Perceived constraints and negotiation strategies by elderly tourists when visiting heritage sites

ABSTRACT

This study examined the accessibility of heritage tourism sites for elderly tourists by applying the leisure constraint theory and universal design principles. Qualitative face-to-face interviews with 21 elderly tourists in Macao were conducted. Results revealed major barriers including feeling unsafe, extensive efforts required to use the facilities, feeling crowded, unclear and insufficient signage, and untidy public lavatories. Both protected aspects and supplemental facilities of these heritage sites lacked compliance with universal design principles. Confronted with these barriers, the elderly tourists had several different constraint negotiation strategies to reduce the constraining effects. This study offers a new perspective on accessible tourism within heritage sites by linking the concepts of constraint negotiation and universal design. Practical suggestions to destination planners of ways to enhance the accessibility of heritage facilities for post-COVID-19 usage are also offered.

KEYWORDS:

• Accessible tourism
• elderly tourists
• perceived leisure constraints
• constraint negotiation strategies
• universal design
• Macao
• heritage

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yim King Penny Wan

Dr. Wan is currently the Visiting Assistant Professor at the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM), She has taught a range of tourism, hospitality, gaming, and urban planning subjects and supervised student dissertations from undergraduate to doctoral levels. Her research interests focus on tourism governance, accessible tourism, sustainable tourism and urban planning, and integrated resort management.

Wai Si Scarlet Lo

Ms. Lo is currently working in In Creative Entertainment. She graduated from IFTM and majored in tourism management.

Mary E. Eddy-U

Ms. Eddy-U currently serves as the deputy regent for the languages team, and has been teaching English at IFTM since 2010. She has current research interests in both education (language learning motivation, language learning resources) and tourism (senior travelers, authenticity and museums).