Call for Papers on Accessibility and Inclusion for Themed Issue of "Tourism Review"

Following the success of the 3rd World Summit on Accessible Tourism: A New Global Agenda for Accessible Tourism in Torino, Italy, Tourism Review, the oldest and most established journal in tourism (Emerald Publishing), is delighted to announce a Themed Issue dedicated to Accessible Tourism, coordinated by Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Bournemouth University and Dr. Ivor Ambrose, European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT)..

It will bring together leading work on policy, technology, design, management, and lived experience of visitors that make destinations, transport, and hospitality truly inclusive for all travellers — including persons with disabilities, older adults, and those with temporary or situational access needs.

Accessible Tourism Research and Development

Accessible Tourism represents a human right and a powerful driver of social innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability worldwide. This Tourism Review Themed Issue will explore the multiple dimensions of accessibility in tourism and hospitality, focusing on policy frameworks, technology, design, management, and visitor experience. The collection will include new articles and feature a curated selection of influential papers previously published in Tourism Review that have shaped the evolution of accessible tourism research.

A new editorial commentary will reflect on progress, challenges, and the emerging opportunities for accessible tourism worldwide. It will serve as both a scholarly reflection on the progress achieved so far and a roadmap for the next generation of actors and stakehilders in inclusive tourism development.

Key Themes and Toipics

Submissions and curated works will address — but are not limited to — the following themes:

• Tourism Policy, Governance, and Rights-Based Approaches
• Alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Tourism and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
• Inclusive Design and Innovation
• Types of disability and travel – including invisible disabilities
• The lived experiences of travellers with disabilities and access needs
• Voices and experiences of people with disability
• Meeting the needs of diverse travellers
• Accessible infrastructure and design for all towards enabling environments
• Creative service design that eliminate barriers and enhance travel experiences for all
• Application of universal design principles for destinations and tourism facilities
• Technology and Smart Tourism for Accessibility
• The transformative role of digitalisation
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and accessible tourism
• Assistive technologies towards enabling accessible tourism
• Metaverse/VR contribution to enabling inclusive and personalised tourism experiences
• Destination Management and Accessibility
• Integration of accessibility into destination planning, governance, and marketing strategies
• Tools, frameworks, and evaluation systems for accessible destinations
• Fostering competitiveness, inclusion, and social responsibility
• Hospitality, Transport, and Service Accessibility Experience
• Developing inclusive practices across hospitality operations, mobility systems, and service delivery
• Measurement, Standards, and Certification for accessible tourism
• Assessing, benchmarking, and improving accessibility across the tourism value chain
• Social Inclusion and Cultural Perspectives
• Cross-cultural dimensions and community inclusion empowerment
• Frameworks that promote accessibility as a cornerstone of sustainable and responsible tourism
• Accessible Tourism Business and Marketing 

Timeline

1st Announcement: October 2025 
Deadline for paper submission: 1st April 2026 
Publication of Themed Issue: 2027

Full details of the Call:  

Submit your paper on https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/tr, including the word “accessible” or “Accessibility” in the title.