Section [ 7.2.2 ] Experiences and Expectations: Accommodation - Brazilian Study of the Profile of Tourists - People with Disabilities Technical Document - 2013. Full document available here: http://www.slideshare.net/srains/full-brazilian-inclusive-tourism-market-study-2013

1. Translation – Section 7.2
Section 7.2 & [ 7.2.2 ] Experiences and Expectations: Accommodation
Study of the Profile of Tourists - People with Disabilities Technical
Document - 2013
(Original title: Estudo do Perfil de Turistas – Pessoas com Deficiência
Documento Técnico – 2013
Translation by Scott Rains, srains@oco.net
Accommodation
The city of Socorro (in the state of São Paulo), according to the respondents, is a model
of accessible tourism as it is the city that offers the best fit for people with disabilities.
This exception aside, other experiences related demonstrate that it is evident that
accessibility has not been designed holistically within hotels for instance. Only a few
specific areas are adapted.
However, the movements of a disabled guest are not only limited to that area. Thus they
experience difficulties and end up having to seek improvised solutions (at the door of the
restaurant, at serving tables, with space inside the room, with the number of rooms
available, for menus in Braille, the presence of interpreters, tactile flooring, etc.)
The availability of suitable rooms is another problem experienced by tourists with
disabilities. In times of high seasonal occupancy or when some event that involves people
with disabilities is taking place the few that there are accessible rooms are insufficient to
meet the demand.
It was also noted that hotels have failed to provide for the preparation and competency of
those who guide and receive people with disabilities. The expectation is that hotel staff
should be able to provide information about the city and conditions of tourist attractions,
yet this most often does not happen.

2. Quotes from respondents:
"Some I call and book easily because a friend has been there and told me about the hotel.
I've had trouble with is the lack of suitable hotel. It is because there are times of year
when it is difficult... When you have an event, a fair, a sporting event involving people
with disability, you have 4, 5, 6 thousand people with disabilities and no location has
adapted for all these people. Then it is impossible." (Rio de Janeiro – Motor Disability
EP)
"In addition to tourist sites hotels must also adapt. There is a lack adaptation also for the
Deaf. Blind and wheelchair users already have quite a lot today, but not the Deaf...
Communication that is barred is a question of communication." (Belo Horizonte –
Auditory Disability EP)
"I was in the Pantanal in rather simple accommodation. They had there many stairs, a
staircase. It was hard. If I had been a wheelchair user there would have been no way."
(São Paulo – Visual Disability EP)
"At the hotel we stayed last time, did not have the room number embossed, so I said
that when I left that I would need someone to help me get back. They became angry.
Within room everything is digital. You can not find the button that turns the air. The
hotels do not have human resources. The bathroom does not have the support bar in the
shower stall and no space to enter with a wheelchair. The reception desks are high and
cannot be reached in a wheelchair cannot be reached. This was all in Brasilia." (Porto
Alegre - Focus Group)
Source: Pp 35 -36
Full document available here:
http://www.slideshare.net/srains/full-brazilian-inclusive-tourism-market-study-2013