Scuba-diving destination readiness for the disabled-friendly visitors: assessing person with disabilities (PWD) needs and perspectives

ABSTRACT

Recognition of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) as a niche tourist market for scuba diving tourism is emerging. This paper empirically investigates the disabled scuba diver’s perception of the scuba diving destination’s readiness to serve the PWD market. We surveyed 284 certified local and international PWD scuba divers. The results show that facilities’ accessibility through flexibility in use, tolerance for error, size and space for approach and use determines scuba diving destination readiness to entertain PWD. In addition, service accessibility through communication support, information, and professionalism reflect scuba diving destination readiness to engage the PWD market. The paper encourages diving tourism operators to overcome the challenge of destination accessibility and readiness to entertain PWD in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 agenda.

KEYWORDS:

• Scuba diving
• diving destination
• persons with disabilities (PWD)
• Island
• Malaysia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Universiti Teknologi MARA: [grant no 600-RMC/FRGS 5/3 (026/2021)].