Barrier-free tourism adherence of selected hotels in Metropolitan Manila: Pitfalls and potholes

Gladys Wina  B. Nocon,; Dioscoro  D. Franco,

Barrier-free tourism adherence of selected hotels in Metropolitan Manila: Pitfalls and potholes

Gladys Wina B. Nocon | Dioscoro D. Franco

Abstract:

The focus of the Travel and Tourism industry on barrier-free tourism resulted from the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by United Nations, whose goal is to promote equality and non-discrimination of persons with disabilities. The research aims to examine the built environment of selected hotels in Metropolitan Manila in relation to the requirements of barrier free tourism based on the National Accommodations Standards of the Department of Tourism of the Philippines stated in DOT Memorandum Circular 2012-02 Rules and Regulations to Govern the Accreditation of Accommodation Establishment-Hotels, Resorts, and Apartment Hotels to determine their accessibility to persons with disabilities. The method used to investigate the existence of barrier-free facilities in the selected hotels were walk-through and structured observation. Research findings showed that there is still a considerable number of barrier-free requirements that need to be satisfied for the disabled individual to use independently.