Madame Sudre, Chair of the EP Intergroup on Tourism brought together key players in the tourism sector on 18 February 2009 to review the consequences of the global economic downturn for the European tourism industry. Analyses, prognoses and possible actions were presented by the European Commission, HOTREC, Social Partners and others.
The INTERREG IVc programme on innovation and environment targets the transnational exchange of experience and good practice between public sector organisations working at municipal, provincial and regional levels in the EU Member States. With the 2nd Call for proposals now open, ENAT is keen to support public authorities in their bids to design and implement transnational projects where accessible tourism is in focus.
Two new studies produced by ENAT research staff are now available for download from the ENAT website. The first report, " Rights of Tourists with Disabilities in the European Union Framework" examines the key legislation and the way in which the rights of people with disabilities are being extended and safeguarded. The second report, "Services and Facilities for Accessible Tourism in Europe" presents definitions of accessible tourism, the target public and their specific needs, and an overview of services and facilities that tourism providers can adopt to improve accessibility. Both reports include many examples of good practice drawn from several European countries, illustrating a range of accessible tourism and travel services.
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.
This report updates the Commission’s first analysis of the European tourism sector and extends it to the tourism industry of the enlarged Community. It provides a solid statistical overview and analysis of tourism demand, the competitiveness of the industry, employment and innovation.
Located in the central region of Portugal, Lousã is an area which epitomises the unspoilt beauty of the Serra da Lousã mountain landscape. Following an initiative to host the first National Accessible Tourism Conference in April 2007, Lousã civil society organised a Task Force to plan for the development of Lousã as the first Accessible Tourism Destination in Portugal. The project aims to serve as an example both nationally and internationally. The website which is currently in Portuguese, will be available in English, French and Spanish in due course.
The on-line database, 'Toegankelijk Vlaanderen' (Accessible Flanders) contains information regarding the accessibility of buildings, premises and tourist facilities such as town and city halls, schools, hotels, museums, socio-cultural centres, sports centres, cycle paths, footpaths and other tourist facilities in the region of Flanders, Belgium.
As part of the two year ENAT work programme 2006 – 2007, a study of services and facilities for accessible tourism in Europe was conducted by Toegankelijkheidsbureau (Belgium). This report presents definitions of accessible tourism, the target public and their specific needs, leading to an overview of services and facilities that tourism providers can adopt to improve accessibility.
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.
Workshop Report including summary presentations and speeches by plenary speakers, workshop conclusions and photos from the optional excursion to accessible attractions in Athens.
