3. Diversity and Inclusion: Emerging Metaverse to Promote Accessible Tourism

The chapter delves into the transformative potential of the Metaverse in promoting accessible tourism, highlighting its ability to offer immersive experiences for individuals with disabilities and seniors. It explores the benefits of the Metaverse in tourism, such as enhancing accessibility, affordability, and sustainability, as well as the challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. The text also discusses the current state of research on the Metaverse in tourism and calls for future research from the perspectives of customers, businesses, and policymakers. It provides practical examples of how the Metaverse is already being used in the tourism industry, such as virtual tours and hotel experiences. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the need for more empirical studies to fully realize the potential of the Metaverse in promoting accessible and sustainable tourism.