NS 34 Session 11

Social equity, a characteristic of systems which facilitate fair distribution and access to resources, opportunities and representation, appears in tourism research in a variety of themes. These may include fair access to business opportunities, equal participation in social institutions and decision-making, recognition of special needs, or support for individual rights. Social entrepreneurship can, therefore, be an answer for balancing the economic and socio-cultural pillars of sustainable development in some destinations, while working on policies facilitating fair distribution and access to employment opportunities which exclude exploitation of vulnerable individuals, might be the answer for another. On a smaller scale, even “innocent” omissions of the tourism, hospitality and travel service providers might construct insurmountable obstacles to the experience of social inclusion and equity. Thus, emergency alarms using sound only would contribute nothing to the safety of those who cannot hear them, while the lack of contrast in signage prevents those with certain visual impairments from accessing vital information.  

This session proposes exploration of tourism social innovation through a capability-based equity framework, where equity is viewed as fair expansion of substantive freedoms—the real opportunities people have to lead lives they value. In doing so, it will provide a platform for contributors to discuss how systemic factors, such as governance inclusion, norms and policies shape agency, cultural expression, safety and self-determination of various social and customer groups. The perspectives might include - but do not need to be limited to - stakeholders with disabilities, disadvantaged families, the elderly, or gender and ethnic minorities. With its principal objective to distinguish socially transformative innovation from initiatives that propagate existing inequalities under the language of inclusion, this session aims to enhance the understanding of inclusive tourism.