Blog Action Day: Inclusive Tourism & Geotourism

My contribution to Blog Action Day 2009 comes in several parts. This year's theme is global warming so I have taken the opportunity to lay out the Green / Universal Design convergence in tourism.

First is a reprint of the article "Disability and Human Rights: Questions for Geotourism Projects" which was first published by the Ecumenical Council on Tourism and links the natural synergies between Inclusive Tourism and geotourism.

Developing on this idea, but published several years earlier, is an article on Universal Design called,"Theme Parks, Imaginary Worlds, and Real Access." It examines some of the criteria involved in when and where Universal Design must be adhered to.

The third piece is a more general overview of the "Social Model of Disability" underlying this whole chain of reasoning.

Global warming and eco-responsibility emerges in a more obvious way with the final piece the "Waypoint-Backstrom Principles" on inclusive maritime environments.

Finally, on the "Small is Beautiful" principle I offer the Waypoint-Backstrom Principles. Small boats produce a much more benign ecological footprint as Sherri Backstrom, owner of Waypoint Yacht Charter Services argues in her Geotourism Chllenge submission. Below are some of the principles behind her passion;