Boomers, many of whom came of age holding a protest sign, are joining forces with disability and senior groups to add muscle to the cause of increased accessibility in travel. “They don’t intend to let hip replacements and insulin shots stop them from traveling,” says Rains. “Nor will they be pandered to, stigmatized, or written off.”
In a unique partnership – the first of its kind anywhere in the UK – Capability Scotland and VisitScotland have teamed up this summer to explore disabled people’s experiences of being a tourist in Scotland.
Put your city on the European map as a proactive supporter of accessibility for persons with disabilities. The Access City Award sets out to showcase and reward cities with over 50,000 inhabitants which take exemplary initiatives to improve accessibility in the urban environment.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is convinced that the facilitation of tourist travel by persons with disabilities is a vital element of any responsible and sustainable tourism development policy. Announcing a new tri-lateral agreement with external partners, Fundación ONCE and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the UNWTO aims to provide guidance in this area to policy makers, destinations and tourist enterprises.
The UNWTO Ulysses Prize and Awards are given in recognition for Innovation and Application of Knowledge in Tourism Governance. ENAT warmly congratulates Šent, the Slovenian Association for Mental Health and Kéroul, Canada on each receiving this prestigious award in recognition of their innovative work.
The European Greenways Association announces the 5th European Greenways Award, 2011. This award, recognising the promotion and development of non-motorized routes in European countries and regions, was created in 2003 (1st EGA) and, since then, has been held biennially.
As a result of the activities of the Foundation " Ne spirai / Don’t Stop” the "Cluster for accessible tourism (CAT)” was founded, with the core purpose of promoting business and development of accessible tourism in Bulgaria with the brand "Bulgaria for All".
February marks the end of ELMA’s first year in action and It will also mark the beginning of a new era for ELMA. The future of ELMA looks bright and it is now hoped that the next steps for ELMA will bring local enterprise closer so that together we may move into developing an Accessible Vuokatti… A VUOKATTI FOR ALL!
As part of the CALYPSO Preparatory Action, the European Commission has approved the project presented by Spain, Portugal and Poland to work jointly on preparing a seniors exchange system in the low season. Representatives of the three national administrations will work for eleven months to start up these transnational exchanges of senior tourists in 2012.
The general objective of the project "TOURISM INCLUSIVE - Competencies for Care of People with Disabilities" was to conduct a study that may contribute to the achievement of national policy of inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly in regard to their access to tourism services by: The identification of specific needs of people with disabilities, on the reception - service - service; The identification of skills, in terms of care and service necessary to meet those needs; The construction of a "package" of training aimed at developing these specific skills.
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.
Evaluation Report (Spain) - Working Document, May 2010. The seasonality of tourism in Spain, and in Europe in general, is one of the most relevant limitations when trying to improve its competitiveness, and business and social-economic profitability. In a time of recession and budget cuts in the public administrations, an opportunity to strengthen the tourist activity in the mid and low seasons arises, by rekindling the labour market with an active employment policy, strengthening the relations between the societies of the EU member states, and extending citizens’ right to travel and go on holiday, through social programmes that facilitate and motivate new influxes of tourists.
