Accessibility and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Tourism: Perspective of Tourism Workers in the Ashanti region of Ghana

Anthony K Edusei , Sussana Mensah Aggrey , Eric Badu , Maxwel Peprah Opoku
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5463/dcid.v26i3.431
Submitted: 2020-09-14 09:39:55
Published: 2015-10-24

Purpose: Tourism contributes a great deal to the world’s economy. However, persons with disabilities are underrepresented in the industry, particularly in Ghana, due to inaccessible tourism structures and facilities. Accessibility and participation in tourism will enhance social inclusion of persons with disabilities. This study sought to document the nature of access as well as the participation of persons with disabilities in tourism, from the perspective of tourism workers in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Methods: An exploratory study using qualitative methods was conducted among workers at tourist centres in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A total of 21 participants were involved in the study. A voice-recorded interview was used to collect data from respondents. Results were generated through thematic content analysis to develop themes.

Results: Findings revealed that the participation of persons with disabilities in tourism is limited due to factors such as the inaccessible tourism environment, the nature of transport services and the language barrier. Suggested provisions were canopy walks, accessible banquets, vehicles, and sign language interpreters at various tourism destinations.

Conclusion: Tourism destinations should be made disability friendly through regulations, monitoring and supervision with regard to accessibility, structures and environment.

Keywords

persons with disabilities accessibility participation environment tourism

Authors

Anthony K Edusei

Dr. Anthony Kwaku Edusei is a senior lecturer and the Head of Department of Community Health. He graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor Degree in Biochemistry and pursued a Master's degree in Applied Human Nutrition at the University of Nairobi. He also has a PhD in Nutrition from University of Ghana and a MPhil degree in Public Health from University of Liverpool, UK. He has vast experience in supervision of research conducted by undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Sussana Mensah Aggrey

Sussan Aggrey Mensah obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and has proceeded to pursue a MSc. degree in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development

Eric Badu

Eric Badu is a Ghanaian, with interest in disability and health research, human rights, capacity building and statistical data analysis. He has over 2 years’ of experience in teaching and consulting on disability and health research, community development practice, empowerment and capacity building. He holds a masters degree in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development. Since 2013, he has worked as Graduate Assistant at the Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies. He has also worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Modern Languages, Faculty of Social Sciences, KNUST from 2011-2012.

Maxwel Peprah Opoku

Maxwell Peprah Opoku is a Ghanaian who has two degrees in Political Science and Disability, Rehabilitation and Development from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He has worked as a Teaching and Research Assistant, and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Centre of Disability Studies, Department of Community Health. His areas of specialty are disability, special education, community based rehabilitation, inclusive education, health research, management of natural resources, human rights, social policies and public policy.

How to Cite

Anthony K Edusei, Sussana Mensah Aggrey, Eric Badu, Maxwel Peprah Opoku (2015-10-24). Accessibility and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Tourism: Perspective of Tourism Workers in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development, Vol. 26 No. 3 (2015): Autumn 2015, 97-110. https://doi.org/10.5463/dcid.v26i3.431

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