accessible szczyrk hotels’ features for disabled tourists irena szewczyk the university of bielsko...

ACCESSIBLE SZCZYRK HOTELS’ FEATURES FOR DISABLED TOURISTS

Irena SzewczykThe University of Bielsko Biała

ToSEE - Tourism in South East Europe 3rd International Scientific Conference Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Quality of LifeUniversity of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija

ABSTRACTDue to socio-demographic

changes related to aging society, adapting the buildings – including hotels – to the needs of elderly and disabled persons become more and more vital


PURPOSE The aim of this paper is to evaluate an availability of hotels for the segment of elderly people and people with disabilities.


INTRODUCTIONAccording to The World Health Organization

(WHO) circa 15% of the world's population, an equivalent 1 billion people, are effected by disabilities .

In European Union, disabled constitute about 15% of population - This means that in all countries of the UE live about 80 million people with disabilities


INTRODUCTIONIn the years ahead, disability will be an

even greater concern because its prevalence is on the rise.

This is due to ageing population and the higher risk of disability in older people as well as the global increase in chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and mental health disorders.


THE ESSENCE OF DISABILITYDisability is a complex phenomenon,

reflecting the interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he or she lives. (WHO)

In traditional medical views, disability is the long-term or permanent functional limitations produced by physical impairments (LIACHOVITZ 2012)


THE ESSENCE OF DISABILITYImpairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological,

psychological or anatomical structure or function (Buhalis and Darcy, 2011)

Disability is any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being (Buhalis and Darcy)

A handicap is a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from impairment or a disability that limits or prevents the fulfilment of a role that is normal (depending on age, sex and cultural factors) for that individual (Edwards 2005)


THE ESSENCE OD DISABILITYDisabled person is a person who is

considered to have a dysfunction of mobility, functionality or life activity in a degree which makes it difficult to fulfil relevant social roles (Grabowski and Milewska and Stasiak 2007, 33).

A disabled person is a person with an impairment who experiences disability (Centre for Disability Studies).


REQUIREMENTS IN ADAPTING HOTEL PREMISES TO THE NEEDS OF DISABLED PEOPLE

Outside areas:•Parking spaces designated for disabled persons•Access routes that are flat (without steps) and with a stable surface•Ramps and handrails where necessary•Entrance doors with level accessTactile and high-contrast route markings



Internal access routes:•Door handles•Ramps and handrails where necessary•Wide doors, passageways, corridors and space to pass between dining tables, display stands, etc.•Clear turning spaces in rooms, meeting rooms, entrance halls, etc.



Internal access routes:•Lifts (elevators) – wide and deep with tactile buttons; visual and audible indication•Clear general signage and understandable pictograms•Signage indicating accessible areas and features in bathrooms•Tactile and high-contrast route markings



Toilet and bathroom: •Support handrails beside toilets, baths and overhead showers•Free space beside toilets for side transfer•Wheel-in shower (no step) and non-slip floor surfaces of floors



General:•Sufficient lighting levels, without glare or reflections•Glass doors and large windows properly marked•No smoking policy or designated non-smoking zones in all service areas•Guestrooms with non-allergenic bedding and cleaning materials•Provisions for service animals


METHODOLOGY:1. The key subject area of my research is defined

as a population of disabled persons.2. The aim of this paper is to evaluate an

availability of hotels for the segment of elderly people and people with disabilities.

3. The research question of the study is an attempt to assess the availability of the services for elderly and disabled in hotels, recreational resorts and guest houses in Szczyrk town.


METHODOLOGY:

the following hypothesis is tested: the tourist lodgings in Szczyrk town are adapted for the services for disabled persons.


THE FOLLOWING POINTS ARE IN THE FOCUS OF THIS STUDY:•the identification of accommodation in the town of Szczyrk, •defining the requirements concerning the adaptation of accommodation units to the needs of the disabled,•the identification of the disabled and the elderly,


THE FOLLOWING POINTS ARE IN THE FOCUS OF THIS STUDY:•defining the accessibility of such units for the disabled and the elderly,•defining the awareness of the meaning of adapting these kind of premises for disabled persons.


METHODOLOGY:

•The place where the study was carried out is one of the most popular ski resort towns in Poland – Szczyrk.•The survey was performed in November and December 2014.


METHODOLOGY:

Located among Skrzyczne and Klimczok mountains in the valley of the Żylica river, it is called a winter capital of Beskidy Region.


METHODOLOGY:

Szczyrk is the town of a tourism and leisure and the nature.


METHODOLOGY:

This popular recreation centre has about 20 km of ski and snowboard routes, caves and arrows, regional antiques and many other attractions.


METHODOLOGY:


THE SURVEY COMPRISED:•A group of 100 disabled persons of various levels of disabilities visiting Szczyrk,•All hotels, guest houses and recreational resorts in Szczyrk: 7 hotels (three 2-star, two 3-star and two 4-star hotels, 12 recreational resorts and 7 guest houses.


METHODOLOGY:

The study was carried out using the questionnaire method by using questionnaires, surveys and interviews.


RESULTS:

•Out of all analyzed hotels, only one hotel, a 2-star hotel, is not adapted to serve disabled guests.• None of the guest houses is able to receive any disabled guests• Three recreational resorts can provide service for the disabled.


RESULTS:

The study shows the recreational areas of the studied accommodation units in Szczyrk are also not very well adapted to the needs of the elderly and disabled nor are they easily accessible for this group of people.


RESULTS:

These basic studies were also supplemented with an additional survey which was filled out by 100 respondents with different degrees of disability.


THE STUDY CONFIRMED THAT:

•people with a dysfunction of mobility are the most numerous group of disabled-74%,

•people with poor eyesight -9%,•people with speech disabilities-8%,•people with mental illness- 7%,•people with poor hearing- 2%.


BARRIERS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF SURVEYED:

•the lack of information concerning the facilities and conveniences on the websites of accommodation units,•the lack of space in accommodation units,•the lack of appropriate service at the reception desk,•quite large differences in terrain like hills or steep areas,•large distances from the bus stops


CONCLUSIONS:

•the hypothesis “the tourist lodgings in Szczyrk town are adapted for the services for disabled persons” set in the introduction was not confirmed,•the accommodation base in Szczyrk (hotels and resorts) is not well adapted to the needs of the disabled,•the disabled who would like to stay in Szczyrk are forced to use hotels, is a big difficulty which undoubtedly has an influence on the number of disabled people travelling and visiting Szczyrk.


CONCLUSIONS:

The managers and owners of places of accommodation should put in great effort to expand their offer, improve their services and include various facilities in order to gain faithful customers.

Thank you for your attention!

Irena SzewczykThe University of Bielsko-BiałaE-mail:[email protected]

accessible szczyrk hotels’ features for disabled tourists irena szewczyk the university of bielsko...

Documents

faculty of tourism

tosee tourism

economic development

south east europe

disabilities slide

vital slide

higher risk of disability

older people