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.
January has been ELMA’s biggest month yet. Thanks to the efforts of the ELMA team here in Vuokatti, much has been accomplished. This month has seen the First steps into the future Ridderrennet International circuit, Research cooperation between the Snowpolis research units and Paralympic sport, and more importantly the future of Sport and leisure for the disabled to be cradled here in Vuokatti.
This is a brief comment in English about Responsible Tourism in FITUR, since I know some people who don’t read Spanish will be interested.FITUR is the annual International Tourism Trade Fair held in Spain.
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.
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.
In a first for New Zealand, The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute at Auckland University of Technology has created a Research Programme Area in Access Tourism, headed by Sandra Rhodda.
Scott Rains has been highly commended in the Best Personal Contribution category at this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards organised by responsibletravel.com.
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.
This book of readings by Italian and international authors was prepared in 2010 by the Italian Institute of Tourism for All in order to provide an overview of historical developments, current trends and perspectives on the future of accessible tourism. The text is in Italian and English.
The European network of cities, EUROCITIES, has established a Working Group on Barrier-Free Cities for All. The Group is chaired by Ms. Barbara Berninger, City of Berlin.
The eAccess+ network aims to bridge the widening gap between the potential of ICT/AT and eAccessibility for people with disabilities and the ageing population on the one hand and the actual implementation of eAccesibility on the other hand. eAccess+ is driven by 25 core members, coming from all over Europe. It is their task to involve all stakeholder groups at national level and to expand the network by developing a group of so called “Associated Partners”.
