How the Tourism Industry Can Include Disabled Travelers

Author: Edith Cowan University
Published: 8 Feb 2023 - Updated: 4 Sep 2026
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed | Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This research examines how the tourism industry can accommodate travelers who are often left out - people with disabilities, chronic health conditions, and the growing number of older adults - and it draws on a cross-disciplinary project from Edith Cowan University that brought together the School of Business and Law and the Centre for Precision Health. This peer-reviewed work, connected to the study Travel Medicine in Hospitality: An Interdisciplinary Perspective in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, notes that the World Health Organization estimates around 20 percent of the world's population lives with a non-communicable chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or a mental disorder, conditions that can make travel difficult enough that some people skip holidays altogether. It matters to tourists, travel planners, and policymakers because the researchers argue that catering to vulnerable travelers is essential to the industry's long-term survival as well as to individual wellbeing, and it introduces the concept of "travel therapy," which treats tourism itself as a way to support mental health. The guidance is useful to disabled people, seniors, and their caregivers because it sets out concrete measures - staff training, standardized service manuals, accessible infrastructure, emergency and first-aid provisions, caregiver allowances, and virtual travel products - that make destinations reachable for those who might otherwise stay home.*

At a Glance

• 1 - The World Health Organization estimates that 20 percent of the world's population lives with a non-communicable chronic disease. These include diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and mental disorders.
• 2 - The research introduces the concept of travel therapy, which treats tourism as a way to improve mental health and wellbeing. It emerged from collaboration between ECU's School of Business and Law and its Centre for Precision Health.
• 3 - Researchers suggest changes across the whole tourism chain, covering food, accommodation, transportation, travel, shopping, and entertainment. These strategies also include allowances for caregivers who may need to accompany travelers.
• 4 - With an aging global population, more travelers will face challenges such as dementia and physical limitations, alongside rising diagnoses of depression and anxiety. Researchers argue that accommodating these vulnerable travelers is essential to the industry's own survival, not just their welfare.

Topic Definition

Tourism

Tourism is travel undertaken for pleasure or business, along with the theory and practice of touring and the commercial activity of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining visitors and operating tours. The World Tourism Organization frames it more broadly than holidays alone, describing tourism as people traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for no more than one consecutive year, and for at least 24 hours, whether for leisure, business, or other purposes. In an accessible tourism context, the term also carries the expectation that these travel experiences are reachable and welcoming for people with disabilities, chronic health conditions, and the needs that come with an aging population.

Overview

Travel Medicine in Hospitality: An Interdisciplinary Perspective - International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management

Can I come, too?

How tourism can include people whose health conditions usually keep them at home. Around 20 percent of the world's population suffers from chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or mental disorders - a group of people the travel industry needs to accommodate.

Following the disruption of COVID-19, the global tourism industry has largely opened up again; however, traveling remains a serious challenge for a large group of people.

The World Health Organization estimates 20 percent of the world's population suffers from non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or mental disorders.

These conditions can make traveling difficult; some people may even avoid taking holidays altogether.

A cross-disciplinary research project from Edith Cowan University has highlighted the impacts this decision can have on people with these health challenges and outlined the future repercussions for the industry.

Through collaboration between ECU's School of Business and Law and its Centre for Precision Health, the project has put forth the concept of 'travel therapy,' which sees tourism as a means of improving mental health and wellbeing.

Researcher Dr. Jun Wen said it is vital the tourism industry catered more to vulnerable people with physical or psychological disorders, a market he described as important but too often overlooked.

"Most can travel but remain vulnerable during trips and need intensive services," he said.

"The world has an aging population, so there will be more and more people dealing with the challenges that bring, like dementia, physical limitations, and so on."

"There are also more people being diagnosed with mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety."

"Tourism needs to be able to accommodate vulnerable travelers such as these for the industry's survival - but also because health is important and as our previous work has shown, tourism can help support health."

What the Industry Can Do

Dr. Wen said numerous initiatives could make destinations more accessible for vulnerable people.

Strategies could be implemented throughout the tourism industry chain (food, accommodation, transportation, travel, shopping, and entertainment). They could include considerations or allowances for caregivers who may need to accompany travelers.

Dr. Wen said education was critical.

"Staff and stakeholders need training to be made aware of vulnerable travelers' needs and demands," he said.

"This can include developing manuals to standardize services for vulnerable travelers, enhancing accessible infrastructure, and equipping professional emergency and care facilities appropriately, such as with first-aid tools."

"The industry can also customize services for different traveler segments, such as people with dementia, depression, or anxiety."

Dr. Wen said technological advances could also play a great role in bringing the benefits of tourism to more people.

"Not everyone can take physical trips," he said.

"The tourism industry should develop virtual products that enable all travelers to be present in a destination and to enjoy fun and health-related benefits."

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

What is accessible tourism

Accessible tourism is an approach to travel that removes barriers so that people with disabilities, older travelers, and those with health conditions can use transport, accommodation, attractions, and services on an equal basis.

What is the difference between accessible tourism and inclusive tourism

Accessible tourism focuses mainly on removing physical and service barriers, while inclusive tourism is a broader idea that also aims to make every traveler feel welcome and fairly served regardless of their circumstances.

How can travelers with chronic conditions prepare for a trip

They can consult their doctor before departure, carry medication and medical records, research the accessibility of destinations and accommodation in advance, and arrange travel insurance that covers their condition.

What role does virtual tourism play for people who cannot travel

Virtual tourism uses technology to let people experience a destination remotely, offering some of the enjoyment and wellbeing benefits of travel to those who are unable to make physical trips.

Why is the aging population important to the tourism industry

As populations age, more travelers will have mobility limitations, dementia, or other conditions, so destinations and operators that plan for these needs can serve a large and growing market.

How can caregivers be supported when traveling with someone who needs assistance

Support can include allowances for a caregiver to accompany the traveler, staff trained in their needs, accessible facilities, and clear information about medical and emergency services at the destination.

What kind of staff training helps vulnerable travelers

Training that raises awareness of vulnerable travelers' needs, standardizes services through manuals, and prepares staff to use accessible infrastructure and emergency or first-aid resources is most helpful.

Can travel actually improve mental health and wellbeing

Research suggests that travel can support mental health and wellbeing, which is the basis of the travel therapy concept that positions tourism as a means of improving how people feel.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: What gives this work weight is its practical framing: rather than treating accessibility as a single fix, the researchers spread responsibility across the entire tourism chain - food, accommodation, transportation, travel, shopping, and entertainment - so that no single link becomes the point where a vulnerable traveler is turned away. Lead researcher Dr. Jun Wen makes the case that most people in this group can travel but stay vulnerable during trips and need intensive services, a reality that will only grow as populations age and as more people are diagnosed with conditions like dementia, depression, and anxiety. For families, carers, and the businesses that serve them, the takeaway is that customized services and virtual tourism options are not charity but sound strategy, since a large and expanding share of potential customers is being overlooked, and the same measures that help disabled and older travelers tend to raise the standard of service for everyone.*

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Edith Cowan University and published on 8 Feb 2023, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.