Tourism, Quality of Life, and Disability: An Agency Perspective

This study applies Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach to reconceptualize accessible tourism as a domain of agency development and quality of life (QoL) enhancement for persons with disabilities (PwD). Using structural equation modeling with a U.S. sample of 422 PwD, the study investigates how QoL, measured through emotional well-being, social support, and leisure access, shapes travel motivation and intention, moderated by disability onset and financial resources. Findings reveal a significant association between QoL and both motivation and intention, suggesting that higher perceived QoL is strongly linked to increased travel drive and planning. In contrast, perceived barriers have a limited influence on these outcomes—disability onset and financial status moderate the capability conversion, underscoring the need for individualized approaches. The results challenge deficit-oriented models of accessibility, highlighting the transformative potential of tourism when framed as a capability-enhancing activity.