Exploring travel-related perspectives and experiences of physical disability communities

Abstract

Despite the growing demand for accessible tourism, there remains a lack of research on the travel perspectives and experiences of people with disabilities. Social media platforms, such as Reddit, provide unique opportunities to understand the perspectives and experiences of people with disabilities. This study aimed to investigate travel-related perspectives and experiences of physical disability communities, including wheelchair, deaf, and blind communities, to provide implications for travel service providers and policymakers to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of travel services. Using structural topic modeling and network analysis, 12 prominent topics related to travel perspectives and experiences among physical disability communities were identified to map their relationships. Our study highlights the significance of understanding the unique perspectives, experiences, and needs of individuals with disabilities in the hospitality and tourism industry. It provides implications for improving the accessibility and inclusivity of travel services.