Accessible tourism

There are more than one billion international tourists a year. A high percentage of these tourists are families that have among them a child or a person with a disability. Tourism destinations must pay attention to the fact that these people have their own particular needs and conditions, so comprehensive measures must be taken for these people to access tourism destinations. This report addresses a concept called "accessible tourism" which is composed of three principles: access, sustainability, and fair participation for all. These three principles increase the quality of tourism destinations and raise their competitiveness. The concept of "accessible tourism" means adapting the environment, services, and tourism products in such a way that all people can access them and use them and enjoy them.

People who have disabilities constitute 15 percent of the world's population. In addition, many people of older ages have a fixed income and, on the other hand, have more leisure time. As a result this group has a demand for services that make traveling easier for them. In 2000 the share of people over 60 years of age was 11 percent, which in 2050 will double and will reach 22 percent. This 22 percent represents 2 billion people and 2 billion opportunities for the tourism sector.