Everyone wants to live in a fair society - and be able to travel with ease. We figured out what inclusive tourism is and why it is important for everyone.
What is inclusion?
First, let’s understand what “inclusivity” or “inclusion” means. This is a principle of organizing life in society that allows all people to participate in its various aspects (everyday life, education, culture and art), regardless of their appearance, origin, gender, or state of health.
Inclusive tourism means that all travelers can enjoy tourism services without restrictions, independently of other people, on equal terms and with dignity. In particular, attention is paid to travelers with special accessibility needs. This may be accessibility in movement, visual and auditory accessibility. Accessibility means equal access to infrastructure, transport, information and communications. This is the definition of the World Tourism Organization.
The basic principle of inclusive tourism is universal design, that is, taking into account special needs and at the same time suitable for all categories of people.
What other names can you find?
In addition to “inclusive tourism,” you can also come across the following concepts (they all mean the same thing):
Tourism for all
Barrier-free tourism / tourism without barriers
Accessible tourism
Can you give me a couple of examples?
You've probably already come across many of these examples while traveling around Europe and the USA, when you easily get to the station with a huge suitcase, without stumbling on any curbs - because there are none on your way.
Other examples:
Information plates and signs are written in a clearly legible, contrasting font.
The width of the doors is no less than 85 cm, the thresholds are no more than 2 cm; to enter, you do not need to climb the steps. The width of city paths and alleys is at least 180 cm: this allows people to walk in different directions, as well as for a pedestrian and a person in a wheelchair to move side by side. Inclusive tourism means that the same paths are laid out to the beaches.
All necessary objects (for example, switches, handles, sockets) are no higher than 120 cm and no lower than 40 cm, so that they can be reached while standing or sitting.
You don't have to climb steps to get on a bus or train.
The spaces are well lit, with transitions between different spaces marked with contrasting colors and textures. Pedestrian crossings are clearly marked and have light and sound signals.
Accessibility of information: excursions in sign language, museums adapted for visually impaired or hearing impaired people.
More details in guidelines for inclusive tourism .
One more point: inclusive tourism is not only accessible and comfortable cities, but also a service that is ready to work with all people and their needs. People with disabilities may need additional services: for example, a veterinary service for guide dogs or repair services for prosthetics and equipment, adapted taxis.
Is this only important for people with disabilities?
With the development of inclusive tourism, traveling becomes easier for everyone. Benefits from universal design include:
People with disabilities and people with diseases of vision, hearing, musculoskeletal system;
Parents with children, pregnant women;
Elderly people;
Travelers who do not know a foreign language;
Travelers with heavy luggage.
So inclusive tourism will be useful to you now, not to mention when you retire - you’re not going to sit at home, are you?
Accessible tourism (accessibleTourism) or, as it is often called, tourism for all (tourismforall), is one of the most dynamically developing segments of the tourism market. There is practically no information about accessible tourism in Russian. There are also no expert studies of the capacity of the Russian accessible tourism market. In the Russian Federation, there are 13.074 million (Rosstat, 2009) disabled people and about 2 million disabled children, about 3 million patients with diabetes, about 15 thousand patients currently on hemodialysis. About half of disabled people with limited mobility (in wheelchairs) are young people under the age of 40. They take an active life position and learn new professions. Inclusive education will also bear fruit. Demand in the tourism market, accessible to all, will grow in the coming years.
According to the UN, there are about 650 million people with disabilities in the world (about 10%) (of which about 200 million are children with disabilities), in European countries people with disabilities make up from 22% to 37% of the population (Eurostat, 2007) - a total of 60 million.
And completely different statistics: in Moscow there are 32 thousand working disabled people. The call center on Ogorodny Proezd employs about 1,000 blind people. It is planned to open another such call center, almost twice as large. There are other projects to create jobs for people with disabilities, perhaps not so large-scale. In addition, many have family, friends, and everyone has a desire to discover something new and travel. “Don’t worry too much about my rights, pay attention to my wallet!”, advised the head of the Spanish Society of the Blind, Jesus Hernandez, to representatives of the tourism industry.
Disabled people travel less actively than other EU citizens: from 37% in the UK to 53% in Germany. Meanwhile, 11% of all tourist trips in Europe and 7% worldwide are made by travelers with special needs, most often in the company of family members or friends.
Over the past 10 years, experts have noted dynamic growth in this segment of the tourism market, although even abroad it is still difficult to call it massive. However, the demand for affordable tourism is growing all over the world, and is emerging in Russia.
The meaning of terms that define tourism for people with disabilities has been the subject of scientific debate for more than 20 years. In addition, the term “Tourism accessible to all” is enshrined in international regulations.
Experts cite fear and inevitable discomfort caused by limited mobility or cognitive abilities in people with visual and hearing impairments, as well as a narrow understanding of the term “accessible tourism” and confusion around this concept as one of the reasons for low demand.
On the Russian tourism market, you can find various offers for people with disabilities: “travel for the disabled,” “paratourism,” “disabled tourism,” “tourism for the disabled,” “tourism for the deaf,” “tourism for the blind,” “rehabilitation tourism,” “correctional and educational tourism”.
Often this also includes “social tourism” - travel subsidized by the state from funds allocated for social needs (Federal Law “On the Fundamentals of Tourism Activities in the Russian Federation” 132-FZ dated November 24, 1996)
The terms used abroad are “tourism for all”, “accessible tourism”, “inclusive tourism”, “barrier-free tourism”.
It is difficult to say which term will take root in Russia. Affordable tourism is often called low-budget tours, and inclusive tourism is a tourism product in which transport services are paid simultaneously with meals, accommodation and other tourist services - “all-inclusive”.
Potential consumers of this segment of the tourism market are not only disabled and elderly people, but also their guardians and members of their families, families with small children.
Inclusive tourism (fr. inclusif - including, lat. include - conclude, include) is a process of tourism development that implies the accessibility of tourism for everyone, in terms of adapting the infrastructure of tourist centers and tourist attractions to the various needs of all people, including , disabled people, the elderly, their guardians and family members, people with temporary disabilities, families with small children.
Inclusive tourism concept - traveling around the world. Its foundation is universal design, the seven principles of which were formulated and implemented more than 30 years ago under the leadership of wheelchair architect Ron Mace and colleagues at North Carolina State University. Universal design is also reflected in the legal acts of the Russian Federation - GOSTs, SNIPs, standards. An accessible environment created according to the principles of universal design is vital for 10% of the world's population, needed by 40% of the population and convenient for everyone.
Disabled tourism is a type of recreational tourism designed for people with disabilities.
I noticed an interesting poster on the wall.
A young man in a wheelchair was depicted against the backdrop of a modern airport. The poster read the affirmative title “Travel is everyone’s right.” This call or slogan has been floating around in my head for some time. And, indeed, I realized that there are so many interesting places in this world that I long to see and that are already ready and adapted for me - tourist in a wheelchair.
What should we call tourism for the disabled?
When I started delving into the topic tourism for people with disabilities, the first thing I realized was that I was confused in the terminology. Some call this type of tourism “social” or “tourism for everyone”, also heard the definition "invatourism", others call this type of tourism - "inclusive tourism".
Often "inclusive tourism“is confused with the tourist term “all inclusive” - “all inclusive”, I just want to draw your attention to the fact that not everything, but EVERYTHING without exception, including disabled tourists.
I have also heard the phrase used "rehabilitation" tourism, yes, I agree that tourism can be a good rehabilitation - both physical and moral, but I would not choose such a name, it’s somehow gloomy...
In Western sources about tourism for people with disabilities, the phrase “ accessible tourism", which translated into Russian means – "accessible tourism". I really like this definition. I don’t understand the phrase at all "disabled tourism", sounds somehow worn out, with a humiliating aftertaste.
"Affordable tourism",in the broadest sense, includes transport, information, and even financial.
Why develop tourism for disabled people?
I'm sure it's a niche accessible tourism should develop rapidly. And bring good profits to the owners of tourist centers and entertainment complexes.
Development and modernization can be financially and socially justified. If we ask anyone wheelchair user where he is resting, most likely we will hear the answer - “in a sanatorium”. Not because he wants to go there and this is his conscious choice of vacation, but there is simply no big alternative. Nowhere.
The same can be said for people with hearing and vision impairments who need slightly different accessibility. If for wheelchair user important – ramp, wide doors, then for – tactile directions, teflocomments, audio description.
Often when the whole family gets together on vacation, they first of all think “what to do with elderly family members, or with a relative who has a disability?” Leave me alone at home? No. Take it with you on a trip? No. The location and transport are not adapted.
There are not many accessible tourist complexes that can and are ready to accept.
I personally have been ignoring specialized sanatoriums for five years now. I don’t want to be treated like a patient and have the notorious “medical history.” I want to rest and gain new strength and impressions, and not savor the diagnosis. When and where I should undergo treatment or rest, I want to decide for myself.
And not when the state deigns to give me a ticket to a sanatorium, and often at the wrong time for this.
Is it available?
To be fair, it must be said that financial accessibility also plays an important role in the topic of accessible tourism. Most hotels in the four or five star categories have long had . This is a condition of the tourism market in assigning a “star” rating to a hotel. But are they financially accessible to most people with disabilities? I can confidently say “no”. in the world-famous Radisson Blu hotel chain in Kyiv costs neither more nor less - about 300 euros per night.
Yes, there is something to think about...
And away from home, you also want to feel comfortable and be independent of other people.
Last year I managed to visit several European countries. For me tourism– this is a contribution to my self-development and to the quality of my life. This is my personal way to meet interesting people and get to know myself better, enjoy new tastes and smells. After every trip I come home refreshed. I want to believe that I am wiser and more patient. And I really want to repeat the call from that poster again “Travel is everyone’s right”. And mine too. 🙂
Yulia Shilkina
CEO of WELL
Tourism for people with disabilities - problems and prospects
How acute is the problem of tourism for people with disabilities in Russia? Are there many companies involved in such travel?
In Russia, according to statistical data, there are more than 15 million people with varying degrees of disability. Up to 70% of them would like to travel, both within Russia and to other countries. 30% of disabled people have sufficient income for this. However, only 3% of disabled people can afford to travel independently, about 7% travel with the help of relatives. Others who wish to travel cannot use this service. Why? Due to the inaccessibility of the environment and, most importantly, because tour operators and travel agencies cannot offer a tourism product due to its lack of availability for this category of citizens.
How is the situation in Europe?
According to experts in Europe, 70% of the total number of people with disabilities travel, and most of these people travel not alone, but with accompanying persons.
The demand for “accessible tourism” (accessible tourism is a term most often used in relation to tourism for people with disabilities) is constantly growing, and global experience shows that tourists with limited mobility occupy an important segment of the tourism market. Due to growing demand, tourism products and services are being updated. Thus, a new target group is being formed in the global tourism industry - tourists with disabilities.
Why, in your opinion, is the situation in Russia radically different?
Unfortunately, in Russia there is no appropriate legislative framework, a comprehensive social tourism program at the federal level, and there is no lack of an integrated approach to solving this problem. Attempts to reduce accessible tourism to a simple set of excursion tours or spontaneous trips for disabled people on the principle of “rescuing drowning people...”. The inaccessibility of the entire medical, socio-cultural environment, the inadequacy of transport, the unpreparedness of employees of cultural, educational and tourism institutions to work with people with disabilities, the limited information about the product, countries, regions and their capabilities to receive people with disabilities also have an impact. However, the lack of desire on the part of most travel companies to deal with the problems of social tourism due to its greater cost, greater responsibility and requirement for non-standard approaches and solutions also influences it.
However, are there prerequisites for the development of this type of tourism?
Undoubtedly. Now the policies of many states are aimed at creating new living conditions for people with disabilities, at changing the attitude of society as a whole towards the problem of disability. In addition, it should be understood that this is a huge, practically untapped market of a clearly segmented consumer of tourism services (in Russia there are already more than 15 million people). What is also important is the desire of the disabled themselves to “break out” of personal and social isolation, to see the world, to overcome their own fears and insecurities (this desire is so great that disabled people are ready to pay for their trips and excursions themselves, despite the sometimes extremely difficult financial situation).
What needs and problems arise during travel?
“Need does not always mean impediment”, which in most cases with tourists with special needs means providing services and facilities that best meet their needs. Considering that 84% of tourists with special needs declare only one need, 10% have at least two and less than 5% of them have at least three, a detailed analysis of the needs declared by tourists with special needs gives the classification below stated needs:
the most common need is special food, stated by 43% of tourists with special needs;
the need for an allergy-free/hypoallergenic environment was expressed by 37% of tourists with special needs;
the need to visit a doctor and receive medical care was expressed by 29% of tourists with special needs;
the number of tourists with special needs who stated the need for assistance in moving was 8% of tourists with special needs;
special needs related to sensory limitations were expressed by 3% of tourists with special needs
- What are the requirements for organizing tours for people with disabilities (for hotels, transport, infrastructure, etc.)?
Requirements (for us these are “wishes” for now) regarding accessibility for blind and visually impaired travelers:
1. Before entering the building, it is recommended to lay tactile strips:
- guides (with longitudinal reefs, 0.4 m wide. The length of the tactile guide strip depends on the length of the path of movement of disabled people);
- warning (with hemispherical reefs; 0.8 m wide, placed no less than 0.8 m before the start of the entrance).
2. The first and last steps of the porch should be marked with a contrasting stripe (preferably bright yellow).
3. The entrance porch, with a height of 0.45 m and higher above ground level, must be equipped with fences and handrails and have two levels in height 0.7 m and 0.9 m with non-traumatic endings, as a rule, connecting the upper and bottom handrail. The ends of the handrails must have a horizontal component of at least 0.3 m.
4. Entrance doors must be at least 900 mm clear in width. A tactile warning strip must be installed in front of the front door.
5. Thresholds at the entrance doors, as well as other doors along the route, must be no more than 0.025 m high. If it is impossible to ensure such a height, mini-ramps 0.9 m wide are installed with a slope in the proportion of height to length 1: 12.
6. The flight of stairs from the entrance vestibule to the elevator hall must be equipped with two-level railings with non-traumatic ends at a height of 0.7 and 0.9 m, which are attached either to the wall or to the steps of the flight of stairs. The first and last steps of a flight of stairs are marked with a contrasting stripe.
7. After finishing a flight of stairs, it is recommended to install a tactile guide strip before entering the elevator, and a warning strip before entering the elevator. There is duplicate sound information in the elevator.
8. Special relief copies of excursion objects
REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANIZING TOURS FOR DISABLED WHEELCHAIRS:
1. The width of all doors must be at least 80 cm (especially pay attention to toilet rooms).
2. The toilet is located at a height of at least 50 cm (if this is not possible, sanitary wheelchairs are required); near the toilet there are folding grab bars.
3. The best option for a bathroom is a shower, it should be flexible and installed at a certain height. It would also be nice to have a special seat in the shower (bathroom).
4. Bed height - no lower than 45 cm and no higher than 80 cm. A convenient option is 50 cm.
5. There should be no thresholds in the rooms.
6. For a beach holiday, a firm descent into the sea is required and the path is equipped with handrails. To make it easier for a wheelchair user to enter (enter) the sea, special beach strollers are required.
7. For the convenience of travelers, we recommend:
- to conduct excursions and provide transfers, a bus/minibus with a lift is required;
- presence of trace. information: the possibility of transporting a person in a wheelchair inside the bus, how many people can travel in this way on the bus; Are there buses with removable seats?
- availability of rental products such as electric wheelchairs, telescopic ramps;
- the presence of volunteers (special staff) at hotels and/or a program to support disabled people traveling with volunteers.
