For the european project EU.FOR.ME – Tourism Training for a Wider Target, the needs analysis served in planning a training action destined for trainers specialised in the topics of “tourism for all”.
These guidelines are designed to encourage understanding of the specific problems experienced by disabled and older passengers when using the transport system, and to provide guidance on how best to respond to their needs. They provide a practical approach to providing good customer care - a priority for all transport companies.
The Pocket Interpreter is a part of the video relay service in Sweden. It is a national communication service that makes it possible for deaf people using sign language to communicate with hearing people. Either person can free of charge call the service which is manned by several sign language interpreters located in different studios geographically spread around Sweden. The users can get a relay phone call or a distance interpretation. In the latter case both users are in the same place and the interpreter is present via a videophone. A 3G-phone with video capabilities is frequently used for this. The service is only in Swedish.
UK-based company, Accessible Travel and Leisure specialises in creating holiday packages for customers with disabilities. In 2007 it launched a new franchising scheme which provides the opportunity for disabled people to run their own business from home, selling accessible holidays.
The HAPPY TOURIST project aims to offer equal opportunities to people with disabilities in the tourist sector, either as tourists or as staff, based upon the combination of innovative, modular and cost-effective ICT tools, e-learning concepts and on-the-job-training schemes.
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.
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.
ENAT member, "Accessible Travel and Leisure", is a leading UK specialist in tailor-made holidays for customers with disabilities. Now the company is offering business franchises, providing opportunities for people with disabilities to run their own business from home, selling accessible holidays.
