Abstract:

Little is known about the tourism patterns and experiences of people with a physical disability in New South Wales. New South Wales will be visited by a greater number of people from overseas and domestically in the coming decade. Amongst these people will be an increasing number of people with a physical disability. High profile events, such as the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics 2000, are drawing increasing international attention to the needs and provisions for people with a disability in New South Wales. To better understand the needs of people with a physical disability the report presents the findings of research conducted into the tourism patterns and experiences of people with physical disabilities in New South Wales. This research provides the basis for the first comprehensive quantitative study of the tourism patterns and experiences of people with a physical disability in New South Wales and Australia. The research methodology was a questionnaire based self completed postal survey conducted with the cooperation of 9 major organisations who represent people with a physical disability in New South Wales. The questionnaire was mailed to 8500 members of these organisations with over 2700 completed questionnaires returned. The questionnaire replicated sections of the International Visitor Survey and the Domestic Tourism Monitor so comparisons could be made between the general population and people with a physical disability. Other sections of the questionnaire sought information about the individual's satisfaction with their current level of travel, specific requirements for travel and their reasons for travel and non travel. The demographic section included disability specific questions. The report has been used to produce the first market estimates of the size of the tourism market of people with a physical disability. The report draws on the results of the study to develop recommendations for government and the tourism industry to better serve the tourism needs of people with a physical disability. Further, the study provides government agencies and the tourism industry with information to capitalise on the potential offered by the impending Sydney Olympics and Paralympics 2000.