Opinions of tourists regarding the accessibility for people with disabilities in the area of Brasov County

• Author: Bratucu G., Chitu I.B., Dinca G., Stefan M.
• Pages: 73-82

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 9 (58) No. 1 - 2016

Opinions of tourists regarding the accessibility for

people with disabilities in the area of Braşov County

Gabriel BRTUCU1, Ioana Bianca CHIU2,

Gheorghia DINC3, Mdlina ŞTEFAN4

Abstract: This paper aims to present tourists’ opinions on the touristic destination - Brasov

County, regarding accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Accessibility of disabled

individuals is an actual subject, keeping in mind that in the European Union 1 of 6 persons

has a disability. Results of the quantitative research conducted on a sample of 1119 tourists

can be used by tourism stakeholders in order to develop facilities that allow increased

accessibility for people with disabilities.

Key words: accessible tourism, persons with disabilities, quantitative research.

1. Introduction

Accessibility of tourism products currently represents an extremely important issue

considered not only on national level but also internationally, and at European

Union level. This is due to statistical data, which indicates, for example, in the

European Union, the existence of almost 80 million disabled people (1 in 6 people

has a disability) (European Commission, 2010).

In Romania, at the end of 2015, the total number of persons with disabilities

was of 766.153, the growth in 2006-2015 being of 50% (ANPD, 2015). Social

inclusion and the full participation of these persons in the society is a concern of the

EU, which is a signatory of the ONU Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities (European Commission 2016). Law no. 448/2006 specifies that "persons

with disabilities are those persons who, because of physical, mental or sensory lack

of the skills to carry out normal daily activities, requiring protection measures in

support of recovery, integration and social inclusion" (law no 448/2006).

1 Transilvania University of Braşov, gabriel.bratucu@unitbv.ro

2 Transilvania University of Braşov, ioana.chitu@unitbv.ro

3 Transilvania University of Braşov, gheorghita.dinca@unitbv.ro

4 Transilvania University of Braşov, madalina.stefan@unitbv.ro