Despite global growth in the disability tourism market, tourism organisations have not realised
the full potential of this market due to a lack of understanding of this market segment as well as
the perception that PwDs do not travel. Most facilities remain inaccessible to people with both
permanent and temporary impairments. Disability movements (like the American Association of
People with Disabilities, Aspies for Freedom and Handicap International) have raised their
voices but not loud enough to stir action. Workshops, seminars and conferences have been
held but most were talk shows with no practical implications. To date, no research-based
universal accessibility framework exists for national parks in South Africa and Zimbabwe and no
practical standards have been formulated to ensure accessibility to all in these parks.
This study aimed to design a universal accessibility framework for national parks in South Africa
and Zimbabwe. To achieve this goal one of the study?s objectives was a literature review on
universal accessibility and tourism. This objective is achieved in Chapter 2. The second
objective was to establish the extent to which national parks in South Africa and Zimbabwe are
universally accessible. Interviews were conducted with park management in both countries to
meet this objective. The study also sought to establish the accessibility expectations of people
with disabilities; this was attained by administering a 10-page online questionnaire to people
with disabilities from across the globe. Finally, the study aimed to formulate a set of
recommendations and develop a framework for universal accessibility.