered the views (voice) of persons with visible impairments. The data analysis was done using Creswell's qualitative analysis framework. Results revealed that public transport is still inaccessible, unaffordable, unsafe, and inconvenient to most disabled people. In addition, there is a need for improved access, empowerment, and agency of disabled people for effective participation in tourism and leisure. Respondents suggested mechanisms to improve disability-inclusive public transport systems. Obstructs should be reduced for public transport to enable accessible domestic tourism in South Africa. A theoretical framework for inclusive/accessible public transport to enable the effective participation of disabled people in inclusive/accessible domestic tourism and leisure was developed. The ONE Ride business model was developed for Access Human Solutions Pty Ltd’s Non-Profit Organisation named ONE Ride, funded by the South African Breweries Foundation and is at the pilot stage.

Keywords

• disability
• inclusive-public-transport
• visible-impairments
• one ride
• inclusive/accessible domestic tourism