Design and Development of a Mobile App for Accessible Beach Tourism Information for People with Disabilities.

Diego Mayordomo-Martínez,Juan M Carrillo-De-Gea,Juan-Carlos Sánchez-Aarnoutse,José Luis Fernández-Alemán,José A García-Berná,Ginés García-Mateos

doi:10.3390/ijerph16122131

Abstract

The global increase in the proportion of the population with disabilities has caused a greater awareness toward guaranteeing their use of public services. In particular, there is emphasis on the accessibility and inclusivity of tourism resources, to improve the enjoyment and well-being for people with motor disabilities. This paper presents a case study on accessibility to beaches in the Region of Murcia, Spain, which is one of the main tourist areas in the country. First, the most important elements that allow for the accessible use of beaches are analyzed and exposed in detail. Then, an extensive field-work in the area of interest has been carried out and its results are evaluated. Finally, the development of a new mobile app is described. The objective of this tool is to provide updated, accurate, and reliable accessibility information regarding the beaches. As a result, more than a third of the beaches analyzed had a high level of accessibility, while almost another third are totally inaccessible. The proposed application is a valuable tool, not only to help people with physical and motor disabilities, but also to raise awareness among local authorities to create and improve accessible services.

Highlights

According to the last update of the ad hoc module on the employment of people with disabilities by the “European Union labour force survey” [1], Europeans between the age of 15 and 64 years with disabilities represent ~45 million, i.e., 14% of the total population
In Spain, where this research takes place, they constitute 8.5% of the inhabitants, which was reported by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) in November 2008 [3], and approximately 70% of them have some type of motor disability
The first issue that arises is the analysis of the elements that allow the usage by people with motor or physical disability, that is, the equipment and services that inclusive beaches should provide and their classification according to a scale of usability and conservation

Summary

Introduction

According to the last update of the ad hoc module on the employment of people with disabilities by the “European Union labour force survey” [1], Europeans between the age of 15 and 64 years with disabilities represent ~45 million, i.e., 14% of the total population. Other international studies have estimated the world population with disabilities at 15% [2]. In Spain, where this research takes place, they constitute 8.5% of the inhabitants, which was reported by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) in November 2008 [3], and approximately 70% of them have some type of motor disability. This sector of the population usually needs assistance from support staff, raising the demand for accessibility information in their daily lives. In 2012, the INE reported that 69% of the people with motor disabilities face difficulties accessing leisure and cultural activities; 58% for leaving home, 41% for finding a job, 35% for entering public buildings, and 34% for using public transport [4].

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