In Thailand, the Disabled Peoples' International - Asia Pacific (DPI-AP) and the Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) and partners organised the Second International Forum on Accessible Tourism (ICAT 2007) from 22-24 November 2007.
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.
STIL, the Stockholm Cooperative for Independent Living, announced the winner of its fourth annual Ace of Hearts award. For the first time ever, the accolade was given to a company and to that company’s Disability Coordinator who, with initiative and creativity, has improved accessibility for disabled people.
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 objective of the project is to create a social environment in which everyone, including those with restricted physical ability, can travel comfortably without having to worry about inaccessibility.
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 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.
The purpose of this study is visually to compare barriers encountered by providers with barriers encountered by travelers who used mobility devices. Results are illustrated using the AABM.
Workshop Report including summary presentations and speeches by plenary speakers, workshop conclusions and photos from the optional excursion to accessible attractions in Athens.
