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New! 20/05/2019 Chinese Experts Visit Madrid, Spain To Learn What Makes A Leading Accessible Tourism Destination

Thanks to the generous support of Booking Cares Fund (Booking.com), 10 Chinese guests will experience the best an accessible tourism destination can offer on a 4-day Study Visit arranged by ENAT - the European Network for Accessible Tourism - and some of its members in Madrid. Thanks to the generous support of Booking Cares Fund (Booking.com), 10 Chinese guests will experience the best an accessible tourism destination can offer on a 4-day Study Visit arranged by ENAT - the European Network for Accessible Tourism - and some of its members in Madrid. The Chinese delegation of disability advocates, researchers and university professors is led by ENAT member, Ms. Xun Ji, founder of “RARE N ROLL” - the hub of accessible tourism in China. In spite of physical challenges, social entrepreneur and change-maker, Ms. Ji, is an avid world traveller and blogger with a large following in China. The aim of this unique tour is to establish closer ties between Chinese, Spanish and international experts and organisations, fostering innovation and new opportunities for developing Chinese inbound, outbound and domestic tourism for visitors with disabilities or other specific access requirements. The Chinese delegation will visit and meet with representatives of key players in Accessible Tourism, including: the Regional Government of Madrid, Madrid Destino, SEGITTUR – The Spanish National Tourism Agency, PREDIF, ILUNION Hotels, Fundación ONCE, the Municipality of Alcala de Henares, Spain Heritage Cities Group, UN World Tourism Organization, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and the Prado Museum. The Study Visit is arranged in association with local tour operator, Accessible Madrid. Monday's programme also included Guest Speaker and ENAT Member, Mr. Magnus Berglund, Director of Disability at Scandic Hotels, the Nordic countries' largest hotel group. He shared Scandic's motivations and some experiences of staff training, service design and welcoming all guests, which has given Scandic the position of world leader in the hotel sector. Speaking on the first day of the tour, ENAT Managing Director, Ivor Ambrose, said: “Our aim is to promote accessible, inclusive tourism everywhere. With this opportunity to showcase Madrid to Chinese experts from universities, disability organisations and business, we hope to start a positive cycle of change and development in the Chinese tourism sector. Giving the delegates first-hand experience of accessibility in Madrid will show how Spanish authorities, organisations and civil society are working together to reach new levels of customer service in the tourism sector.” Ms. Xun Ji, leading the delegation from China adds: “China is looking to improve all aspects of life for people with disabilities and having the possibility to travel and experience new places and cultures is vital to everyone. We hope this study tour will open up new ideas and new possibilities for collaboration with Spain and Europe in the future”. Chinese delegates include representatives of China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Institute of Accessibility of Tsinghua University Beijing, Fujian Minnan Normal University and the Fujian Provincial Foundation for Self-improving and Helping the Disabled and Needy Students. Ms. Sofie Soares, who leads on Accessibility at Booking.com, participated in the study tour, sharing in the exchange of knowledge with Chinese and Spanish partners. ENAT Non-Profit Association - Reaching Out To The World to Promote Accessible Tourism for All ‘Accessibility for All’ is fast becoming synonymous with the highest quality of customer service the tourism sector can offer. The convergence of Accessible Tourism with ‘the mainstream tourism sector’ was marked at the UNWTO World Tourism Day in September 2016, with a landmark event in Bangkok, Thailand. ENAT was there to highlight the value of accessibility, showcase best practices and point to policies, strategies and tools for development. ENAT members, including National and Regional Tourism Organisations, cities, businesses, researchers and NGOs are now working together to develop frameworks for action, engaging with civil society and using new technologies and social media to reach new levels of customer service in the tourism sector. ENAT aims to make tourism information, venues, transport systems, and services sustainable and inclusive - serving all visitors - and bringing rewards to both visitors and communities alike. Download two Study Tour leaflets in PDF format from the right-hand panel. 0 comments

16/03/2019 European Accessibility Act: A Big Step On A Long Journey

Brussels, 13.3.2019. Press release by European Disability Forum. European Parliament's approval of the Act is positive – but more legislation is essential. 0 comments

04/03/2019 EU Launches 2020 Edition Of European Capital of Smart Tourism Awards

2nd EU Call to reward innovation and boost smart development of tourism in European Cities. 0 comments

26/09/2018 Helsinki and Lyon selected as 2019 European Capitals of Smart Tourism by European Jury

The European Commission announces two cities to hold the title of "European Capitals of Smart Tourism" in 2019 and recognises a further four cities for their outstanding achievements in: accessibility, sustainability, digitalisation and cultural heritage & creativity 0 comments

26/08/2018 ELEVATOR Project - Press Release, 26 August 2018. Accessible Tourism Training in Europe

Ostrava, Czech Republic, 26 August 2018. Download our free reports. The EU funded Elevator Project, has run for 3 years and is now coming to an end. A key driver for the project was recognising that for people with disabilities to be able to participate in tourism, the tourism sector must have a good understanding of this growing market. In addition, the performance of well-trained professionals is fundamental when serving people with access requirements. 0 comments

New! 04/05/2019 UNWTO Newsletter SDG10 Accessible Tourism, Vol. 1. February 2019

The first SDG Newsletter focuses on SDG10 – Reduced Inequalities. SDG10 aims to empower and promote the social economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. Specifically, the Newsletter focuses on accessible tourism as a key to achieving SDG10.

29/09/2018 TAD - The Ability Advisor. First Report: A Tour Around

The first report from TAD - The Ability Advisor project - examines accessible tourism and vocational training in Belgium, Italy, Lithuania and Portugal. Download the report free of charge from the ENAT Library.

12/08/2018 ELEVATOR Report 1. Accessible Tourism Training

This report provides an analysis of Accessible Tourism training practices based on surveys carried out in the project partners’ countries and information from other European studies and experiences in the field. It concludes with an accessible tourism training curriculum for managers and staff in small and medium-sized tourism enterprises. 0 comments

12/08/2018 ELEVATOR Report 2. Inclusive Tourist Guiding

This Handbook is a learning material focused on Inclusive Tourist Guiding. Its creation was initiated by the tourist guides, who meet tourists with access needs more and more often in their work, as their number is growing mainly due to the ageing population. Training offers on this topic are weak or completely absent in most countries. Inclusive (or also accessible) guiding is based on the concept of Accessible Tourism, that endeavours to improve tourist destinations, products and services so that they are accessible to all people regardless of their age, abilities, permanent or temporary limitations and impairments. 0 comments

12/08/2018 ELEVATOR Report 3.1 Accessible Tourism Guide | Visitors

Accessibility is an important topic in tourism, yet often overlooked. It seems that the main reason for that is lack of knowledge and cooperation between key stakeholders. This Report is therefore created as a brief guideline introducing this topic with particular attention being paid to Visitors with specific access requirements. 0 comments

12/08/2018 ELEVATOR Report 3.2 Accessible Tourism Guide | Industry

Accessibility is an important topic in tourism, yet often overlooked. It seems that the main reason for that is lack of knowledge and cooperation between key stakeholders. This Report is therefore created as a brief guideline introducing this topic with particular attention being paid to the Industry - tourism providers - who need to be aware of visitors' specific access requirements and learn how to cater appropriately for their needs, so as to improve their competitiveness and sustainability. 0 comments

12/08/2018 ELEVATOR Report 3.3 Accessible Tourism Guide | Policy Makers

Accessibility is an important topic in tourism, yet often overlooked. It seems that the main reason for that is lack of knowledge and cooperation between key stakeholders. This Report is created as a brief guideline introducing this topic with particular attention being paid to the role of Policy Makers in fostering a suitable environment for cooperation and motivation of all stakeholders in order to lift up the tourism offer and environment for living. 0 comments

ENAT - European Network for Accessible Tourism

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