Keywords

Accessible tourism; Field configuring events; Social model of disability; Persons with disability; Physical disabilities; Mobility-restrictions; Tokyo 2020 olympic and paralympic games

Abstract

Able-bodied, and increasingly people with disabilities, represent a key audience for mega-events; occasions that act as crucibles where social problems endemic to host destinations can be exposed and tackled through targeted social policy. Drawing on the social model of disability, the paper examines how Japan utilised Tokyo 2020 as a field configuring event to disrupt systems of ableist thinking and tackle physical and attitudinal barriers restricting Persons with Disabilities (PwD) to accessible tourism. Qualitative evidence reveals national commitments to relegitimise, improve accessibility for - and acceptance toward - PwD in Japanese society, through transformations to the built environment, national awareness, and educational campaigns in the build up to Tokyo 2020. An over-emphasis on physical as opposed to social structural change mean negative attitudes often persist, where disability remains stigmatised, leading to PwD immobility and social exclusion. Our policy recommendations and managerial implications, alongside research directions attend to this disability-attitude gap.

Publication Date

9-2023

Original Citation

Duignan, M. B., Brittain, I., Hansen, M., Fyall, A., Gerard, S., & Page, S. (2023). Leveraging accessible tourism development through mega-events, and the disability-attitude gap. Tourism Management, 99, N.PAG. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2023.104766

Document Type

Paper

Language

English

Source Title

Tourism Management

Volume

99

Publication Version

Publisher's version

Rights

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

College

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Location

Rosen College of Hospitality Management


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