At a congress held last week by the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), over 200 representatives from international disability organisations, tourist boards and private enterprise came to the overwhelming conclusion that accessible tourism is the fastest-growing business opportunity in the tourism industry.
This week the Marina d'Or beachside holiday resort in the Region of Valencia, Spain welcomes some 200 delegates at the ENAT International Congress on Tourism for All, organised by Fundación ONCE and supported by the European Commission. Guest speakers from North and South America, as well as Australia will complement European presenters from all sectors of the tourism industry, public authorities, NGOs and centres of research and education.
ENAT member, "Accessible Travel and Leisure", is a leading UK specialist in tailor-made holidays for customers with disabilities. Now the company is offering business franchises, providing opportunities for people with disabilities to run their own business from home, selling accessible holidays.
Thanks to the guide Monza per Tutti (Monza for All), Monza, a Lombard city lying 15 km northeast of Milan, can now offer specified information about physical accessibility and a number of accommodations, facilities, restaurants and museums. In this way it will be easier for everyone to plan their visit to Monza.
The European Destinations of Excellence project has posted a promotional video on the video-sharing site, YouTube. But accessibility does not feature in it!
The website, VisitOSLO.com has launched a brand new search function with information especially suited to tourists with disabilities. The information is intended to make it easier for visitors with wheelchairs, walking difficulties, visual impairments, hearing impairments and asthma/allergies to plan their visit to Oslo.
The project aims to identify and define requirements of the demand and supply sides in the tourism sector (both disabled people and tourist industry workers); to prepare an information model for disabled tourists, (by including disabled people in the whole process), and to deliver suitable training programmes for the tourism sector.
The project 'EU.FOR.ME Tourist training for a wider target' aims at filling a gap that Schools, Universities and Training Centres offering programmes on Tourism, have in many European countries. It addresses how disabilities can be taken into consideration in the organisation of tourism training modules.
Accessible Portugal is a commercial organisation whose mission is to provide services to disabled visitors and other tourists who have restricted mobility.
Workshop Report including summary presentations and speeches by plenary speakers, workshop conclusions and photos from the optional excursion to accessible attractions in Athens.
