New "Open Britain" Website to be Launched in UK

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Thanks to a new partnership with the New Vision Group, the OpenBritain.net website is being relaunched on 19 March 2013, and will be set to become the premier accessible tourism website for the UK.

Image of Open Britain websiteThanks to a new partnership with the New Vision Group, the OpenBritain.net website is being relaunched on 19 March 2013, and will be set to become the premier accessible tourism website for the UK.

 It will be linked to VisitEngland, with search facilities for properties with a National Accessible Scheme rating, as well as a wide range of visitor information across the UK provided by partners including DisabledGo. 

We welcome news, features and information about events where accessibility has been provided for or is a particular feature.

The OpenBritain concept was launched on 6th July 2010 at The Deck, The National Theatre, London by three ministers who represented the Government Olympic Executive, the Dept of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) which covers tourism, and the Dept for Work and Pensions (DWP) which covers disability.

The initiative was then welcomed by the coalition government, with support from the Prime Minister, David Cameron, John Penrose MP, then minister for tourism, and Maria Miller MP, then minister for disabled and now Secretary of State for the DCMSpeople. Maria said:

"The OpenBritain initiative will not only create a national and comprehensive information system which will be extremely valuable to anyone visiting the UK, but will also provide businesses with an additional means of promoting their accessble services and provide an incentive to improve their own accessibility.  It is clear that gathering all available information about accessibility relevant to the visitor, under one roof, will make a real difference to the lives of disabled and older people and visitors alike."

Also giving their support are a host of disability groups, including the National Federation of Shopmobility; and tourism and hospitality trade associations like the British Hospitality Association, the Caravan Club, the Camping and Caravanning Club, the Historic Houses Association, the National Trust; and public sector support from VisitBritain, VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales.   

Information supplied by Tourism for All


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