Digital transformation of inclusive tourism: robotics as support for people with disabilities

The technological development that characterizes the 21st century affects numerous spheres of society and economy, bringing innovative solutions and new approaches to everyday life. This development has not bypassed tourism either, where the development of inclusive solutions that enable accessibility and a better experience for tourists can be highlighted. Inclusive tourism through technologies becomes more accessible and adapted to people with disabilities, opening new opportunities for their active participation in travel. Digital transformation of tourism opens up new opportunities to improve inclusivity, especially through the application of robotics and artificial intelligence. Modern robotic technologies, including humanoid robots, assistive robots and artificial intelligence-based systems, enable better accessibility, independence and quality of service during travel. This paper investigates the role of robots and modern robotic technologies as a way of improving the accessibility for people with disabilities in the tourism and hotel industry. Robotics can provide assistance in movement, information, communication and service delivery. Special emphasis is placed on the possibility of robotics to contribute to independence, reducing barriers and increasing the quality of the tourist experience.