A Case On Accessible Tourism In India

Vrittant SharmaPGDM- Tourism And Travel

IITTM-Gwalior

Accessible Tourism

Accessible tourism enables people with access requirements, including mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive dimensions of access, to function independently and with equity and dignity through the delivery of universally designed tourism products, services and environments. This definition is inclusive of all people including those travelling with children in prams, people with disabilities and seniors.

Source - Wikipedia

India A rich heritage and diverse cultural which India offers as a

tourist destination is a unique combination that few have been able to resist through the centuries.

India has many world heritage site, they are famous for their impeccable exquisiteness, diversity & historical significance.

Millions of people visit them every year and a few of them who are differently able feel left out due to inherent physical barriers such as staircases, cobbled pathways, multiple levels, slopes etc.

“The problem is not how to wipe out the differences but how to unite with the differences intact”. – Rabindranath Tagore

Target Elderly and persons with

different abilities have the wherewithal and time to enjoy leisure.

People with reduced mobility have a right to, and do want to enjoy travel leisure experiences.

Barriers in access discourage elderly and persons with different abilities from visiting or enjoying a heritage or a cultural site.

Tourism Industry Statistics

Domestic and foreign tourists arrival has registered an increase of 13.8% and 8.9% respectively during 2010-11. (Indian Tourism Statistics 2011,GoI)

Ministry of Tourism targets the inflow of foreign tourists from 3 million to 25 million in next 10 years.

India ranks 9th in terms of international tourist arrivals.

As per an Australian research agency, 88% of people with disability take a holiday each year with 11 % of total tourism expenditure.

Increase in Foreign Tourists

Arrivals

Domestic tourists drive market

Barriers to access the tourist sites

Barriers in built environment discourage persons with different abilities & elderly from visiting and enjoying a tourist site.

Barriers are diverse in nature, the most familiar being physical constraints such as steps, uneven surfaces, steep slopes, narrow pathways, inadequate signage etc.

It is critical to identify the barriers to ensure heritage sites are accessible to all.

Elderly And Differently able facing difficulties

Inaccessible ticket counter

Surface level differences in international circulation

Inaccessible drinking water

NO alternative modes of access make heritage sites

difficult to reach

Uneven walking Toilets without any

ramp entry

Bridging the Divide

Challenges:

• Barrier-free destinations: infrastructure and facilities• Transport: by air, land and sea, suitable for all users• High quality services: delivered by trained staff.• Activities, exhibits, attractions: allowing

participation in tourism by everyone.• Marketing, booking systems, web sites & services:

information accessible to all.

Steps Taken By MOT(India)• Make tourist destinations barrier-free. Guidelines have been issued for

making the tourist-facilities which are being created with central financial assistance, barrier-free.

• The Ministry has also instituted a new category of Award of Excellence for Most Barrier-Free Monument/Tourist Attraction in the country to encourage other agencies responsible for maintaining monuments/tourist attractions to create barrier-free environment for the promotion of accessible tourism.

• The condition of making the hotels accessible for people with different abilities has been included in the guidelines for approval and classification of 4 and 5 star category hotels.

• New Infra projects DILLI HAAT , DELHI METRO and BRT.

• DTTDC started hop in- hop off low floor buses.

Qutub Minar is among several World Heritage Sites that Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has made accessible to all including the elderly and the Differently able.

Qutub Minar, New Delhi

Issues identified at Qutub Minar

Due to lack of insight into the diverse needs and technical know-how of interventions like ramps, signage and accessible public conveniences, the Qutub Minar complex was not well-equipped to receive visitors with reduced mobility.

Scenario Before The Implementation At Qutub Minar

The concrete ramp at the entrance was steep.

The temporary ramp at the iron pillar was unstable, without handrails and had a very steep gradient.

The floor surface of the ramps was slippery.

The pathway of loose gravel makes it difficult to walk let alone maneuver the wheelchair.

Post Implementation

Ramp at the entrance of Qutub Minar

Access at Qutub Minar

Ramp at Iltutmish tomb

Ramp to the Iron Pillar

Development

Level pathways

Accessible Ticket Counters

Accessible Signage

Tactile pathway to assist people with vision impairments

Accessible Toilets (porta cabins)

Impact of Access Improvements Recent reports suggest that after the Qutub Minar was made accessible,

footfall of visitors has increased substantially.

For the year 2009, the revenue earned through ticket sales at the Qutub Minar stood at Rs 10.41 crore, much higher than that collected for the Red Fort (Rs 5.5 crore) and Humayun’s Tomb (Rs 4.8 crore).

Source: Mail Today

“Every act of imagination is the discovery of likenesses between two things which were thought unlike.” Jacob Bronowski

Illustration by Hannah Van de Water

Potential benefits

Enhanced visitors experience and satisfaction

Increase in footfall and likelihood of repeat visits

Provides equality of recreation opportunities

Mainstreaming of marginalized groups/ Social inclusion

Compliance with the international standards and UNESCO norms for WHS

Rationale: an inclusive approach

An inclusive approach recognizes everyone as a potential visitor and encompasses an environment which is used by everyone regardless of age, disability, gender or background.

Improving access is one of the keys to a wider understanding, valuing and caring of heritage sites.

Although improvements are needed in a number of other areas, interventions will need to be prioritized if the agenda for achieving inclusion of persons with disabilities and elderly is to be realized.

Conclusion

Incorporating accessibility at tourist sites allows disabled and non-disabled visitors to enjoy the experience together.

There is a need to raise the profile of accessibility thereby making heritage sites reachable to the disabled and elderly to ensure they do not feel isolated from the mainstream.

Challenge lies in appreciating these varied and conflicting interests and yet find the most appropriate solutions to provide access.

Fulfillment of this commitment, therefore, requires inclusive and affirmative policies, sensitive infrastructure planning based on universal design standards and effective implementation & enforcement.

An accessible environment is an essential requirement for around 10%, a need for 30- 40%,comfortable for all, and problematic for no one.

Thank You!!