Myopia in Wellness Tourism

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people with disabilities (PwDs) represent 16% of the global population, which means that 1 in 6 people has at least 1 type of disability. Despite the continuous growth of this segment, professionals and researchers have a myopia in considering them in industry or academia, especially in niche markets (e.g., wellness tourism). Disabilities not only deprive people from enjoying travel experiences but also deter their families from taking a break from their daily stressful life. Wellness tourism aims to offer relaxing, recreational, and spiritual experiences. When PwDs decide to travel for medical or wellness purposes, they struggle to get enough information about the adaptability of wellness destinations; hence, their relaxing trip turns into a disturbing one. This chapter aims to address the ignored issues in wellness tourism. The chapter consists of five parts. The first part clarifies the distinction among health, medical, and wellness tourism for PwDs. The second part discusses the myopia issue in wellness tourism. The third part studies the diverse barriers that PwDs face before, during, and after traveling. The fourth part delves deeper into the psychological and behavioral consequences of wellness tourism for PwDs. The fifth part proposes recommendations for stakeholders in this field.