Accessible tourism relates to activities associated with making travel more accessible and enjoyable to the aged as well as disabled. JTM researches the psychology of understanding how to anticipate as well as meet the needs of this special category of tourist. JTM excels in associated research, advice and consulting activities related to expanding Accessible tourism throughout the world.

Accessible refers to activities associated with making facilities more friendly to the aged and disabled. This includes such things as installing ramps rat for those in wheelchairs, or making Braille signs or special announcements available for the vision impaired.
Accessible tourism extends to the concept of “universal design”, or the institutionalizing of facility design and activity planning that all people can benefit from. It’s a concept that has been taking root around the world for some 30 years, and 10 years in Japan. The Japanese government as well as private organizations are increasingly instituting regulations and standards that are serving to make Accessible tourism a broader-based reality in Japan.

Impediments to Accessible tourism to date include the following:
- User requirements are varied and costly
- Return on investment is difficult to predict
- Modifying facilities is relatively straightforward, whereas changing ingrained systems and services are not
Accessible related industries are varied, spanning transportation, architecture, city planning, medical, travel products and information, and education. Many changes need to be planned and implemented, including changes in wheelchair related transportation, announcements, medical support for people in need of convenient dialysis and treatments for a range of medical conditions. To overcome these and other challenges, a wide range of research and consulting activities must be undertaken.

At JTM, we strive to provide accurate and useful information based on the actual needs of these tourists, looking at things from their unique perspectives. We believe that Accessible tourism will be a major industry in the 21st Century, and are seeking to provide our clients with real-world solutions.

• Establishment of guidelines required for accommodation facilities for the aged and disabled
• Research activities related to the publishing of user guides for professionals in the tourism industry
• Analysis of tourism challenges related to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) laws
• Research into economic evaluations of Accessible tourism
• Consulting activities related to planning and establishment of Accessible educational courses