The New Zealand Tourist Board does not collect any statistics on visitors with physical disabilities or specialist needs. A new private survey will identify visitors' requirements and focus attention on accessible tourism provisions as preparations are under way for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
A new European Award for Accessible Cities has been launched by the European Commission, aiming to promote accessibility for people with disabilities in four areas: the built environment and public spaces, transport and related infrastructures, information and communication, including Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and public facilities and services.
The Regional Algarve Tourist Board (ERTA) has this week revealed its intention to improve facilities in the Algarve for the disabled tourists, aiming to make the region more adequate for their needs and in turn welcome a sector that had previously been unexplored.
In keeping with the South East of England's unique heritage as the birthplace of disability sport, which began some 60 years ago at Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, Tourism South East is leading on several ground breaking projects and aiming to be the UK’s most accessible region.
There are million-dollar strategies to turn B.C. into an accessible tourism destination. Then there is Hugh Tollett, who does it for free. Before Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. won the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tollett believed the mountain resort town needed to find a way to be more accommodating of people with disabilities. But now he's concerned that without a bump from the Paralympics, the strong business case for putting resources into accessible tourism collapses and puts his work at risk.
From Le Perthus and Sant Pere de Rodes in the East to Girona, Montserrat and Lleida, the Way of Saint James runs right across Catalonia. This route is accessible for wheelchair users, thanks to local initiatives which are now promoted by Catalunya Tourism.
ENAT joins the world's biggest travel trade show this week at ITB Berlin, where ENAT President Lilian Müller will meet delegates and speak on the subject of Accessible Tourism for All. She is joined by Mr. Mohammed Al-Taranweh, Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and other distinguished speakers.
Belgian, Bert van Driel became a wheelchair user in 2007. However, he wanted to remain active. Bert realised that active wheelchair users need to carefully plan any activity. During this process, he noticed that most on-line information is not accurate and outdated. Bert started the non-profit organisation "Access on Wheels" in 2009 as an independent forum by and for wheelchair users.
Make it accessible! A project to promote barrier-free travelling for senior citizens and people with handicaps through innovative marketing strategies based on awareness of specific requirements, needs and active interest in social inclusion.
We are working in a national project (“Puedo Viajar”) funded by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade (Plan Avanza 2009), which aims to provide information and several services on Accessible Tourism through the internet.
The objective of the project is to develop nature tourism services for a wider scale of customers. Another aim is to support organisations providing nature tourism services in their development of accessible environments and services. In addition, an objective is to launch strategic and persistent development for evaluating, instructing, and classifying accessible nature tourism.
