Special Issue: The Future of Accessible Tourism. Journal of Tourism Futures

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This special issue is designed to examine the intersection of disability and tourism that has seen the development of the emerging field of Accessible Tourism. Abstracts are invited exploring current theoretical approaches, foundations and issues in the study of Accessible Tourism from a futures perspective.

Journal of Tourism Futures logoSpecial Issue: The Future of Accessible Tourism

Journal of Tourism Futures

Guest editors:

Dr. Eleni (Elina) Michopoulou, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Prof. D. Buhalis, Bournemouth University, United Kingdom
Prof. S. Darcy, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
Mr. Ivor Ambrose, European Network for Accessible Tourism, Belgium & Greece

Purpose

This special issue is designed to examine the intersection of disability and tourism that has seen the development of the emerging field of Accessible Tourism. The Special Issue will explore current theoretical approaches, foundations and issues in the study of Accessible Tourism from a futures perspective. Accessible Tourism, as with any area of academic study is an evolving field of academic research and industry practice set within a dynamic social context. As with other areas of tourism, the field is interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary, and is influenced by geography, ageing and disability studies, economics, public policy, psychology, law, architecture, construction sciences, technology and marketing. Past research has attempted to view, explain and unpack the inherent complexities within Accessible Tourism through a variety of lenses, including human rights, embodiment, segmentation, and universal design, to name a few.

The Special Issue is timely given the operationalisation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by 150 countries and the need to incorporate the right to access transport and tourism within the articles of the convention. It is therefore pertinent to look at the future of Accessible Tourism and contemplate a number of issues including (but not limited to) the role of technology in reshaping disability; if and how policy makers and planners are addressing the impact of Accessible Tourism in a sustainable manner; the political influence of people with disabilities, who make up the largest minority group in the USA, on the future of tourism; the science fiction of exoskeletons and gene therapy as new forms of adventure tourism, and the future state of embodied identity and Accessible Tourism.

The Special Issue provides the opportunity for contributors to take part in the current discourses on Accessible Tourism from a futures perspective, in order that we can understand, manage and contribute to the development of Accessible Tourism in the context of economically, socially and environmentally sustainable communities.

Specific topics we invite you to provide submissions on:
Conceptual and research papers, viewpoints, and trend papers, both qualitative and quantitative discussing and researching topics relating to the Future of Accessible Tourism are invited for submission. Interdisciplinary approaches are particularly welcome. Papers can fall under one or more of the following indicative areas:

  • Inclusive Destinations
  • Accessible Tourism in Development Planning (beyond the Millennium Development Goals)
  • Policy-making for Accessible Tourism
  • Embodiment, Representation
  • Law and Legislation
  • Architecture and Universal Design
  • Inclusion /Exclusion from Experiences
  • Markets and Needs Analysis
  • Accessible Transport
  • Accessible Events
  • Accessibility and Culture/Heritage
  • Accessible Accommodation
  • Education /Training
  • Technology and Applications

Whatever your special topic, all submissions must emphasise the future, and papers that use a futures methodology i.e., scenario planning, trends analysis etc are encouraged.

Important dates

Submission of Abstract: 10th November 2014
Submission of Papers: 1st April 2015
Final versions of accepted papers: 30th July 2015

Submission guidelines:
Please submit an outline abstract of no more than 350 words by 10th November 2014 to Eleni Michopoulou at e.michopoulou@derby.ac.uk outlining the following:
- Title of the proposed paper
- Contributing authors and contact details
- Significance and importance of the research from a futures perspective
- Summary of key concepts, research framework and research methodology

Please include an email header: Special Issue – Future of Accessible Tourism - Journal of Tourism Futures

More details on the aims, objectives and forms of contributions can be found at http://www.etfi.eu/jtf

Download the text of this Call for Abstracts in PDF format from the right-hand panel.