Themed Issue: Accessible Tourism and Inclusion

Closes:
Journal
Tourism Review
Guest editor(s)
Dimitrios Buhalis,

Ivor Ambrose

,

Submit your paper here

Themed Issue Curators

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Bournemouth University

and Dr. Ivor Ambrose, European Network of Accessible Tourism (ENAT).

Introduction

To celebrate the 3rd World Summit on Accessible Tourism: A New Global Agenda for Accessible Tourism in Torino, Italy, Tourism Review, the oldest and most established journal in tourism (Emerald Publishing), is delighted to announce a Tourism Review Themed Issue dedicated to Accessible Tourism, coordinated by Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Bournemouth University and Dr. Ivor Ambrose of ENAT. This themed collection will showcase the most significant and forward-looking research advancing accessibility, inclusion, and equity across the global tourism system. It will bring together leading work on policy, technology, design, management, and experience that make destinations, transport, and hospitality truly inclusive for all travellers — including persons with disabilities, older adults, and those with temporary or situational access needs. The Themed Issue will curate influential papers, complemented by a new editorial commentary that reflects on progress, challenges, and the emerging opportunities for accessible tourism worldwide. It will serve as both a scholarly reflection on the progress achieved so far and a roadmap for the next generation of inclusive tourism development.

Accessible tourism represents a human right and a powerful driver of social innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability worldwide. This Tourism Review Themed Issue will explore the multiple dimensions of accessibility in tourism and hospitality, focusing on policy frameworks, technology, design, management, and visitor experience. The collection will feature a curated selection of influential papers previously published in Tourism Review that have shaped the evolution of accessible tourism research. These works will be complemented by a new editorial commentary by the Theme Issue Curators to critically reflect on progress, challenges, and emerging opportunities for inclusive tourism in a post-pandemic, technology-driven world.

Key Themes and Topics

Submissions and curated works will address — but are not limited to — the following themes:

  • Policy, Governance, and Rights-Based Approaches
  • Alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Tourism and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
  • Inclusive Design and Innovation
  • Types of disability and travel – including invisible disabilities
  • The lived experiences of travellers with disabilities and access needs
  • Voices and experiences of people with disability
  • Meeting the needs of diverse travellers
  • Accessible infrastructure and design for all towards enabling environments
  • Creative service design that eliminate barriers and enhance travel experiences for all
  • Application of universal design principles for destinations and tourism facilities
  • Technology and Smart Tourism for Accessibility
  • The transformative role of digitalisation
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) and accessible tourism
  • Assistive technologies towards enabling accessible tourism
  • Metaverse/VR contribution to enabling inclusive and personalised tourism experiences
  • Destination Management and Accessibility
  • Integration of accessibility into destination planning, governance, and marketing strategies
  • Tools, frameworks, and evaluation systems for accessible destinations
  • Fostering competitiveness, inclusion, and social responsibility
  • Hospitality, Transport, and Service Accessibility Experience
  • Developing inclusive practices across hospitality operations, mobility systems, and service delivery
  • Measurement, Standards, and Certification for accessible tourism
  • Assessing, benchmarking, and improving accessibility across the tourism value chain
  • Social Inclusion and Cultural Perspectives
  • Cross-cultural dimensions and community inclusion empowerment
  • Frameworks that promote accessibility as a cornerstone of sustainable and responsible tourism

Timeline

Announcement: October 2025 

Deadline: April 1, 2026 

Publication of Themed Issue: 2027

The issue will be available soon on the Tourism Review website (https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/tr).

Submit your paper on https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/tr, including the word “accessible” or “Accessibility” in the title.