This study examines the relationship between personality traits (using the
Big Five-Factor model, BFF), and participation and its intensity in holiday
trips for German people without and with moderate and severe
disabilities. Namely, this study investigates the contribution of the BFF
model to understanding this relationship among travellers with
different degrees of disability, and fills a gap in the literature on tourism
and disability. Data from the 2013 and 2019 German Socioeconomic
Panel surveys were used. To consider the particular nature of our
dependent variable we run three different regression models (i.e. binary
and ordered probit models for panel data, and a zero-inflated ordered
probit model). Overall, there are significant differences in the impact of
personality traits on participation in holiday trips by disability status but
not in all dimensions and directions. For example, the dimension
‘consciousness’ positively affects the participation in holiday trips of
people with disabilities (greater if the individual has a severe disability).
The impact of ‘agreeableness’ on the likelihood to participate in holiday
trips is lower for those people having a moderate/severe disability.
Public programmes and policies for people with different degrees of
disabilities must consider their personality traits to promote and
increase their travel opportunities.
