Traveling with special needs: investigating constraints and negotiation strategies for engaging in tourism activities
Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights
ISSN: 2514-9792
Article publication date: 23 May 2023
Issue publication date: 30 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to identify the travel constraints of people with special needs (PwSN) and the strategies used to overcome them. The article also intends to analyze the differences in travel constraints and negotiation strategies according to the type of disability and/or special need.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative study was conducted in which a sample of PwSN (people with disabilities – mobility, sensory and cognitive – seniors and people with food allergies) were interviewed in depth.
Findings
PwSN face a wide range of constraints when engaging in tourism activities. These constraints are very diverse and influence people with different intensity and have to be overcome using different negotiation strategies. However, differences in the constraints were observed according to the type of special needs.
Practical implications
One of the most significant practical implications of this research is the need for raising awareness regarding human diversity among tourism stakeholders. It is critical to link sectoral policies that are reflected in the social and business reality, creating public–private partnerships to raise the sharing of knowledge, equipment and services. By addressing the constraints that prevent PwSN from traveling, the tourism sector can create more opportunities for them to participate in social activities, improving their quality of life and contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive industry.
Originality/value
Traveling can present significant challenges for people with special needs, which affect the quality of their tourism experience. Despite growing academic attention to this issue in recent years, research in this field has primarily focused on specific aspects of disability. This study seeks not only to identify the barriers to travel faced by people with different special needs but also to explore the negotiation strategies used to overcome these barriers and the differences according to the type of special need.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the project ACTION–Accessible Tourism: Co-Creation of Tourism Experiences Through Web-Based Intelligent Systems, funded by FEDER, through COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030376), and by national funds (OE), through FCT/MCTES (PTDC/EGE-OGE/30376/2017).
Citation
Devile, E.L., Eusébio, C. and Moura, A. (2024), "Traveling with special needs: investigating constraints and negotiation strategies for engaging in tourism activities", Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 820-843. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-09-2022-0410
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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