Tourism for All: Advancing Universal Accessibility in...

transcript

Anna Grazia Laura, President

European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT)Seoul International Fair & Sustainable Tourism Forum

7th September 2017

Tourism for All: Advancing Universal

Accessibility in Urban Destinations

Accessible Tourism for All

Accessible Tourism?

Accessible Tourism is:

“Tourism for All”

making environments, venues and

services suitable for the widest range

of customers, including people with

disabilities, seniors, families with small

children… and many more.

Accessible Tourism is:

“Tourism for All”

Where all visitors can join in!

Barcelonaturisme.com

Accessible City Tourism:

covers every kind of offer

• Accommodation

• Adventure

• Culture

• Gastronomy

• Conferences & Fairs

• With kids

• Education

• Nature in the city

• City Break

• Religion

• Sports & Events

• Festivals

Tourism

for All

The mission of the European Network

for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) is:

to make European tourism

destinations, products and services

accessible to all travellers and to

promote accessible tourism around the

world.

#tourism4all @EUaccesstourism

ENAT: In Europe & around the world

With almost 100 members in more than 30

countries

in Europe, Middle East, Africa, North and South

America, Asia, Australasia – Pacific regions

More than 5000 followers in social media

In Europe and around the world

Why Accessible Tourism?

Rights: The rights of persons with disabilities to

equal participation in society must be respected by

travel and tourism providers.

Market: Demographic ageing is happening now!

Increasing demand for access.

Price & Quality: Increasing global competition in

terms of price and quality of tourism and travel

offers, contributing to sustainable development.

Accessible Tourism = Quality tourism business.

United Nations Convention on the

Rights of People with Disabilities

• The UNCRPD, adopted in 2006, aims to “promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity”.

• 1 billion people have a disability

1 000 000 000

• Convention signed by 160 States parties, including EU

• Optional Protocol Ratifications/Accessions by 88 States parties

• Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport

(article 30)

Accessible Tourism Market Demand

– Europe

1. In 2011, there were 138.6 million people with access needs in

the EU, of which 35.9% were people with disabilities aged

15-64, and 64.1% were elderly, aged 65 or above.

2. UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain have

above 10 million persons with access needs.

3. In 2012, people with access needs in the EU took

approximately 783 million trips within the EU, and the

demand is anticipated to grow to about 862 million trips per

year by 2020, equivalent to an average growth rate of 1.2%

annually

4. Gross value added contribution of those who did

travel in 2012 estimated at 150 Billion Euro

5. The direct contribution to employment was about

4.2 million persons.

Seniors

…are 65% of the accessible tourism market

• 1 in 5 persons in Europe are

over 60

• They want to travel and enjoy life

• Seniors from Europe take 6 to 7

trips a year

• Have most discretionary income

• More active “youthful” activities

• Take the most overseas trips

Accessible Travel NL

Why is Tourism and Travel

not accessible for everyone?

Lack of

awareness

Lack of

knowledge

and skills

Lack of

experience Misunder-

standing

• Only 9% of European

Tourism Suppliers have

“accessible” offers

• Over 3 million tourism

businesses in Europe are not

prepared to cater adequately

to the accessibility market.

• By 2020, an additional 1.2

million enterprises need to

provide accessible services

in order to meet forecasted

demand.

• Training hospitality managers

and staff is a must.

ENAT Study of Tourism Supply for the EU Commission (2015)

Tourism value chain:

…the 4 essentials

Information - search, bookings, Websites,mobile…

Transport - vehicles, terminals, transfers, assistance…

Infrastructure - attractions, accommodationrestaurants, streets, beaches…

Services - hospitality, packages, guiding,excursions, special menus,activities, tech-aids, assistance…

Accessible…

…throughout the entire delivery chain

The Problem:For visitors

• Travel for people with access

requirements is unpredictable,

difficult or sometimes even

impossible

• Lack of choice and

information about accessibility

• Quality of infrastructure,

transport, services, and

information varies widely from

place to place

• Lack of access standards

increases uncertainty, reduces

travel options and allows a lack

of accountability to prevail.

The Problem:

For the tourism industry

• The accessible tourism market is

relatively unknown and it seems

difficult to attract with existing

channels.

• Visitors’ needs and requirements

are unknown or misunderstood.

Therefore the market is avoided.

• Investment costs are misunderstood

and often exaggerated

• Access is seen mainly as a

”problem” rather than a ”golden

opportunity”.

Accessibility: A misconception

“Accessibility only concerns people with disabilities”

Wrong!

• It concerns everyone’s comfort and safety and their ability to carry out any kind of activity

• It applies to ALL people with obvious or hidden problems, and also issues that can eventually arise, on a holiday trip or in the rest of one’s life.

If we understand this, then we will understand that accessibility has to be a first priority in everything we plan or design.

Universal

Design

Accessibility for

Universal Design

The key to achieving Accessibility for All, is

to follow the Universal Design approach.

Universal Design

“…if everything we do in our public spaces is great for an 8 year

old and an 80 year old, then it will be great for all people.”

www.880cities.org

February 2016

June 2017

Challenges for cities

Focus on access, safety and

comfort

• Provide accessible and inclusive

facilities and services, benefitting

visitors and local citizens with specific

access requirements.

• Urban development, urban design

and transportation at a human scale.

• ”Think Pedestrians First” approach,

creating walkable cities with mixed-

use areas and public transport

mobility hubs.

Photo: Klaus Bondam, Gehl Architects

Safe Urban Spaces

• Create a city open for everyone everywhere.

Safe Communities

• Create safe and resilient local communities and

foster friendships between people in the local

neighborhood.(Reference: . Nordic “Safe Cities Guide”, 2017)

Positive Visitor – Community Relations

• Foster opportunities for joint activities involving

local communities and visitors, for mutual

enrichment and understanding…. E.g. “Greeters”,

Volunteers, Home Visits, meeting community

groups, etc.

Challenges for cities

Destination Planning

The foundation of any accessible tourism policy is to take the

political decision to create an accessible, inclusive tourist

destination for all visitors. This decision must be followed up by

concrete objectives, plans and actions to establish an appropriate

strategy and guide future development.

Seoul accessibility actions 2017https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2017/08/281_235219.html

2013 -UNWTO Recommendations on Accessible Tourism for All

2016 -UNWTO Recommendations on Accessible Info. in Tourism

Removing barriers throughout the value

chain for a better quality of life for ALL

Underpinning elements: Universal

Design & adequate staff training

UNWTO Recommendations

Promoting Good Practices

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com

Winner

Milano 2016

Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour

Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, commented: ''Today I reward Milan for its

long-term commitment to accessibility. I personally encourage cities to

learn from the good practices of Milan and the other winners across the

European Union to improve the active inclusion of disabled and older

people''

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=89&newsId=2410

Cities in Spain

EUROTAXI

http://www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.en.news.1118

League of

Historical

Accessible cities

Six member cities:

• Á vila, Spain

• Lucca, Italy

• Mulhouse, France

• Sozopol, Bulgaria

• Torino, Italy

• Viborg, Denmark

Each working with private

foundations to make

access improvements and

develop tourism marketing

www.lhac.eu

Pantou.org

Directory of Accessible Tourism Suppliers

Tourism suppliers who

have accessible offers:

- to attract customers and

to find other businesses

to work with

and travel directory for:

Visitors who seek

accessible facilities,

services and experiences

http://pantou.org

The European Accessible Tourism Directory

The EU marketing platform for:

ENAT resources and toolswww.accessibletourism.org

• Accessible Tourism Destination

Management Handbook

(with Turismo de Portugal)

http://www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.

en.news.1987

• The European Accessible Tourism

Tourism for All: Advancing Universal Accessibility in...

Documents