Accessible tourism and its benefits for coping with stress

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe present study had two main objectives: (i) to understand the relationship between tourism and stress-coping for individuals with disabilities, and (ii) to develop an empirical basis for therapeutic purposes and for improving new tourism products and policies, in a biopsychosocial framework. An empirical study was conducted using participants with disabilities (N = 306) who were assessed with the Leisure Coping Scale adapted to the Accessible Tourism context. The positive influence of tourism on these individuals’ biopsychosocial dimensions of stress-coping is identified and discussed. Results suggest that accessible tourism should be recognized as a new stress-coping resource for disabled people, supporting the rebalancing of their personal and social resources, positively contributing to their health and well-being. These findings provide further evidence for the development of new tourism products targeted to a population with special needs, and for accurate policies of alternative therapeutic interventions in the context of their rehabilitation.