What Makes Them Travel: A Psychological Perspective towards Accessible Tourism

Abstract

This paper aims at to explore the perceptual factors that shapes the attitude of an impaired/disabled traveler towards accessible tourism and how that attitude does leads to willingness to travel. In order to achieve the objective of this study, the theoretical framework is tested using Structural Equation Modeling. The measurement scales are revised to meet the requirements of the study. Data is collected from 186 participants. This study supports the literature by establishing a direct relationship between the factors underpinning travelers’ perception and attitude regarding accessible tourism, as well as travelers’ attitudes and willingness to travel. However, Indian accessible tourism has not been studied from the standpoint of consumer behavior. The study emphasizes the importance of positive and negative elements in the creation of attitude about accessible tourism. It has been found that perceived risk and perceived price display a negative, but a significant effect on attitude towards accessible tourism. Perceived destination image and perceived value show a positive association with the attitude towards accessible tourism. Once an attitude towards accessible tourism is formed, the study concludes that impaired/disabled travellers are willing to travel to a particular destination.

Keywords: Accessible Tourism, Tourist Perception, Attitude towards Accessible Tourism, Willingness to Travel

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