Identifying Factors Affecting the Tendency of Physically Challenged Women to Tourism (Case Study: Babolsar City)

 The purpose of the present study is to identify the factors affecting the tendency of women with physical disabilities to travel and tourism.

Design/methodology/approach: 

This study was conducted with a quantitative approach and a survey method. The statistical population includes 781 physically disabilities women of Babolsar city, and using the Cochran formula, 257 people were selected as a statistical sample with a multi-stage sampling method. The data collection tool is a questionnaire.

The findings showed that the tendency of physically disabilities women to travel is lower than the average level. Women experience a strong feeling of rejection in terms of social participation, normative integration, access to social rights and material deprivation is also at a low level. Regression analysis showed that social participation and feeling of material deprivation respectively had the greatest effect on their tendency to travel. Bivariate analyzes also indicated the existence of a significant difference in the tendency of physically disabilities women to travel according to age, education, occupation and cause of disability(p<0/005).

This study provides a more distinct picture of the impact of social exclusion on physically disabilities women and its impact on tourism and travel. Since tourism can be effective in strengthening mental health and their return to the society, providing the ground for disabled tourism should be given more attention.

Originality/value: 

This study is one of the first researches in the field of physically disabled women and tourism in Iran.