| dc.description.abstract | Although the provision of holidays for people with disabilities (PwD) and their families has been
mainstreamed within social care policies in recent years, such a concern has not been given ample
discussion in the tourism context. This investigation of the importance of accessibility factors from the
point of view of both the PwD and their family members may direct future improvements in tourism
destinations, with a special focus on the visually impaired group. It helps to provide an understanding of
the factors affecting the decision-making process while evaluating a destination. It is hoped that, through
recognising and raising awareness of equal travelling opportunities, PwD and their families will be
encouraged to undertake more tourism activities. Thus, with a focus on the visually impaired group in
Macao, this paper is an exploratory study that gathers insights from people with visual impairment and
their family members. By conducting a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews, the issues
discussed are organised in three themes, namely structural, intrapersonal, and interpersonal aspects. A
conceptual model is developed based on these themes, adding to it the perceived barriers that resulted
from the interviews. The results contribute to a better understanding of these two groups as consumers
in the tourism industry, leading to better enjoyment and more quality time at the destination. As
indicated in this paper, the public's tendency is mainly to focus on structural aspects and typically underestimates the beneficial effects of intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects. The implications of the
relationships among these three aspects can help tourism practitioners to acknowledge the most significant factors for better and more efficient resource management in tourism destinations. | vi |
