Tourism For All NZ Research Group

If you have travelled as a companion of someone living with dementia (for at least one night, within New Zealand or overseas) please consider participating in this research project and sharing the invitation with others 🙏✨

New research alert 🚨 Check out the below if you're a care partner and have travelled with your person living with dementia mate wareware 👇

On Wednesday, Dr Brielle Gillovic – co-lead of AUT’s Tourism For All NZ Research Group – took part in Panel Two: The Thinkers at Access Matters Aotearoa’s Kōrero for Change on Tourism 🧠

She joined Associate Professor Susan Houge Mackenzie (University of Otago), Dr Eliza Raymond (Victoria University of Wellington), and moderator Hope Cotton (Victoria University of Wellington Disabled Students Association) for an important national conversation challenging ableism and reimagining tourism to be inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all 🎤

The online event also featured panels with The Deciders, The Creators, and The Doers, as well as a special appearance from Hon. Louise Upston, Minister for Disability Issues and Minister for Tourism and Hospitality 👏

View the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeDGsHsSJwknt

Dr Brielle Gillovic – co-lead of AUT - Auckland University of Technology's Tourism For All NZ Research Group – is looking forward to taking part in Panel Two: The Thinkers at Access Matters Aotearoa's upcoming Kōrero for Change on Tourism 🧠

She will join Associate Professor Susan Houge Mackenzie (University of Otago), Dr Eliza Raymond (Victoria University of Wellington), and moderator Hope Cotton (Victoria University of Wellington Disabled Students Association) for an important conversation aimed at challenging ableism and reimagining a more accessible and inclusive tourism for all 🎤

Date: Wednesday 15 October
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Where: Zoom (NZSL interpreters available)
Register: https://bit.ly/42mte26

Upcoming event - Access Matters Aotearoa's Kōrero for Change on Tourism 🗺️

Date: Wednesday 15 October
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Where: Zoom (NZSL interpreters available)
Register: https://bit.ly/42mte26

We’re excited to share that AUT - Auckland University of Technology's Tourism For All NZ Research Group – co-led by Professor Alison McIntosh and Dr Brielle Gillovic – is a Finalist for the 2025 Travel Unity Outstanding Academic Research Award 🎖️

This award honours individuals and institutions shaping the future of travel, tourism, and hospitality through innovative research and teaching.

The Tourism For All NZ Research Group is recognised for its internationally published and externally funded work, advancing accessible and inclusive tourism for people with disabilities and chronic or terminal illnesses, and other marginalised groups.

Travel Unity, a New York-based not-for-profit advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in tourism, will celebrate finalists and winners at the awards dinner on the 3rd of December 2025 in New York City.

Read more: https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/.../7c74861d-a720.../home

We wish them the best of luck! 🍀

“The Greek government is fast-tracking new regulations to improve accessibility on passenger ferries, following a widely condemned incident that exposed serious gaps in the current infrastructure” ⛴️

Greece Accelerates Ferry Accessibility Reforms After Public Outcry - tovima.com A new presidential order will mandate ramps, accessible cabins, and visual/auditory aids to improve travel for people with disabilities.

"Each year I see many people with mobility issues struggling to get to the beach, to spend time out in the sun with their families and relax as they enjoy our outdoors, but now thanks to the hard compact bases on the walkways and the wide open decking everyone can now access the beach area” 🏖️

New beach platforms open up stunning views Two newly constructed viewing platforms at Canterbury beaches are proving very popular. Woodend-Sefton Community Board chair Shona Powell said...

“I am disabled and was left stranded on the jet bridge floor at Heathrow by American Airlines when pre-booked special assistance did not arrive. Instead of helping, a crew member filmed me in distress” 📱

American Airlines crew filmed my distress after wheelchair failed to arrive at Heathrow My pre-booked assistance did not arrive when my plane landed in London, but its staff did not help me

“Getting the help you need while travelling with a disability – especially one that’s not immediately obvious to those around you – can be tough. Several Australian airports have implemented a new programme to make things easier for people with hidden disabilities” 🇦🇺

Support with Sunflowers at Australian Airports | Travel Without Limits People with hidden disabilities are at a disadvantage when travelling because of non-obvious signs, but a new program that starts with a lanyard is here to help.

We are so pleased to announce the publication of our new book, ‘The dis/abled tourist: Navigating an ableist tourism world’ 🤗✨

In this book, we challenge what is arguably an exclusionary, marginalising, discriminatory, and ableist (tourism) world, and provoke the need to change binary thinking about people who live with disability so that they may be ‘able’ to assume the role of tourist.

Read a sample chapter, purchase the Ebook, or preorder your hard copy here (publication date: April 24) — https://books.emeraldinsight.com/book/detail/the-disabled-tourist/?k=9781804558294

Snapshots of accessibility and inclusion from my recent travels in Birmingham, UK 🌻