Accessible tourism

The goal of accessible tourism is to create inclusivity of all including those traveling with children, people with disabilities, as well as seniors.

This allows those with access requirements to be able to function as an independent using products following the universal design principle, a variety of services, and different environments.

[4] With the rise of the independent living movement, seen in places such as Berkeley, California, it has also raised questions about the definition of the landscape and the people within it.

[14] In addition to the social and health benefits,[15] the market represents an opportunity for new investment and new service requirements, rarely provided by key players in the tourism sector.

[20] Today, Europe and the United States of America are home to the majority of the existing companies in the accessible tourism industry.

However, companies worldwide are starting to appear as the result of a growing need, largely driven by senior tourism, due to increasing life expectancy in developed countries.

The convention was designed to combat many of the challenges that people with disabilities face through legal protections of rights and freedoms, increased access to services that facilitate independent living, decreased discrimination and stigmatization, and raised awareness of disability-related issues.