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.
HORESTA, the Danish trade organisation for hotel, restaurant and tourist businesses which awards stars to the Danish Hotels, has published its new criteria and points system for 2010 onwards. One of the new elements that gives points for a hotel or conference centre, is whether the venue is a member of an accessibility labelling scheme.
The Honourable Tariana Turia, Minister for Disabilities Issues and co-leader of the Maori Party opened the inaugural Access Tourism New Zealand Conference at AUT University Auckland on Monday (October 4th, 2010). The conference, organized by the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute, was attended by over 100 delegates.
The newly opened Scandic Oslo Airport hotel has wheelchair access in all 245 rooms. Each room also serves as a haven for allergy sufferers, who have also been given full consideration in all the public spaces in the hotel. Scandic has tried to think of all forms of physical disability: mobility issues, allergies and impaired sight or hearing. Scandic Oslo Airport is the first hotel in the Nordic region to be approved by the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association (NAAF).
A new not-for-profit hotel group has been launched in the UK, specialising in accessible travel. Re-branded as Vision Hotels, the group’s four AA three-star hotels are run by national charity Action for Blind People and are already equipped with all the needs for disabled guests, as well as families and couples.
Figures released this month by VisitEngland from the UK Tourism Survey show that overnight trips made by people who either have or are accompanied by someone with a health condition or impairment contributed almost £2bn to the English domestic visitor economy in 2009.
The cream of English tourism was marked by the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2010 in Brighton on St George's Day, 23rd April. A total of 46 gold and silver winners were selected from more than 100 regional winners submitted by the nine regions in England. These were assessed by independent assessors and a team of judges to make it through to the national final.
On 23 December 2009 the Confortel Hotels, Almirante, Barcelona Confortel Bel Art and the Confortel Puerta de Triana in Seville, received the Certificate of Accessibility of the Spanish Association for Standardisation and Certification (AENOR), UNE Universal Accessibility 170001-2:2007.
Belgian, Bert van Driel became a wheelchair user in 2007. However, he wanted to remain active. Bert realised that active wheelchair users need to carefully plan any activity. During this process, he noticed that most on-line information is not accurate and outdated. Bert started the non-profit organisation "Access on Wheels" in 2009 as an independent forum by and for wheelchair users.
A number of facilities are available to visitors with special access needs who wish to visit Cyprus. This guide describes the accessibility of hotels, attractions, museums, churches, restaurants, urban areas, beaches, nature trails and transportation.
For long Vuokatti is known worldwide for its superb sports and leisure facilities. It has been a regular host for all levels of athletes and individuals who enjoy practicing a physical activity in a purely natural and friendly setting. The Elma project is focussed on developing a sustainable, Universally Accessible destination for all.
