In the second semester of 2023-2024, twenty graduates from various study programs worked together in the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab Rotterdam. Students from Tourism Management, Leisure Management, Integral Safety Management, Law, Business Studies and Creative Business, among others, joined forces to tackle urban challenges.
One of the interesting projects this semester was carried out by Kimberly Krabbendam. Her research focused on the challenges and opportunities of inclusive tourism, specifically targeting people with disabilities. What started as a concept for a podcast about traveling with a disability eventually evolved into the “Handichallenge.” This project aims to raise awareness about accessibility in tourism while providing education and practical experiences.
Kimberly combined insights from desk research and expert interviews to gain a better understanding of the needs of people with disabilities in tourism. She emphasized that accessible tourism goes beyond physical access; it also includes digital and social accessibility. During the Studio Day at the lab, various ideas, such as podcasts and guest lectures, were discussed and further developed to raise awareness among students about accessible tourism.
The final concept, the Handichallenge, was designed to not only raise awareness, but also to directly contribute to the experience of inclusive tourism. The project offers a practical educational product that helps students and professionals in the tourism sector to better understand and integrate accessibility into their work.
This research shows the importance of paying attention to the needs of people with disabilities in the tourism sector and offers valuable tools for promoting inclusivity and accessibility.
