Towards Making Tourism Education Programmes More Inclusive: From The Perceptive of Disabled People

Abstract

The study explores the existence of the seemingly latent potential, ability, and willingness of disabled people to participate in tourism education programmes by using the social model of disability. Consequently, unveiling the cause and effective intervention thereof. A qualitative research design enabled in-depth face-to-face interviews and Facebook group discussions collected data from disabled people. This research method allowed the researchers to gain relevant information from the real-life experiences of participants. A difference in opinion was observed between participants already enrolled at education institutions and not enrolled participants. However, all believe they have the potential, ability, and willingness to participate in tourism education programmes. The literature shows tourism education facilities as overlooking biases, stigmatisation and discriminatory practices to disabled people, deeming them unable, incapable and unwilling to study for tourism degrees. While results show effort to accommodate and enrol disabled participants, challenges and struggles remain due to underlying obstacles. Clearly, the social model of disability exposed that if the potential, ability, and willingness of disabled people to participate in tourism education programmes remain invisible to tourism educators, the participation, involvement and thriving of disabled people may continue to be compromised. Therefore, the articles provide steps to enhance inclusion.