Introduction
Accessible domestic tourism entails making travel experiences at the local level accessible to all individuals, including Persons with disabilities (PWDs). This involves making certain that tourist destinations, accommodation, transportation, and activities are designed and equipped to accommodate all categories of people[i]. Just like other individuals, PWDs seek to engage in domestic tourism with their motivation being to socialize and spend time with family/friends, experience the healing power of nature, relax, and escape the busy lifestyles. PWDs comprise 2.2 per cent of the total population in Kenya, and this is too critical a proportion of the society to be excluded from domestic tourism.
Promoting accessible domestic tourism with respect to PWDs will expand the tourism market and boost tourism competitiveness, leading to an improvement in the overall quality of life of PWDs. Thus, it is necessary to provide PWDs with a conducive environment to engage in domestic tourism. This blog focuses on enhancing inclusivity of PWDs in the domestic tourism sector.
Status of PWDs Participation in Domestic Tourism
Universal access to tourism
Tourism agents have implemented initiatives that enhance accessible tourism for PWDs. For instance, efforts to promote beach tourism have been implemented to ensure that coastal destinations are accessible. Infrastructure improvements, including the development of wheelchair-accessible pathways and ramps, have been undertaken at popular beaches to facilitate easy mobility for PWDs. Additionally, the introduction of adaptive beach equipment, such as specialized wheelchairs designed for sandy terrains, has been done to provide those with mobility challenges the opportunity to fully enjoy the coastal environment. These measures contribute to making beach tourism in Kenya more accessible and inclusive for PWDs.
Cultural tourism
In the realm of cultural tourism, Kenya is working towards enhancing universal accessibility by adopting inclusive design principles in cultural sites and attractions. Efforts include the incorporation of features such as ramps and tactile signage to make historical and cultural landmarks more navigable for visitors with mobility or visual impairments. Cultural events and festivals are increasingly considering the needs of PWDs, with some events providing sign language interpreters and accessible seating arrangement. Collaborations with local communities and disability advocacy groups play a crucial role in shaping these initiatives, thereby ensuring that cultural tourism in Kenya becomes more accessible and enriching for everyone.
Adventure tourism
In the adventure tourism sector, Kenya is exploring ways to make adventurous activities more inclusive by adopting special packages and services. For instance, access to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Parks and reserves is free to all PWDs. This has greatly helped cut down the costs of taking part in adventure tourism by PWDs. The Nairobi National Park enhances accessibility to PWDs as their paths are barrier free, thus accessible to wheelchair users. Some adventure tour operators are offering adaptive adventure programmes designed for individuals with various abilities. This includes providing accessible equipment for activities such as hiking, zip-lining, and wildlife safaris. They also offer special packages and free offers to PWDs and their guardians while promoting their inclusivity campaigns.
Accessible Tourism Policy Context
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) advocates for nations to commit to promoting universal accessibility for PWDs. This involves ensuring equal access to physical environments, transportation, information, and communication technologies. The policy necessitates the identification and elimination of obstacles in buildings and public spaces, the implementation of accessibility standards, the provision of training and support services, including Braille signage, live assistance, and accessible information technologies. Such measures collectively enhance mobility and communication for PWDs, thereby fostering a more inclusive domestic tourism experience.
The Government of Kenya through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) seeks to promote a diverse and bottom-up job-creating tourism industry that supports affordable and independent travel. This is after the realization that tourist destinations offer very expensive occupancy packages to local tourists, and this locks out low-budget tourists. However, the aspect of universal accessibility by PWDs remains unpacked. This oversight on accessibility may inadvertently exclude a significant portion of the PWD population from enjoying these destinations.
In promoting domestic tourism among PWDs, the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2003 advocates for a disability-friendly environment to enable them have access to buildings, roads and other social amenities, assistive devices and other equipment to promote their mobility. The Act also requires Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) to adapt modifications and universal designs that are suitable for PWDs. Further, the 2018-2022 National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy requires that PWDs be empowered to participate in recreational activities while provisions for them are catered for in such environments.
The proposed Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2023 which has been tabled in Parliament, highlights that all private or public (National and County) institutions offering leisure and recreational facilities to its employees must do so in a manner that is accessible and sensitive to PWDs. The Bill advocates that PWDs should easily access tourism venues, recreational and sports facilities that are operated by the government.
Policy Gaps in PWDs Access to Domestic Tourism and Emerging Issues
Safety and assistive devices
Despite the efforts, safe mobility for PWDs is still very low in the country, and this impedes PWDs from safely and efficiently accessing tourist attraction sites. In instances where such safe modes of transport exist, PWDs incur an extra cost to use the facilities. This is because universal designs are expensive to buy in Kenya. PWDs with visual and hearing disabilities face communication challenges while engaging in domestic tourism. This is heightened by the lack of signage and subtitles for the hearing-impaired, and the lack of audio description and braille for the visually impaired in some tourist destinations. Most public transport lacks voice announcements, and this makes it difficult for PWDs to maneuver their way to attraction sites on their own. Some sites advertise that their attraction sites are PWD-friendly. However, this may not be the case and PWD parking spots may be taken over by other individuals, thereby disadvantaging PWDs further.
Limited skilled personnel to handle PWDs in tourism
There is still a challenge of limited skilled personnel to adequately serve the needs of PWDs in domestic tourism. Very few tourist destinations employ guides that can professionally handle PWDS. Despite Kenya Utalii College training 2100 individuals in tourism and hospitality programmes in the year 2022, only a limited number of the trainees can adequately cater to the needs of PWDs. Furthermore, trained guides may exist but lack the proper assistive technologies and equipment to enable them effectively handle PWDs. This shows that there is a skills gap in the tourism and hospitality curriculum despite the market being highly customer centered. Therefore, service providers and tourist attractions may lack adequate knowledge on the right facilities, technologies, and modifications needed to accommodate PWDs. In addition, some investors find it costly to include PWD amenities when the population of PWDs visiting them is very small.
There are several emerging issues surrounding accessible domestic tourism for PWDs For instance, emerging assistive technologies such as disability-friendly websites and virtual reality tourism can significantly enhance accessible tourism to PWDs. Health and wellness tourism also has the potential to cater for PWDs seeking nature-based therapy. Multi-generational travel that is growing in popularity also calls for the provision of facilities to support disabled family members and offer them an enjoyable travel experience.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Tourist destinations ought to promote accessibility and inclusivity, especially by providing products and services that accommodate PWDs. To tackle mobility issues, it is imperative to invest in infrastructure improvements such as accessible pathways, ramps, and transportation services. Collaboration between local authorities and disability advocacy groups will promote effective data collection and thus support proper monitoring and evaluation initiatives that will positively enhance the identification of priority areas for improvement, thereby ensuring that mobility solutions meet the diverse needs of PWDs. It is also important to offer specialized training programmes to tourism professionals targeting disability awareness and effective communication skills. This will contribute to the existence of skilled personnel equipped with knowledge and expertise needed to handle PWD tourists.
Tapping into the emerging issues in the tourism sector would also enhance accessible tourism for PWDs. For instance, providing mobility aids and incorporating assistive technologies would facilitate easy navigation and accessibility for PWD tourists. Furthermore, development of accessible wellness experiences, such as hydrotherapy facilities with wheelchair access, not only addresses mobility concerns but also promotes health and wellness tourism. Providing these interventions will promote multi-generational travel that incorporates PWDs and whose goal is to enhance inclusivity in all tourism aspects.
[i] United Nations World Tourism Organization, 2013
Authors: Eva Tangus– Young Professional, KIPPRA
Elizabeth Naududu, Young Professional, KIPPRA
