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Inclusive Tourism and Its Place in Sustainable Development Concepts

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 9502

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Tourism and Recreation, University School of Physical Education, 31-571 Kraków, Poland
Interests: sustainable tourism; inclusive tourism; special interest tourism (mountain tourism; ecotourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, sport tourism); tourism attractions; regional aspects of the geography of tourism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Tourism and Recreation, University School of Physical Education, 31-571 Kraków, Poland
Interests: inclusive tourism; spatial planning and development in tourism and recreation; spa and health tourism; forms and conditions of nature tourism

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Tourism and Recreation, University School of Physical Education, 31-571 Kraków, Poland
Interests: impact of new media (in particular social media) on consumer behavior in tourism and recreation; tourist activity of people with disabilities; behavior of tourists with special needs

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to showcase the progress made in current research and the literature on inclusive tourism, considered in the context of different concepts of sustainable development.

In particular, this Special Issue of the peer reviewed journal Sustainability aims to expand the discussion and scholarly debate on different perspectives, trends, approaches, cases, impacts, challenges, models, and/or frameworks related to inclusive tourism.

Inclusive tourism is broadly understood as ensuring that everybody has access to and enjoys spaces, communities, land, hospitality, services, food, paths, and mobility. In this way, it contributes to social wellbeing, brining happiness to people and ensuring that everybody, with no exceptions, is able to enjoy the beauty of tourist places and participate in various tourist activities.

The development of inclusive tourism aims not only to expand access to consumption, production, and benefit sharing at existing tourist destinations but also to draw a new map of tourist places and experiences and the interactions that accompany them.

Inclusive tourism has many stakeholders in different environments who strive to expand the circle of people involved in tourism creation, tourism consumption, and those benefiting from tourism. Social inclusion is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formulated by the United Nations, which states: "Many people are excluded from development because of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability or poverty. Development can only be inclusive – and reduce poverty – when all groups of people contribute to creating opportunities, share the benefits of development and participate in decision-making” (UNDP 2016).

This Special Issue aims to further explore sustainable tourism practices. Some examples of topics of interest for this Special Issue are as follows:

  1. Links between inclusive tourism and accessible, responsible, and sustainable tourism;
  2. Tourism and recreational activities for people with disabilities and with special needs (e.g., seniors, pregnant women, families with small children);
  3. Spatial, architectural, and social barriers to the tourist activities of people with disabilities, seniors, pregnant women, and families with small children, as well as examples of the elimination of such barriers;
  4. "Design for All" as a planning strategy that aims to achieve sustainable accessibility for all;
  5. Accessibility of attractions, accommodation, transport, and public space for people with disabilities and with special needs (e.g., seniors, pregnant women, families with small children);
  6. Accessibility of tourist offers for people with disabilities and with special needs;
  7. Educating staff for the provision of tourism services to people with disabilities and special needs;
  8. The role of local governments and tourism organizations in ensuring the accessibility of destinations;
  9. Economic aspects of the development of inclusive tourism;
  10. New groups of people with disabilities and with special needs;
  11. Challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of inclusive tourism;
  12. Scenarios for the development of inclusive tourism;
  13. The use of artificial intelligence and modern technologies in designing accessible tourism.

Prof. Dr. Zygmunt Kruczek
Dr. Katarzyna Gmyrek
Dr. Karolina Korbiel
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • inclusive tourism
  • sustainable tourism
  • “design for all”
  • development and planning
  • accessibility
  • accessible tourism
  • responsible tourism
  • social tourism
  • integrative tourism
  • health dysfunction
  • people with disabilities
  • people with special needs
  • barriers
  • tourism without barriers
  • tourism for all
  • sustainable construction
  • motives and preferences
  • tourism and recreation activity
  • rehabilitation
  • seniors

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 782 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Land Use in Tourism and Industrialization: Competition, Conservation, and Coordinated Development
by Changyao Song, Zehua Kang, Yuchen Yao, Tingting Yin and Sainan Zhang
Sustainability 2025, 17(16), 7219; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167219 - 9 Aug 2025
Viewed by 408
Abstract
The coordinated development of tourism and industrialization is essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in the tourism sector, as well as for ensuring long-term regional economic sustainability. This study is motivated by the observation that land is a key factor influencing the [...] Read more.
The coordinated development of tourism and industrialization is essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in the tourism sector, as well as for ensuring long-term regional economic sustainability. This study is motivated by the observation that land is a key factor influencing the coordination between tourism and industrialization, yet the specific role of land use remains underexplored. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to investigate the nonlinear relationship and underlying mechanisms through which tourism development impacts industrialization, with a particular focus on land transfers. To achieve this, the study employs an empirical approach using multi-source data—including data on China’s A-level scenic areas and land transfers—combined with an econometric method. The results indicate a U-shaped relationship between both the quantity and quality of tourism resources and the growth of industrial enterprises, as well as an inverted U-shaped relationship between the concentration of tourism resources and industrial development. The research finds that tourism development influences industrialization through two primary land-related mechanisms: the factor competition effect and the resource conservation effect. This study also investigates the potential for synergistic development between the tourism and industrial sectors, providing valuable insights for the sustainable economic advancement of land-based tourism and industrialization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive Tourism and Its Place in Sustainable Development Concepts)
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36 pages, 1202 KiB  
Article
Exploring Service Needs and Development Strategies for the Healthcare Tourism Industry Through the APA-NRM Technique
by Chung-Ling Kuo and Chia-Li Lin
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 7068; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157068 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 342
Abstract
With the arrival of an aging society and the continuous extension of the human lifespan, the quality of life has not improved in a corresponding manner. People’s demand for happiness and health is increasing. As a result, a model emerged that integrates tourism [...] Read more.
With the arrival of an aging society and the continuous extension of the human lifespan, the quality of life has not improved in a corresponding manner. People’s demand for happiness and health is increasing. As a result, a model emerged that integrates tourism and medical services, which is health tourism. This growing demand has prompted many service providers to see it as a business opportunity and enter the market. Tourism can help travelers release work stress and restore physical and mental balance; meanwhile, health check-ups and disease treatment can help them regain health. Consumers have long favored health and medical tourism because it helps relieve stress and promotes overall well-being. As people age, some consumers experience a gradual decline in physical functions, making it difficult for them to participate in regular travel services provided by traditional travel agencies. Therefore, this study aims to explore the service needs of health and medical tourism customers (tourists/patients) and the interrelationships among these service needs, so that health and medical tourism service providers can develop more customized and diversified services. This study identifies four key drivers of medical tourism services: medical services, medical facilities, tour planning, and hospitality facilities. This study uses the APA (attention and performance analysis) method to assess each dimension and criterion and utilizes the DEMATEL method with the NRM (network relationship map) to identify network relationships. By combining APA and NRM techniques, this study develops the APA-NRM technique to evaluate adoption strategies and identify suitable paths for health tourism services, providing tailored development strategies and recommendations for service providers to enhance the service experience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive Tourism and Its Place in Sustainable Development Concepts)
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28 pages, 7158 KiB  
Article
Accessibility of Tourist Attractions for Individuals with Disabilities as a Factor in the Development of Inclusive Tourism: Example of the Świętokrzyskie Region—Poland
by Klaudia Chwaja, Błażej Chwaja, Iwona Marczak and Zygmunt Kruczek
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 3853; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17093853 - 24 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2114
Abstract
The number of individuals with disabilities around the world and in Poland is constantly increasing. Social inclusion, anti-discrimination, and social integration are among the Sustainable Development Goals, which include inclusive tourism. Fostering inclusion in the tourism industry contributes to improving quality of life [...] Read more.
The number of individuals with disabilities around the world and in Poland is constantly increasing. Social inclusion, anti-discrimination, and social integration are among the Sustainable Development Goals, which include inclusive tourism. Fostering inclusion in the tourism industry contributes to improving quality of life in marginalised communities, community involvement in tourism development planning, and ethical activities related to the production and consumption of tourism services. Making attractions accessible to people with disabilities also contributes to enriching the tourist offerings of a region. The aim of this study is to assess the accessibility of tourist attractions in the Świętokrzyskie region, located in central Poland. The natural, cultural, and historical attractions there create potential for the development of various forms of tourism. The accessibility of 20 major tourist attractions for people with mobility, sight, and hearing impairments was examined. The results indicate a varying level of adaptation of facilities to the needs of the surveyed groups. Recreation and entertainment facilities are the best adapted, while sacred and historical facilities are the least adjusted. The majority of adaptations were directed towards individuals with mobility impairments, with blind and partially sighted people as well as deaf and partially hearing people often being overlooked. The identified barriers to adaptation included the excessive cost of adaptation and the limitations of the historic nature of the building. The inadequate preparation of attraction staff to support disabled individuals was also highlighted, as well as the importance of modern technology in creating accessibility and the need to promote inclusion among attraction managers and in regional policy. The article also includes an analysis of the local government’s measures aimed at social inclusion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive Tourism and Its Place in Sustainable Development Concepts)
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20 pages, 791 KiB  
Article
Experience-Sharing to Support Inclusive Travel for Blind and Partially Sighted People
by Maryam Bandukda, Aisha Azmi, Lan Xiao and Catherine Holloway
Sustainability 2024, 16(20), 8827; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16208827 - 12 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1663
Abstract
This research aimed to understand the challenges blind and partially sighted people experience in tourism and the travel information they need to plan their travel experiences effectively. To this end, we designed a mixed-methods study consisting of semi-structured interviews and co-design workshops, which [...] Read more.
This research aimed to understand the challenges blind and partially sighted people experience in tourism and the travel information they need to plan their travel experiences effectively. To this end, we designed a mixed-methods study consisting of semi-structured interviews and co-design workshops, which were conducted to identify the needs of BPS people and the barriers experienced due to a lack of access to such information. The findings provide insights into the information-seeking process and highlight the role of experience sharing in cultivating a sense of agency, contribution, and interdependence. This study also contributes an accessible tourism ecosystem map based on our findings to highlight the different sources of travel information and their potential role in supporting inclusive travel for BPS people. The findings have implications for research and tourism service design and serve as a tool to motivate research on technologies to support inclusive leisure travel for BPS people and to inform the design of inclusive tourism services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive Tourism and Its Place in Sustainable Development Concepts)
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13 pages, 252 KiB  
Article
Environmentally and Socially Responsible Behavior of Women from Generation Z in the Context of Tourist Activity
by Agata Balińska, Ewa Jaska and Agnieszka Werenowska
Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5603; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135603 - 29 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2482
Abstract
The aim of this research was to determine the scope of environmentally and socially responsible behavior related to tourist trips of women from Generation Z. The choice of this issue falls within the scientific discussion on the sustainable behavior of young consumers and [...] Read more.
The aim of this research was to determine the scope of environmentally and socially responsible behavior related to tourist trips of women from Generation Z. The choice of this issue falls within the scientific discussion on the sustainable behavior of young consumers and the area of research on sustainable tourism. The presented research fills the research gap related to the sustainable behavior of young women in the context of tourist trips. This article reviews the literature justifying the choice of this research topic. The results of our own survey research were presented (a sample of 618 touristically active women from Generation Z). Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the obtained results were made. This research showed that respondents were most concerned about recreational space (not leaving garbage in the forest or on the beach, observing regulations in tourist regions and towns, and using only designated trails). They rated their behavior the lowest in terms of reduction in water consumption, use of ecological cosmetics while using water reservoirs, and choosing accommodation places where pro-ecological solutions are used. According to the respondents, the main reasons for the lack of responsible behavior are indifference and habits learned at home. The originality of the presented research results from its scope and concerns only women belonging to Generation Z. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inclusive Tourism and Its Place in Sustainable Development Concepts)
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