The Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad (Royal Board on Disability) with the collaboration of Polibea Turismo has organized Accessible Tourism Training Courses given at Spanish Tourism Colleges.
The "Treize Voyages" association has a twin objective : create holidays for the mentally handicapped while employing people who are either handicapped themselves or socially excluded. A tourism concept which is unique in France.
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.
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.
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.
