Digital accessibility in the formation of a barrier-free environment in tourism

Abstract

The article discusses the issues of invoking digital accessibility on the basis of IT technologies, using elements of artificial intelligence, to create the concept of a barrier-free environment in tourism for people with disabilities as a concept for the development of an inclusive society. It has been determined that one of the key factors influencing tourism in recent years has been globalization, digitalization, and sustainability. The ease of mobility, increased awareness of new destinations and the Internet as a source of information and trade in tourism product and service have led to the exponential growth of this market. However, along with this growth, there are changes in the needs of society. The increasing use of mobile devices in travel, the introduction of new technologies, the ever-increasing level of digital accessibility for the development of a barrier-free society and the less noticeable difference between business travel, leisure travel, medical, recreational, rehabilitation and other types of travel are all examples of changing consumer interests in the world. The steady increase in the number of people with disabilities affects the emphasis on the development of a barrier-free tourism environment as one of the priority areas for the development of a humanistic society. Digital accessibility as an element of a barrier-free environment is an important (key) element of disability inclusion, which will allow people with disabilities to live independently and fully and participate in all aspects of society. An accessible barrier-free environment is an important step towards realizing the rights of people with disabilities to participate in all spheres of community life. As digital accessibility increasingly permeates all aspects of life and shapes society, it becomes imperative to ensure that these transformational changes occur in a sustainable manner and encompass different industries. In the end, the choice we make in the field of digital accessibility can be a catalyst for positive changes in the formation of a barrier-free environment in tourism.