Inclusion, disability, an ageing population and tourism are increasingly important areas of study due to their implications for both tourism demand and supply. This book therefore sets out to explore and document the current theoretical approaches, foundations and issues in the study of accessible tourism. In drawing together the contributions to this volume the editors have applied broader social constructionist approaches to understanding the accessible tourism phenomena. Accessible tourism, as with any area of academic study is an evolving field of academic research and industry practice. As with other areas of tourism, the field is multidisciplinary, and is influenced by various disciplines including geography, disability studies, economics, public policy, psychology and marketing. "As one would expect from two scholars at the height of their academic abilities, Dimitrios Buhalis and Simon Darcy have delivered a timely and much needed contribution to the under-served area of accessible tourism. Harnessing the best conceptual developments on the topic, Accessible Tourism is a scholarly yet hugely readable collection and readily communicates the various contributors' passion for and command of their subject. This collection is a must have text for anyone engaged in the theory, practice and policy of accessible tourism and will be essential reading on undergraduate and postgraduate courses across a range of disciplines and fields. I cannot speak highly enough of this endeavour and I'm sure it will take accessible tourism and universal design debates into the mainstream of academic enquiry and industry practice." Professor Nigel Morgan, The Welsh Centre for Tourism Research, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, Wales

This volume presents an international selection of invited contributions on policy and best practice in accessible tourism, reflecting current practices across a range of destinations and business settings. It brings together global expertise in planning, design and management to inform and stimulate providers of travel, transport, accommodation, leisure and tourism services to serve guests with disabilities, seniors and the wider markets that require good accessibility. Accessible tourism is not only about providing access to people with disabilities but also addresses the creation of universally designed environments, services and information that can support people who may have temporary disabilities, families with young children, the ever-increasing ageing population, as well as creating safer work places for employees. The book gives ample evidence that accessible tourism organisations and destinations can expand their target markets as well as improve the quality of their service offering, leading to greater customer satisfaction, loyalty and expansion of business.

The contribution of tourism to create an inclusive society requires the adoption of new approaches and strategies that promote the accessibility of tourism destinations, allowing all people, regardless of their health condition, to enjoy tourism experiences. To accomplish this objective, it is of utmost relevance to promote the active involvement of all stakeholders of the tourism system (demand, supply, government entities, and educational institutions) in the creation of accessible and adapted tourism products. However, the scarce literature in this area suggests that the people working in the tourism industry are not usually aware of several needs and travel constraints of persons with disabilities and that the information delivered by traditional information sources to this market is frequently inadequate, inaccurate, or incomplete. Therefore, the information and communication technologies (ICTs) may have a crucial role to overcome the several travel constraints that these people face to plan and carry out a tourism trip as well as to enable supply agents to develop accessible tourism products. Despite this, although in recent years research regarding accessible tourism has increased, the number of studies on the contributions of ICTs for the development of accessible research is scarce. ICT Tools and Applications for Accessible Tourism provides theoretical and practical contributions for accessible tourism in the growing tourism market for social responsibility issues and as an excellent business opportunity. Chapters within this critical reference source cover the academic discussion of global accessible tourism, increased knowledge of disabilities, ICTs that can be used, and emerging technologies. This book is intended for all practitioners in the tourism industry along with IT specialists, government officials, policymakers, marketers, researchers, academicians, and students who are interested in the latest tools, technologies, and research on accessible tourism.

The growth of internet access and the entry of smartphones into everyday life has provided a revolutionary way for consumers to interact with businesses throughout the tourist industry. As a result, numerous companies are utilizing techniques and concepts designed to communicate directly with potential clientele all over the world. Digital Marketing Strategies for Tourism, Hospitality, and Airline Industries provides innovative insights into how digital marketing can influence the consumer relationship at every stage of the tourism process and features emerging tools and techniques to establish better connections with consumers. The content within this publication examines topics such as branding strategies, social media, and influencer marketing for maximum content exposure. This information is designed for marketing managers, executives, event planners, tour developers, hotel managers, airline managers, program directors, advertisers, restaurateurs, students, business professionals, and researchers.

This book explores the growing demand for accessible tourism experiences and demonstrates how the perspective of digital ecosystems can play a vital role in creating more inclusive destinations. Through a combination of conceptual arguments and real-world case studies, the book sheds light on the practical aspects of accessible tourism. Statistics reveal that over one billion people have severe or moderate disabilities, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced accessibility in tourism. However, both industry practices and academic research in this field are still lagging behind. The book highlights the challenge of establishing coordination among various stakeholders, including transport operators, hospitality firms, and public authorities, which has hindered the design and implementation of inclusive tourism experiences. By harnessing the power of new technologies, the book illustrates how digital ecosystems can effectively facilitate accessible tourism. It examines the demand for such experiences and demonstrates how embracing a digital ecosystem perspective can contribute to the development of more accessible tourism destinations. In addition to its theoretical insights, the book delves into several practical case studies that showcase successful examples of accessible tourism.

We have been witnessing huge competition among the organisations in the business world. Companies, NGO's and governments are looking for innovative ways to compete in the global tourism market. In the classical literature of business the main purpose is to make a profit. However, if purpose only focus on the profit it will not to be easy for them to achieve. Nowadays, it is more important for organisations to discover how to create a strong strategy in order to be more competitive in the marketplace. Increasingly, organisations have been using innovative approaches to strengthen their position. Innovative working enables organisations to make their position much more competitive and being much more value-orientated in the global tourism industry. In this book, we are pleased to present many papers from all over the world that discuss the impact of tourism business strategies from innovative perspectives. This book also will help practitioners and academician to extend their vision in the light of scientific approaches.

This comprehensive volume seeks out ways in which those who are typically marginalized by, or excluded from, tourism can be brought into the industry in ways that directly benefit them. It addresses the central questions asked by an inclusive tourism approach: Who is included? On what terms? With what significance? Tourism is often understood and experienced as an exclusive activity, accessible only to the relatively wealthy. This volume seeks to counter that tendency by exploring how marginalized groups can gain more control over tourism. The book starts by defining the concept of inclusive tourism and discussing seven different elements which might indicate inclusivity in tourism. Research from a wide range of geographical contexts – from Cambodia to Australia, Sweden, Turkey and Spain – have been drawn upon to illustrate the need for more inclusive tourism. The examples encompass the actions of a multinational tour operator, hotel owners, and social enterprises, while also examining how to ensure tourism is accessible for those with disabilities. Inclusive tourism is offered here as both an analytical concept and an aspirational ideal. The authors hope that this book inspires a restless quest to find ways to include new actors and new places in tourism on terms that are equitable and sustainable. The chapters were originally published as a special issue of the journal Tourism Georgraphies.