Abstract
Enforcement of amendment to the Uniform Building By-Law in Section 34A and Persons with Disability Act 2008 has elevated accessibility needs for physically challenged persons to mainstream development in Malaysia especially tourism industry. It is parallel to regional resolution and convention reiterating accessible tourism in the industry whilst achieve ‘Inclusive, barrier free and right based’ society. Accessibility has been further intensified within heritage buildings to benchmark high quality of tourism industry and importantly promotes social equality. In fact heritage tourism has been another gateway to elaborate fundamental accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in all aspects. Legislative framework has yet encapsulated both approaches comprehensively especially deficiency in provision of statutory requirements. There is lack of supportive guideline to address gaps between National Heritage Act and Persons with Disabilities Act. In this regards, current practice has shown professionals and consultants not well comprehend to weight balance between conservation principle and barrier free environment approach in restoring heritage buildings. However, the importance of accessibility needs is notably shown in the case studies to engage social inclusion in current practice. Access auditing reported the selected heritage sites including St. George Church, Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi and Suffolk House have potential to include the accessibility needs without diminishing its heritage significance. As long access strategy and accessible mapping are identified during the initial stage to connect the core elements depending on its unique original fabric. Certainly never a fixed standard appending to current building regulations is applicable to all heritage sites. The research concluded barrier free environment approach is possible to reconcile with conservation principle within reasonable accommodation from case to cases basis.
Highlights
Demographic trend indicates increasing population of persons with disabilities (PwDs) over the year from 313,685 persons (2010) to 506,228 persons (2014) in Malaysia (Department of PwDs, Malaysia); Department of Social Welfare (2014) reported voluntary registered PwDs stands only 1.7% of population in Malaysia
The attempt became significant only after recognition importance of inclusive travel officially by World Tourism Organization (WTO) in 1985 and provision of accessibility needs has been included in tourism sector since the ratification of Declaration on the Rights of
The barrier free environment concept was adopted in Takayam Declaration which promoting accessible tourism entails removal of attitudinal and institutional barriers in society, and encompasses accessibility in physical environment (ENAT, 2009). It is parallel with the Persons with Disabilities Act which further claims the importance of accessibility to the physical, social, economic and cultural environment, to health and education and to information and communication, in enabling PwDs to fully and effectively participate in society (Persons with Disability Act 2008, Act 685)
Summary
Darcy(1998), Van Horn (2006) and Butan (2011) concluded tourism is the right base to takeoff the inception of accessibility needs for physically challenge persons. They even strengthened tourism is a living example of how much a person can fully and effectively enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in all human rights instruments. The paper begins by understanding the concept in incorporating barrier free environment approach with conservation principle within heritage buildings in Malaysia context This is followed by studying current legislative framework in accommodating the needs. For the purpose of this paper, the term persons with disabilities (PwDs) refers to physically challenged persons; whom the end users with physical disabilities on limited mobility including wheelchair users and clutches users
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
