Accessibility of large events: an empirical study of the Expo 2020 Dubai

María Jiménez-Andres*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Event management is a growing sector in the tourism industry and one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The sector contributes significantly to global economies and provides substantial employment opportunities. Events are spaces for social interaction, education, leisure and opportunities. More recently, interest is being placed in making events accessible, yet the emerging body of research on accessibility, inclusion and diversity in events is still scarce. The objective of this paper is to contribute to understanding the accessibility of large events in an increasingly technology-dependent industry. With this purpose in mind, an evaluation of the accessibility of the Expo 2020 in Dubai has been conducted. Expos are events that showcase the latest technologies and innovation, are attended by million visitors and have hefty budgets. These factors make these events the ideal breeding ground for the implementation of advanced technologies. The study adopts a case study approach and draws on data from observation, in-depth interviews and online, qualitative questionnaires. The participants are people with disabilities (PwDs), the organizations in charge of the accessibility of the Expo and staff that worked at the event—some of whom were also PwDs. The experiences of PwDs at the event, the accessibility provision in place and the challenges and insights of accessibility experts involved are discussed, as well as the implications and recommendations for managing the accessibility of large events.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1561-1577
Number of pages17
JournalUniversal Access in the Information Society
Volume23
Issue number4
Early online dateJan 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2024

Keywords

  • Accessibility
  • Accessible tourism
  • Dubai
  • Events
  • Expo
  • Inclusion

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