Abstract
The purpose of this study is to propose a completely barrier-less, or “accessible,” tourism platform and makes suggestions to facilitate the current travel information for the disabled persons. It then applies Long Tail theory’s three forces and nine “rules” in making assessments and creating an accessible tourism communication network to connect upstream and downstream travel agency. After collating the opinions of scholars specialized in the tourismsector and travel agents interviewed through semi-open questions, the study investigates the Long Tail theory’s suitability and applicability to the tourism industry. This study then thoroughly explores the topic of accessible tourism and proposes concrete suggestions and frameworks for such travel need. It also sets up an accessible tourism communications network, contributing a real platform that travel agents can refer to as they take their first steps to provide travel packages that accommodate the needs of the disabled.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
WTTC (2008), http://www.wttc.trave/eng/Research/Tourism_Satellite_Accounting_Tool/index.php
Williams, R., Rattray, R., Grimes, A.: Meeting the On-line Needs of Disabled Tourists: An Assessment of UK-based Hotel Websites. International Journal of Tourism Research 8(1), 59–73 (2006)
Brey, E.T., So, S.I.A., Kim, D.Y., Morrison, A.M.: Web-based Permission Marketing: Segmentation for the Lodging Industry. Tourism Management 28(6), 1408–1416 (2007)
Anderson, C.: The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More, 1st edn. Hyperion, New York (2006)
Sharpley, R., Telfer, D.J.: Tourism and Development Concepts and Issues. Aspects of Tourism 5 Clevendon. Channel View Publications (2002)
Clarke, J., Denman, R., Hickman, G., Slovak, J.: Rural Tourism in Ronnava Okres: A Slovak Case Study. Tourism Management 22(2), 193–202 (2001)
Jones, E., Haven-Tang, C.: Tourism SMEs, Service Quality and Destination Competitiveness. CABI Publishing, MA (2006)
Westcott, J.: Improving Information on Accessible Tourism for Disabled People: European Commission (2004)
TBMTC: Annual Report on Tourism 2006. Tourism Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Republic of China Taipei City (2006)
Kalisch, A.: Corporate Futures: Consultation on Good Practice. Tourism Concern, London (2002)
Eadington, W.R., Smith, V.L.: Introduction: The Emergence of Alternative Forms of Tourism. Wiley, Chichester (1992)
Kraus, R.: Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society. Harper, New York (1990)
Brynjolfsson, E., Hu, J.Y., Smith, M.D.: From Niches to Riches: The Anatomy of the Long Tail. Sloan Management Review 47(4), 67–71 (2006)
Cameron, B., Darcy, S., Foggin, E.: Barrier-free Tourism for People with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region. United Nations, New York (2003)
Craig, E.M.: Changing Paradigms: Managed Learning Environments and Web 2.0. Campus-Wide Information Systems 24(3), 152–161 (2007)
Lucas, H.C.J.: Methodological Issues in Information Systems Survey Research. In: Kraemer, K.L. (ed.) The Information Systems Research Challenge: Survey Research Methods, vol. 3, pp. 273–285. Harvard Business School, Boston (1991)
Oberhelman, D.D.: Coming to Terms with Web 2.0. Reference Reviews 21(7), 5–6 (2007)
Curran, K., McCartney, D., Elder, K.: The Power of Long Tail. Journal of Information Technology Impact 6(3), 129–134 (2006)
Eijkman, H.: Web 2.0 as a Non-foundational Network-centric Learning Space. Campus-Wide Information Systems 25(2), 93–104 (2008)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Wu, YC.J., Cheng, M.J. (2008). Accessible Tourism for the Disabled: Long Tail Theory. In: Lytras, M.D., Carroll, J.M., Damiani, E., Tennyson, R.D. (eds) Emerging Technologies and Information Systems for the Knowledge Society. WSKS 2008. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 5288. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-87781-3_61
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-87781-3_61
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-87780-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-87781-3
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)