Queer Destinations’ Post

The rise of female guides is reshaping tourism in Bhutan

🌟Developments in accessible tourism 🌟 UNWTO launches "San Marino Action Agenda" for accessible tourism for all 🤝 International collaboration for #inclusivity: Commitment of countries like San Marino, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Uzbekistan, Czechia, and Israel to advancing #accessibility through policies, strategies, and standards. 🚀 San Marino Action Agenda 2030: Need for a clear action plan for disability inclusion across the entire tourism sector. Recognized as a game changer, the Action Agenda commits stakeholders to concrete results, including advancing training, developing measurement systems, increasing industry #awareness, and aligning #marketing strategies. The goal is to mainstream accessibility in product development and decision-making processes. 🌐 Untapped opportunities and economic benefits: Despite the market potential of 1.3 billion people with significant disabilities in 2023, accessibility is not universally recognized as a game changer. There is a need to tap into this growing market by offering tourism experiences in the spirit of Universal Design. The economic benefits of better access are high, especially considering the significant demographic shift with 1 in 6 persons expected to reach 65 by 2050. 🌈Towards a more inclusive future: Need for a strong #commitment to #disability inclusion and the #Sustainable Development Goals. ⭕ The San Marino Action Agenda is poised to be a transformative force, showcasing best practices in a Compendium published by #UNWTO in collaboration with AccessibleEU and ENAT in 2024. Ongoing research on accessibility in culture and nature-based tourism, digital solutions, and other best practices will further contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable tourism sector. #AccessibleTourism #InclusiveTravel #UNWTOSanMarino2023 #tourism #sustainability #sdgs #universaldesign

"Accessible tourism is not just a matter of convenience; it's a matter of equality and inclusivity." As the number of people with disabilities continues to rise, the necessity of accessible tourism becomes increasingly evident. Yet, despite the growing awareness, there remains a significant gap in the travel and accommodation sector when it comes to catering to the needs of people with disabilities. The importance of accessible tourism cannot be overstated. It's not just about making travel easier for people with disabilities; it's about recognizing their inherent value as individuals and ensuring that they have the same opportunities to explore and enjoy the world as everyone else. By prioritizing accessibility, we not only create a more inclusive society but also unlock the economic potential of a diverse and vibrant tourism industry.

Tahiti is not just for honeymooners 🐚 "At the heart of the strategy 2023-2027" says Jean-Marc Mocellin, Ceo of Tahiti Tourisme, "is responsible tourism that meets the standards set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, based on development that maximises socio-economic benefits and minimises negative impact, preserving cultural heritage, the environment and biodiversity. We focus on all market segments: Lgbtq tourism, nautical tourism, scubadiving, staying in prestigious villas or holiday homes. We want to maintain our connotation as a destination away from mass tourism." 2023 was a record year for Tahiti and the islands, with 261,813 arrivals, surpassing the previous record of 236,642 in 2019, marking a 20% growth over 2022 and 11% over 2019. Qualitytravel ✒️ Roberta Nicosia #tahititourisme #tahiti #frenchpolynesia #tourism #travel #destination #strategy

According to data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the tourism industry is characterized by having a workforce where women represent 54%, exceeding the global average in other sectors

🌟 Discover LGBTQ-Friendly Travel Destinations! 🌟 At Spotlight, we believe in celebrating diversity and inclusivity in every aspect of life, including travel. National Geographic recently highlighted some must-see LGBTQ-friendly destinations that cater to every kind of traveler. Here are some of our picks from this guide and other sources: 📍 Cape Town, South Africa - Known for its stunning landscapes and inclusive vibe, Cape Town is a haven for LGBTQ travelers. Don’t miss Steenberg Farm, the first winery in South Africa to join the International LGBTQ Travel Association. 📍 Toronto, Canada - This city is renowned for its LGBTQ-friendly policies and vibrant community events, including the famous Toronto Pride festival. 📍 Amsterdam, the Netherlands - With its rich history of LGBTQ rights and thriving queer culture, Amsterdam remains a top destination. The city is home to numerous LGBTQ-friendly bars, clubs, and cultural landmarks. 📍 Reykjavik, Iceland - Known for its welcoming locals and spectacular natural beauty, Reykjavik offers a safe and inclusive environment for all travelers. 📍 Madrid, Spain - Famous for its lively LGBTQ nightlife and events like Madrid Pride, the city embraces diversity with open arms. Exploring these destinations not only enriches your travel experiences but also supports global inclusivity. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or vibrant nightlife, there’s a perfect spot waiting for you. 🌈✈️ For more travel tips, check out the full article by National Geographic: https://lnkd.in/ebtx_ejE #LGBTQTravel #InclusiveTravel #SpotlightMagazine #TravelWithPride --- Interested in how travel influences societal change? Consider how destinations with strong LGBTQ-friendly policies can impact local economies and cultural perceptions. 🌐 Economic Impact: The LGBTQ travel market is substantial, with an estimated global spending power of $3.9 trillion. This economic influence encourages more destinations to adopt inclusive policies and practices. 🌐 Cultural Exchange: Traveling to LGBTQ-friendly places facilitates cultural exchange and understanding, nurturing a global community of acceptance and diversity. 👉 Want more interesting insights? Sign up to the Spotlight monthly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eRQ7_SHv

From conceptualisation to seeing the light of publication, this paper has taken us over 5 years to get to this finish line. Through various iterations, submissions and rejections we pressed on. At many points along the road I was ready to throw in the towel and count our sunken costs. I am grateful to my co-author Seonyoung Kim who kept us motivated and showed we had the capability (pun intended) to get this important research out to the world. We are therefore delighted to share with you the fruits of our labour in this publication on rethinking accessible tourism research in the light of Amartya Sen’s capability approach. In this paper, we highlight the relevance of the capability approach, in particular, the concepts of functionings and capabilities, to accessible tourism, and demonstrate how this approach can enrich our conceptualization of accessible tourism and contribute to the theoretical advancement of the field. We show how integrating the capability approach into accessible tourism research allows us to see and undo the dominant ableist discourse. This is accomplished by promoting new accessible tourism research inquiries that are more participatory and inclusive. Our analysis also identifies the ways in which the capability approach gives prominence to people with disabilities’ (PWD) choices and agency in translating the opportunity to travel (capability) to the act of travelling (functioning). Thus, a positive agency-based starting point is afforded to accessible tourism research through the capability approach in which PwD are seen as active in exercising their choices and agency based on their diverse motivations, interests, and preferences. The article is Open Access and freely available to download. It is accessible (pun intended) through this link and below… https://lnkd.in/evMFPn9G #accessibletourism #capabilityapproach #tourism #design4all #disabilityinclusion #functionings #travelaccess #accessforall #inclusion #diversityequityinclusion

American lecturer Ellen Stohl learned more about #accessible and #inclusive travel options in #Greece during a fam trip organized by the Greek tourism board. Greek National Tourism Organisation #VisitGreece #travel #tourism #greektourism #greektravel #tourisminsdustry #reducedmobility #accessibility #accessibletourism #inclusivetravel #disabilities #accessiblebeaches

Dubai recently hosted the Accessible Travel and Tourism International Conference and we were thrilled to organize two #workshops related to air transport #accessibility. One of the workshops focused on #mobility assistance services, with a particular emphasis on reducing the number of #wheelchair #assistance for those passengers who do not have a mobility disability or may require a different type of assistance in navigating busy airports. We gained valuable insights from the workshop and here are some key #takeaways: ♿ Understanding customers' needs is key. Maybe they don't want to sit in a #wheelchair, or #elderly passengers only need navigation support. ♿ Informing passengers with #disabilities through plain language communication is crucial. ♿ It's important to understand the #regulations and whether they 'really' mandate a wheelchair for all assistance requests. ♿ Framing #airlines and #airport constraints is essential. How can we work together to offer different #solutions rather than relying on wheelchairs as a one-size-fits-all solution? ♿ Regulators can set up #advisory boards rather than just regulating and find feasible #steps that work for customers with disabilities and operators such as #airlines. ♿ Our #industry is committed to making air travel more #accessible and everyone should participate by doing its little piece. Responsibility for accessibility provisions should be #shared appropriately across the value chain, the regulators, and the #public sector. We're grateful to fellow speakers: MARK DE LAURENTIIS, Xavier Mascarell, Mouza Rumaihi, Conor Halpin, Hilal Kahraman, and Eric Lipp who brought in their valuable insights. A huge thanks to the organizers Ghassan Suleiman Amhaz, and Ditas Pascual for hosting the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and last but not least, the best master of ceremony ever, my brilliant colleague Iman El-Asady. #accessibletravel #airtransport #disabilityinclusion #FlyInclusive INCLAVI (INCLusive AVIation) https://lnkd.in/ebSasSr5