Is There a Gender Gap in the Propensity to Travel of People With Disabilities?

Abstract

People with disabilities (PwDs) face various constraints connected to their participation in tourism activities. This topic has become of greater academic interest in recent years, however, the study of gender issues in this context is still marginal. The present paper seeks to analyze gender differences in PwDs’ propensity to travel, explicitly examining constraints that may limit social inclusion in tourism activities. The empirical analysis is focused on sample data of the Italian population of PwDs gathered through an online questionnaire administered between April and July 2020. The findings reveal gender differences in PwDs travel participation, underlining matters related to constraints “impose,” by society as a whole. The paper discusses the implications of breaking down barriers and provides insights into the tourism industry so as to ensure accessibility, accurate information, and inclusivity.

The ecosystem of disability inclusion in hospitality and tourism organisations: an integrative review and research agenda

“…The literature shows that women with disabilities are doubly disadvantaged because of gender and disability-related exclusion (De Pascale et al. , 2023).…”

Travel decision making during and after the COVID-2019 pandemic: Revisiting travel constraints, gender role, and behavioral intentions

“…Gender goes beyond the limits of biology, and it is also constructed by prevailing social and cultural norms ( De Pascale et al, 2022 ). It is clear from the extant literature that gender has been used for tourism market segmentation, but the relationship between gender and travel behaviors is largely neglected ( Huang and van der Veen, 2019 ).…”

“… Yamashita and Hallmann (2021) revealed that there are obvious gender differences concerning the relationship between travel constraints and behavioral intentions. Specifically, De Pascale et al (2022) found that the propensity to travel for females with disabilities is more affected by some travel constraints than it is for males with disabilities. It is thought that analyzing gender is crucial to understand and interpret leisure constraints in a selected context ( Jackson and Henderson, 1995 ).…”

“…However, we do find some evidence suggesting that gender could somehow explain differences of travel behaviors through a comprehensive literature review, including tourists’ perception of travel constraints ( Hudson, 2000 ; Losada et al, 2016 ; Tavakoli and Mura, 2021 ). Specifically, a few studies indicate that female travelers are inclined to perceive more risks and constraints when they participate in travel activities due to gender roles expectations ( Jackson and Henderson, 1995 ; Nyaupane and Andereck, 2008 ; De Pascale et al, 2022 ). Therefore, it is worthwhile to examine the possible moderating role of gender with regard to the relationship between travel constraints and travel decision making ( Khan et al, 2019a ).…”

Role of People with Disabilities (PWDS) Towards the Sustainability of the Tourism Sectors in Malaysia

“…According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (2021), the COVID-19 epidemic reduced Malaysia's tourist earnings in 2020 to RM52.4 billion, a 71.2% decline from 2019. During the pandemic crisis, those with disabilities suffer greatly (De Pascale et al, 2022). Furthermore, Hashim et al (2018) contend that prejudice and hurdles prevent Malaysians with disabilities from fully participating in society.…”