A Research on Determining the Perspectives of Tourism Students on Disabled Individuals and Disabled Tourism

Abstract

The disabled tourism market is developing continuously in Europe. Turkey also is increasing the number of individuals with disabilities who participated in tourism. The development of this type of tourism, which can be evaluated within the scope of social tourism, will become more feasible with the prospective managers of the future having a positive view on disabled individuals and disabled tourism. The aim of this study is to determine the perspectives of higher education students in tourism education towards disabled individuals and disabled tourism. For this purpose, a field study was carried out. All tourist areas in Turkey training of research students constitutes the universe. In the study sample selected by sampling method easy, Turkey's tourism schools in various undergraduate and graduate level education constitutes 542 students of tourism. The data obtained from the research were analyzed using statistical methods and software. The findings of the study show that tourism students have positive views on disabled individuals and disabled tourism market. At the same time, students' perspectives show significant differences according to gender, educational background and disability status.