Tourism is dedicated to catering for the preferences of a wide range of customers, but
genuinely inclusive travel, whether for business or for leisure, can be hard to find. Ivor Ambrose is Managing Director of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT),
a not-for-profit association which promotes accessible tourism. Here he sets out key issues and case studies showing inclusive tourism in action. Meanwhile Sandra Cooper’s description of her stay in an exceptional destination illustrates some of the possibilities available.
A slide presentation with the main results of a Study on EU accessible tourism standards, by Ivor Ambrose, Pilar Soret and Carolina Vicens given at the Fundación ONCE International Congress on Tourism for All, Valladolid, Spain, 26 November 2010.
A number of facilities are available to visitors with special access needs who wish to visit Cyprus. This guide describes the accessibility of hotels, attractions, museums, churches, restaurants, urban areas, beaches, nature trails and transportation.
The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology is conducting a survey for the New Zealand National Foundation for the Deaf concerning the tourism, travel, and hospitality needs of people with hearing impairments. The survey aims to gather responses from people all over the world who are either deaf or have hearing loss.
The Strategic Framework for Tourism in England 2010 – 2020, launched in spring 2010, identified key drivers for securing our industry’s future. A series of Action Plans outlining shared priorities have now been compiled by cross-industry groups focussing on activities to be implemented in the first three years of the Strategic Framework’s 10 year period. ENAT Members are invited to download the Action Plans and send comments to VisitEngland.
London 20 January 2011. The most comprehensive business case for accessible tourism in England launches today. The booklet, entitled ‘At Your Service’, has been created through a joint partnership between the Government’s Accessible Tourism Stakeholder Forum and VisitEngland with the aim of inspiring tourism businesses to improve accessibility for customers in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic Games & Paralympic Games.
Accessible Travel Netherlands has been developed to raise awareness about the increasing need of information about access for tourists and to provide reliable information for visitors. This need comes especially from the rising numbers of tourist that might face a disability.
VisitEngland, the national tourist board of England, has launched a new online tool aimed to help businesses cater better for visitors with access needs. VisitEngland requires any business that is part of the quality assessment schemes for accommodation and attractions to have an Access Statement.
The Vice Minister for Trade and Tourism, Pilar Zorrilla, presided over the first seal award event, held in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The Accessible Seal is the result of the Accessibility Programme developed by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Trade and Tourism of the Basque Government which prepares businesses to orient their services to all visitors.
HORESTA, the Danish trade organisation for hotel, restaurant and tourist businesses which awards stars to the Danish Hotels, has published its new criteria and points system for 2010 onwards. One of the new elements that gives points for a hotel or conference centre, is whether the venue is a member of an accessibility labelling scheme.
The Honourable Tariana Turia, Minister for Disabilities Issues and co-leader of the Maori Party opened the inaugural Access Tourism New Zealand Conference at AUT University Auckland on Monday (October 4th, 2010). The conference, organized by the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute, was attended by over 100 delegates.
The newly opened Scandic Oslo Airport hotel has wheelchair access in all 245 rooms. Each room also serves as a haven for allergy sufferers, who have also been given full consideration in all the public spaces in the hotel. Scandic has tried to think of all forms of physical disability: mobility issues, allergies and impaired sight or hearing. Scandic Oslo Airport is the first hotel in the Nordic region to be approved by the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association (NAAF).
