From Constraints to Inclusion: Identifying Leisure Barriers in Accessible Tourism in Canada Using Text Mining of Hotel Online Reviews

The project aims to improve the travel experience for people with accessibility needs by identifying and analysing the leisure constraints faced by travellers with disabilities in Canadian tourism. Using user-generated content from Tripadvisor hotel reviews, the study will focus on four- and five-star hotels in Toronto, an advanced tourism hub and policy leader under the Accessible Canada Act, where accessibility is both expected and publicly promoted. Using text mining and machine learning techniques, the review data will be classified to uncover accessibility-related barriers, with particular attention to structural, interpersonal, and intrapersonal constraints.

By identifying recurring accessibility barriers and examining how advertised accessibility features align with guest experiences, the project will generate insights to support more inclusive tourism services. The expected outcome is an analytical framework and practical recommendations to help Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs), hotel operators, and policymakers strengthen accessibility standards and enhance the inclusion of travellers with disabilities. Beyond its applied impact, the project also contributes to international research collaboration. Mount Saint Vincent University (Canada) and the Federal University of Paraná (Brazil) will benefit from strengthened academic exchange, capacity-building in computational social science, and shared advancement of accessible tourism research.

Faculty Supervisor:

Shuyue Huang

Student:

Partner:

Federal University of Parana

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Mount Saint Vincent University

Program: