ENAT is putting forward plans to develop a 'Consensus Document' of specifications for accessible transport and tourism services for disabled people. The proposal aims to bring together industry, public authorities, disability NGOs and consumer organisations under the auspices of a CEN Workshop Agreement to identify good practices and agree on a set of basic guidelines. A draft document describing the planned 14-month workshop and how to participate is now available for downloading. Interested organisations are invited to provide their comments on this draft by 30th November 2008.
Following the invitation of the ENAT international Board, travel writer and educator, Dr. Scott Rains has been made a 'Lifetime Honorary Associate Member’ of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT).
The European Commission proposes EU-wide legislation to protect citizens from discrimination on grounds of age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief in the areas of social protection, education and access to and supply of goods and services.
The Design for All Foundation, based in Barcelona, (Spain) and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ensuring long-term cooperation between the two associations for the promotion of better access for all citizens in Europe.
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.
PTaccess analyses the state of accessibility of public transport systems for people with disabilities in Europe. Furthermore PTaccess analyses the costs and benefits of good practice examples in making public transport accessible and will deepen the understanding of the transport related contexts of social exclusion of people with disabilities. This project is supported through the Research for policy support heading of the European Union's Sixth Framework Programme, PRIORITY 8.1 Policy-oriented research, Scientific support to policies -- SSP
Why should venue owners consider accessible tourism? This website provides links to a range of resources that tourist venue owners can use to gain insight and develop their services for disabled and elderly tourists. The information was compiled as part of the EU funded 'Happy Tourist' project.
The title of this report refers to 2010, the year which was set as the end-point of the European Disability Action Plan. The plan was launched in 2003, to combat discrimination and improve the participation of disabled citizens in European society. The report examines European tourism policy developments over the past two decades and argues that new policies are needed to make tourism accessible for all on a much wider scale. This is due to three critical factors: global competition, demographic ageing - with more older and disabled citizens wanting to travel, and
the strengthening of disability rights, which will bring increased demand for accessible tourism services. The report presents new policy objectives and targets, and a 'Road Map' for how accessible tourism policies might be implemented across Europe in the years ahead.
Accessibility in tourism in a social right that concerns all citizens in Europe. In Europe it is estimated that 10% of the population have some type of disability, this means around 50 million people. And this number will continue to grow due to the inevitable process of demographic change as half of them are over 65. It can be deduced that accessibility is essential for 10% of the population, necessary for 40% and convenient for 100% of the population. In recent years the rights of disabled people to travel and to participate in tourism, leisure, sport and other activities away from home have been strengthened in a number of areas by legislation and regulations at international, European and national levels. This report presents an overview of the key legislation and the way in which the rights of people with disabilities are being extended and safeguarded. The report shows many examples of how the front-runners in sections of the tourism industry are beginning to respond to the increasing demand for accessible tourism products and services.
The European Union named 2003 as the European Year of People with Disabilities. In this context, a Group of Experts was set up by Mrs. Anna Diamantopoulou, Member of the Commission in charge of Employment and Social Affairs, with the mandate to address accessibility within an increasingly diverse and ageing society, and to put forward concrete proposals.
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.
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.
