The project, wholly financed by a grant from the Booking Cares Fund awarded to Ms. Xun Ji, a young disabled Chinese woman, will provide accessible tourism information services and cultural experience opportunities for both Chinese and foreign travellers with particular access needs, while at the same time engaging professionals in the travel industry, preparing them for the new caring economy.
The Pantou Accessible Tourism Directory was established initially as a data collection tool for a European Commission study of the supply of accessible tourism in Europe in 2014. It lists tourism suppliers who are able to offer accessible tourism services to customers with specific access needs, older persons, people with disabilities, families with young children and those who have a long-term health condition. Since the end of March, 2017 the Pantou Directory has been opened up to include accessible tourism suppliers based in any country - not only those located in Europe. Suppliers may register free of charge.
Access Angels, a project funded by the EU ERASMUS+ programme involving 4 member States, aims to train youth volunteers to act as assistants to visitors with access requirements in rural areas in Europe.
The project focuses on adult education and business development (business competencies) in the field of accessible tourism for all. The name of the project "Elevator“ represents the effort to raise the quality of human resources and services in tourism to a higher, more competitive level.
Těšín Silesia for All was a small Czech-Polish cross-border project focused on accessible tourism. It was co-financed under the Cross-border Cooperation Operational Programme between Czech Republic and Poland – Microprojects Fund of Euroregion Těšín Silesia - Cieszyn Silesia. The project was successfully completed in June 2015.
The "ALL FOR ALL - Portuguese Tourism", launched by Turismo de Portugal and addressed to all national tourism players, seeks to mobilize a concerted action to make Portugal a tourist destination increasingly accessible to all.
27 September is World Tourism Day! Tourism for All! The UNWTO calls on tourism actors and stakeholders to spread the word of both the importance and immense benefits universal accessibility has and can bring to society at large. #tourism4all #WTD2016
The first two professional tourist guides have been certified as "T-Guides" by FEG (European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations) and ENAT (European Network for Accessible Tourism) for guiding people with learning difficulties.
Following a successful pilot project in 2013 and 2014 with four destinations – Visit Bath, goLeicestershire, NewcastleGateshead and VisitBrighton, the national tourist authority, VisitEngland accessed funding from the European Commission to expand its Access for All initiative.
14 September 2015: VisitEngland, the national tourist board, is today launching a new Access for All campaign, aimed to raise awareness of accessible destinations and businesses in England; informing disabled people of accommodation and visitor attractions when planning a day trip or holiday.
The Norwegian Government has dedicated 2015 as the Year of Outdoor Recreation in Norway.
To promote outdoor recreation in the county, Rogaland County Council has taken the initiative to make a film presenting some of the recreation areas in the county. Special attention is given to sites made accessible for all.
You can download the film: “Universal design in recreational areas in Rogaland” on this website:
http://www.rogfk.no/Vaare-tjenester/Regionalplan/Friluftsliv/Friluftslivets-aar-2015
The web-site www.tilgjengelighet.no mentioned in the film is for the moment only in Norwegian. An English version is being prepared these days and will be available fairly soon.
To mark the theme of the World Tourism Day 2016, this booklet presents six selected case studies illustrating some of the key parts of the Accessible Tourism supply chain.
