3 December 2020. Press Release. Ensuring accessibility for tourists with specific access requirements can be a ‘game changer’ for destinations around the world as they look to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic. A new set of Inclusive Recovery Guides from the World Tourism Organization, produced in partnership with the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the ONCE Foundation of Spain and Travability from Australia, makes clear the importance of placing inclusivity at the centre of recovery plans and provides key recommendations for achieving this.
The European Commission has launched its 2019 campaign to raise awareness of passengers' rights. Although the European Union has made great strides in establishing common passenger rights for those travelling by air or rail, not every European is yet aware of what he or she is entitled to.
Partners of the EU-funded ERASMUS+ project, NEWSCAT have curated a set of course materials aimed at increasing the knowledge, skills and competences of tourism professionals to cater for the diverse requirements of visitors with disabilities, seniors, families and others with specific access requirements.
27 June 2019. The Prime Minister has announced the UK’s first ever Tourism Sector Deal today, reaffirming the UK’s global role as a key player in the industry.
Langley, UK 5th March 2019. Campaign allied to the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2019 targets greater use of the DPNA Special Service Request code, used to alert airlines when a traveler has an intellectual or developmental disability and needs assistance.
US-based Open Doors Organization (ODO) and Aira have joined forces to further the availability of Aira technology in the travel and tourism industries,benefiting individuals with vision loss worldwide.
The project, wholly financed by a grant from the Booking Cares Fund awarded to Ms. Xun Ji, a young disabled Chinese woman, will provide accessible tourism information services and cultural experience opportunities for both Chinese and foreign travellers with particular access needs, while at the same time engaging professionals in the travel industry, preparing them for the new caring economy.
Madrid is a top tourist destination, offering everything from art and culture to leisure and sports, as well as restaurants, shops and green spaces. There are so many places to go, so many things to do… And the city continues to improve its accessibility provisions so that all visitors can make the most of their trip to the Spanish capital.
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.
8 May 2018. This study has undertaken literature reviews, user and experts’ questionnaires, interviews and workshop surveys, analysis of EU legislation, SWOT and Multi-Criteria Analysis, identification of best practices and analyses of case studies. This has led to a mapping of accessibility across the EU Member States (identifying relevant state clusters) for three different sectors: local transport, long-distance transport, and tourism. Specific policies, research priorities and recommendations are made per state clusters and for the EU, which can enhance accessibility in each of the three sectors.
