Report by Sandra Rhodda
Research Manager,
Tai Poutini Polytechnic

Tourism is New Zealand’s primary export earner, and the West Coast’s largest employer. There is a growing trend worldwide to cater to niche-tourism markets. People with disabilities represent a large and growing niche tourism market, one that New Zealand and the West Coast has not yet begun to fully exploit. This market has increasing discretionary funds and financial power, is articulate and web savvy, and very interested in travel. There is a significant opportunity for the West Coast to place itself as a region of excellence in tourism for people with disabilities. However, awareness of this market and the ability to cater for it is currently negligible. This report provides an overview of the access market, a preliminary examination of the provision of West Coast tourism services for people with disabilities, and suggests ways in which this large and growing market can be researched and developed.

This report is copyright and all information in it must be cited if referred to. When quoting this report, please cited as "Tourism for visitors to New Zealand with mobility problems: a West Coast perspective. S. Rhodda, Tai Poutini Polytechnic Research Report, June 2006".

Click the following to read the full report

Visitors to New Zealand with Mobility Problems Adobe Acrobat Document: 443 KB, 65 seconds @ 56kbps by Sandra Rhodda