EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF IMPROVED INCLUSIVITY MEASURES ON TOURIST SATISFACTION AND ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS IN ACCESSIBLE TOURISM IN PUDUCHERRY

Purpose: This research investigates the current paradigm of accessible tourism, aims to understand the intersections of disabilities and the factors influencing their delight in perceiving tourism services. Methods: The study utilized a combination of quantitative methods, including Chi-Square tests, ANOVA, and t-tests, a mixed method approach are employed to analyse survey data from 330 individuals representing different demographic strata. An explanatory investigation scrutinizes the demographic dynamics, their interrelations (age, gender, disability status) and key aspects of accessible tourism, like information adequacy, accommodation adaptability and transportation convenience. Results: The empirical findings indicate significant short comings in the development of accessible tourism infrastructure, emphasizing the need for comprehensive training of awareness, strategies and training. The study also reveals that travellers with differential needs experience more challenges than others, signalling a clear need for policy reforms and industry adaptations to improve accessibility. Findings: The findings augment the burgeoning field of inclusive tourism, by generating actionable implications.