This report presents an analysis of the terminology related to disability, accessibility
and tourism. The demand and supply analysis covers an estimation of the market size
for accessibility in Europe and worldwide, the identification of key stakeholders and the
current supply of accessible products and services.
Prepared by the Irish National Disability Authority, this draft code of practice explains the obligations of public bodies to ensure that, as far as practicable, the whole or part of a heritage site in its ownership, management or control and to which the public has access, is accessible to people with disabilities and can be visited by them with ease and dignity.
Published by the Irish National Disability Authority, this guidance document is aimed at ensuring the speedy and safe evacuation of public buildings by people with a disability, particularly in the event of an emergency.
The British Standards Institution (BSI) worked together with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and VisitBritain to develop a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) that gives guidance on the accessibility and services offered to disabled people or people with a long-term health condition in the UK by large hotel premises and hotel chains. Several international hotel chains and stakeholder groups participated in producing the specification.
Although the BSI website states that the document, codenamed "PAS 88:2008" was: "Sponsored by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and VisitBritian (sic)", copies of the guidance document are not free of charge. Single copies may be purchased (costing GBP 50.00) and downloaded in PDF format from the BSI website.
Guidance document providing information on how to meet the requiurements for accessibility for disabled persons in relation to UK building regulations.
The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism was adopted by resolution A/RES/406(XIII) at the thirteenth WTO General Assembly (Santiago, Chile, 27 September -
1 October 1999).
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and was opened for signature on 30 March 2007. The Convention is intended as a human rights instrument with an explicit, social development dimension. It adopts a broad categorization of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
European tourism policy has to be considered in a political framework defined by limited competences for the EU institutions, powers that are exercised in a very prudent way.
This 'Publicly Available Specification' (PAS) has been developed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and VisitBritain in collaboration with The British Standards Institution (BSI). The book is intended to help owners and managers of large hotels and hotel chains meet their obligations under the UK Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
On 3rd April 2008, Ecuador signed up as the twentieth country to ratify the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Tunisia and Jordan signed earlier the same week. This will bring the Convention automatically into force on 3rd May. This is a significant landmark for travel and tourism policy and provision, as the Convention includes the right of disabled people to equal participation in cultural activities, including recreation, leisure and sport (Article 30).
Following an invitation of the representative of the Federal Government of Germany for Tourism, Mr. Ernst Hinsken (Member of the German Parliament / Deutscher Bundestag) experts recently discussed first results of a new study with the title “Success factors and actions to improve quality in accessible tourism in Germany” at a conference which took place during International Tourism Fair in Berlin at 6th March 2008.
The European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) has registered this week as a non-profit organisation in Belgium. This marks an exciting new phase in its European and international operations.
