Opportunities and constraints for accessible nature-based destinations from the management perspective

Offering an accessible environment to visitors in nature-based destinations often involves various challenges due to the need to balance accessibility with conservation. This study investigates the influences of practical methods, design elements, and other factors that affect visitors' experience with reduced accessibility at eight nature-based destinations in the Taipei and northeast Taiwan area. Interviews with the destination managers of these eight sites have been conducted to understand their views on what constitutes 'accessible tourism', their experiences and views on the aspects of accessible tourism policy planning and management, including destination planning and design, accessibility facilities, and other management factors affecting strategies to attract visitors of various accessibility conditions. A qualitative analysis of the interviews affirms the importance placed by destination managers in providing accessible facilities. The management of the study sites combines physical facilities, visitor services, and accessible design into an all-around strategy to improve destination accessibility while maintaining the conservation of nature-based resources, which is an issue. A notable advantage is a people-oriented strategy to learn from the visitors, meet visitor demand, and improve visitor satisfaction with the sites.