Inclusion of persons with disabilities and development of accessible tourism: Conceptual framework and challenges of application in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Lejla Žunić, Fikreta Žunić

Inclusion and accessible tourism strive to create equitable opportunities for all individuals in the tourism industry (travel, education, employment), including people with disabilities. Establishing an accessible environment requires the incorporation of elements related to accessible infrastructure, services, and products, as promoted in this paper. The aim is to identify accessibility components in tourism tailored to various disabilities, thus formulating a model for enhancing accessible destinations. This paper elaborates on the key features of accessible tourism and its positive global trends, including a case of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research highlights the multiplicative benefits and challenges related to accessible tourism, proposing a model for developing accessible infrastructure. The findings enhance the sustainable development of tourism and promote societal awareness regarding the needs of individuals with disabilities, particularly in terms of their involvement in travel experiences. The reform of inclusion within the tourism sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina (employment and education) will encourage innovative research aimed at assessing its implementation, along with the significant challenges due to the scarcity of data regarding the involvement of individuals with disabilities in tourism activities.