An analysis of the accessibility of objects and services of cultural institutions in Penza region for people with disabilities in the context of development inclusive tourism in the region 

Liudmila B. Esina, Candidate of economic sciences, associate professor of the sub-department of marketing, commerce and service industry, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), E-mail: esinalb@rambler.ru
Svetlana V. Zinchenko, Candidate of economic sciences, associate professor, associate professor of the sub-department of marketing, commerce and service industry, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), E-mail: slatynova@mail.ru
Natalia V. Utkina, Candidate of economic sciences, associate professor, associate professor of the sub-department of marketing, commerce and service industry, Penza State University (40 Krasnaya street, Penza, Russia), E-mail: natalya.utkina-pnz@yandex.ru 

Background. The relevance of the research is due to the importance of increasing the accessibility of objects and services of organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry for people with disabilities, including objects and services of cultural institutions. The purpose of the study is to determine the current level of accessibility of objects and services of cultural institutions of the Penza region for people with disabilities as an integral part of the tourism and hospitality industry of the region, as well as to assess the willing-ness of the participation of cultural institutions in the development of inclusive tourism in the region. Materials and methods. The information base of the research was official statistics, materials on the legal regulation of tourism and providing an accessible environment, analytical materials and scientific papers on the problems of assessing the accessibility of objects and services of organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry, and the authorsʼ own research. The research was carried out using general scientific methods (abst-raction, synthesis, analogy, etc.) and empirical methods (observation, questionnaires, inter-views, expert surveys and “field” research). Results. As a result of the research, systemic problems were identified in ensuring the accessibility of objects and services of cultural institutions of the Penza region for people with disabilities, limiting their inclusion in regional inclusive projects – tour programs, tourist routes and excursions as part of the deve-lopment of inclusive tourism in the region. Conclusions. Assessing the accessibility of ob-jects and services of cultural institutions in the region for people with disabilities contributes to the inclusion of institutions in the process of creating an inclusive environment in the region, increasing their level of accessibility, building a dialogue between different or-ganizations – objects of research, government authorities and local communities of people with disabilities, which in turn stimulates creating an environment for the development of inclusive tourism in the region. 

inclusive tourism, Penza region, accessible environment, cultural objects, tourism and hospitality industry, inclusive tourism services, people with disabilities 

Esina L.B., Zinchenko S.V., Utkina N.V An analysis of the accessibility of objects and services of cultural institutions in Penza region for people with disabilities in the context of development inclusive tourism in the region. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Povolzhskiy region. Obshchestvennye nauki = University proceedings. Volga region. Social sciences. 2022;(2):180–191. (In Russ.). doi:10.21685/2072-3016-2022-2-17