EU Commission Announces New Actions in Support of "Tourism for All" at European Parliament Hearing
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The European Commission's Head of Unit for "Support to Tourism Industry, CSR, Mutuals and Cooperatives" has announced that 1 million Euros will be allocated to stimulate "Tourism for All" initiatives in 2012.
At the 9th February European Parliament Hearing on Accessible Tourism, Mr. Costas Andropoulos, Head of the European Commission's Unit: "Support to Tourism Industry, CSR, Mutuals and Cooperatives", announced that 1 million Euros will be allocated to stimulate "Tourism for All" initiatives in 2012.
Areas in which actions will be taken include:
- Mapping the demand: What are the travel patterns and exact needs of people with disabilities?
- Mapping supply: An EU-wide performance check on major tourism facilities, services, accommodation, websites,...
- Improving skills: Understanding people’s needs – identify gaps in the current level of skills to cater for people with access needs & dissimination of best practice in disability training
- Fostering awareness of the importance and the potential of tourism for all, with a stakeholder conference in 2012, and EU awards:
- European Destinations of Excellence Network (EDEN) awards
- Access City Award
- A new access award for tourism operators.
Mr. Andropoulos closed his short presentation by indicating that the Commission is interested in receiving more ideas for improving tourism accessibility in Europe.
Further information
Accessible Tourism webpage at the European Commission, DG Enterprise
Blog report about the event by JlagEurope
Contact
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