Accessible Ocean Tourism in Travel, Tourism, and Recreation: Bridging Policy and Practice for Inclusive and Sustainable Destinations

Accessible tourism has gained increasing attention within travel and recreation studies; however, ocean and coastal tourism contexts remain insufficiently examined from a disability inclusion perspective. This article situates Accessible Ocean Tourism within the broader fields of travel, tourism, and recreation, arguing that inclusive access to ocean environments is both a human rights obligation and a strategic policy priority for sustainable destination development. Drawing on disability studies, accessible tourism literature, and international frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the paper identifies gaps between policy intent and lived travel experiences of persons with disabilities. It proposes pathways for governments, destination management organizations, and private sector actors—particularly through corporate social responsibility (CSR)—to bridge these gaps and advance inclusive, safe, and meaningful ocean-based travel and recreation. 

Keywords: Accessible Tourism, Disability Travel, Ocean Tourism, Inclusive Recreation, Public Policy, CSR, UNCRPD, Sustainable Destinations.