Barrier-free environment as a prerequisite for sustainable tourism development in Ukraine

Abstract

The article examines the barrier-free environment as a key factor in ensuring the sustainable development of tourism in Ukraine. A barrier-free environment is not only a matter of social responsibility, but also an important tool for the sustainable development of the tourism business in Ukraine. Creating accessible tourism will allow integrating vulnerable categories of the population into tourism activities, increasing the economic efficiency of the industry and improving the international image of the country. Investments in accessibility are investments in the future that take into account the interests of everyone. The object of the study is the socio-economic processes of the development of the tourism sector of Ukraine in the context of transformation to an inclusive model of spatial organization. The subject of the study is the structural and functional characteristics of the barrier-free environment in tourism, the mechanisms of its integration into the tourism development management system and the practices of implementing accessibility principles in the strategic planning of sustainable tourism. The methodological basis of the study is an interdisciplinary approach that combines a systemic analysis to identify relationships between elements of tourism infrastructure and inclusive access conditions; institutional approach to the analysis of regulatory and legal principles and management practices for the formation of a barrier-free space; comparative analysis of foreign experience in developing inclusive tourism to adapt best practices in the Ukrainian context. It is substantiated that the inclusiveness of tourism infrastructure is not only an element of social responsibility, but also a strategic resource for expanding the market of tourism services, increasing the competitiveness of destinations and integrating into international standards of sustainable development. The regulatory and legal prerequisites for the formation of an inclusive space are analyzed, in particular the provisions of the National Strategy for the Creation of a Barrier-Free Space by 2030, as well as Ukraine's international legal obligations in the field of the rights of persons with disabilities. A structural model for the formation of an inclusive tourist environment is proposed, which integrates the principles of universal design, information and spatial accessibility, digital inclusion, professional training of personnel, regulatory regulation and intersectoral interaction. The results of the study confirm that the implementation of barrier-free solutions in the tourism sector is a necessary condition for achieving sustainable development goals, in particular in the aspects of social equality, accessibility of economic opportunities and preservation of cultural diversity. The conclusion is made about the feasibility of institutionalizing inclusive tourism as a priority area of state tourism policy.