Virtual reality-based technologies, using 360-degree videos of tourism destinations viewed on a VR headset can substitute for real trips and help tourists dream or plan for the next vacation. A new survey indicates an opportunity for creating a parallel economy for tourist guides as 360-video content providers.
Under the INVITE project funding scheme for SMEs, Eyemmersive (EYEM) proposes to create a Digital Market Place for Immersive Tourism based on VR technologies. The service concept provides a new source of income for professional tourist guides in destinations around the globe, delivering Eyemmersive™ local tourism content to extend the reach of tourism operators and provide a promotional opportunity towards independent travellers.
IMPACTOUR will create an innovative and easy-to-use methodology and tool to measure and assess the impact of Cultural Tourism (CT) on European economic and social development and to improve Europe’s policies and practices on CT, strengthening its role as a sustainable driving force in the growth and economic development of European regions.
In the cross-border project GATE the collaborating Austrian and Italian partners promote barrier-free tourism for all in Alpine regions, aiming to expand the accessibility of natural heritage sites and contribute to sustainable regional development.
The Pantou Accessible Tourism Directory was established initially as a data collection tool for a European Commission study of the supply of accessible tourism in Europe in 2014. It lists tourism suppliers who are able to offer accessible tourism services to customers with specific access needs, older persons, people with disabilities, families with young children and those who have a long-term health condition. Since the end of March, 2017 the Pantou Directory has been opened up to include accessible tourism suppliers based in any country - not only those located in Europe. Suppliers may register free of charge.
This Handbook is a learning material focused on Inclusive Tourist Guiding. Its creation was initiated by the tourist guides, who meet tourists with access needs more and more often in their work, as their number is growing mainly due to the ageing population. Training offers on this topic are weak or completely absent in most countries.
Inclusive (or also accessible) guiding is based on the concept of Accessible Tourism, that endeavours to improve tourist destinations, products and services so that they are accessible to all people regardless of their age, abilities, permanent or temporary limitations and impairments.
Accessibility is an important topic in tourism, yet often overlooked. It seems that the main reason for that is lack of knowledge and cooperation between key stakeholders. This Report is therefore created as a brief guideline introducing this topic with particular attention being paid to Visitors with specific access requirements.
Accessibility is an important topic in tourism, yet often overlooked. It seems that the main reason for that is lack of knowledge and cooperation between key stakeholders. This Report is therefore created as a brief guideline introducing this topic with particular attention being paid to the Industry - tourism providers - who need to be aware of visitors' specific access requirements and learn how to cater appropriately for their needs, so as to improve their competitiveness and sustainability.
Accessibility is an important topic in tourism, yet often overlooked. It seems that the main reason for that is lack of knowledge and cooperation between key stakeholders. This Report is created as a brief guideline introducing this topic with particular attention being paid to the role of Policy Makers in fostering a suitable environment for cooperation and motivation of all stakeholders in order to lift up the tourism offer and environment for living.
