The role of occupational therapy in accessible tourism

Abstract

Interdisciplinary research is critical in addressing societal concerns, yet tourism struggles to employ such research methods, despite claims to the contrary (Oviedo-García, 2016). Accessible tourism is one such area with disability an increasing concern for all areas of citizenship (WHO, 2011). The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (United Nations, 2006) recognises the rights of people with disabilities to access services from all areas of citizenship (Michopoulou et al., 2015). Vacations and business travel, meanwhile, are recognised as essential features of modern life and are linked to disability legislation, providing opportunities for people with disabilities to pursue quality of life, improving wellbeing, and preventing social exclusion (Kastenholz et al., 2015). Indeed, accessible tourism has become a popular topic among tourism scholars (McKercher & Darcy, 2018). However, access issues are common with scholars and practitioners alike failing to comprehend the needs of the wider disability spectrum (Bauer, 2018). Academically, the lack of interdisciplinary research explains this paucity of progress. For example, occupational therapists play a critical role in enabling people with disabilities to participate in activities of daily life (WFOT, 2020). The tourism literature has, however, noticeably neglected their role in delivering accessible tourism (aside see Darcy, 2004, 2006; Gallagher & Hull, 1996).