SubscribeIt is that time of year again where the Rolling Rains Report gets trotted out for public scrutiny in international competitions like the Geotourism Challenge from Ashoka's Changemakers. Scott Rains' work sometimes gets emphasized as in the following online comment by travel writer Monica Guy but the real value of these events is to publicize far and wide the extraordinary dynamism and accomplishments of the worldwide network researching, developing, and putting into practice Inclusive Tourism and Inclusive Destination Development:
Scott's project description goes some way to describing what he has dedicated his life to doing, but in no way conveys the absolute enormity of what he has managed to achieve. He has connected thousands of travellers with disabilities from all over the world to each other, to a knowledge base that he has built up himself, and to the tourism industry. His network spans every time zone and his name, among people in the disability community, brings cries of recognition and more often than not personal memories. He does this all at his own expense of time and money, and more often than not at the expense of his health and personal life. He does it not because he is a "do-gooder", but because he is a man driven by a passion for social justice.
My own personal memory of Scott is from his whirlwind tour of South Africa in February this year. He galvanised the sluggish authorities into action, advised and encouraged wherever and whenever he could, gave invaluable support and recognition to the few ongoing projects that existed for people with disabilities - and proved an excellent, entertaining travel companion. Among other things, his encouragement and the network of contacts he introduced me to led me to launch the website: www.accessiblecapetown.com. He continues to play a huge role in moving forward the issue of inclusive tourism in South Africa.
A unique man, an invaluable resource, an absolutely vital challenge for the global tourism industry.
Source:
http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/21222
The Rolling Rains submission to the 2009 Goetourism Challenge "The Power of Place" begins:
Who travels is as important as where.
Human experience of the "power" of place depends on the quality of attention and the character of interaction (both physical and social.) Responsible Tourism sets out guidelines for the proper intention toward place. Geotourism sets out guidelines for the proper sustenance and enhancement of place. The Global Sustainability Criteria for Tourism sets out guidelines for the proper development of place. Inclusive Tourism sets out to alert all three that understanding "who" experiences place is essential to creating just and sustainable tourism. It does so by giving voice to the quality of tourist experience from a group who have historically been denied access to tourism - people with disabilities.
The Rolling Rains Report uses best practices from Universal Design to improve the quality of tourism management (Inclusive Tourism) and its impact on the destination (Inclusive Destination Development). We believe that Green Design embodies environmental sustainability ; Universal Design closes the circle by providing the social sustainability of inclusion.
This project is a product of disability culture - a culture shaped by "ways of being in a body," and thus ways of being in and experiencing a place.For the full story see:
http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/21221
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