Best Practices in MaltaBest Practices in Maltaand further cooperationand further cooperationin Accessible Tourismin Accessible Tourism
Joseph M. CamilleriChairman, Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b’Diżabilità (KNPD)
(with Ms. M. Barbara)
Friday, 16th November, 2012
ACAACAACCESSIBLE CULTURE FOR ALLACCESSIBLE CULTURE FOR ALL
ACCESSIBILITY IN MALTAACCESSIBILITY IN MALTA
Accommodation: Hotels, boutique-hotels, guest-houses and hostels
Airport Beaches Churches Pavements Public gardens Retails, bars and restaurants Schools
Our review of accessibility in Malta is based on the Access for All Design Guidelines (3rd edition 2011) (AADG) which includes:
KNPD – MEPA COLLABORATIONKNPD – MEPA COLLABORATION
Development plans vetted to ensure AADG compliance
Pre-consultation meetings held with KNPD draughtsperson (Ms.
Marie Barbara) at MEPA, by appointment
Upon request, meetings may be arranged with KNPD Chair &/or KNPD’s consultant architect
Where there are issues specific to persons with restricted mobility, KNPD Chair may carry out an on-site visit and offer suggestions
KNPD advises the Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) regarding applications for public buildings. We do this in the following ways:
Access For All Access For All Design Guidelines 2011Design Guidelines 2011
1st edition (2000) - 2nd edition (2005) - 3rd edition (2011)
Restructuring of the guidelines in an amended format
A review of the technical design guidance, taking in advances in new technology
Include more guidance in areas not addressed in previous editions of the AADG
More focus on differing context of new-build and existing buildings
KNPD’s modus operandiKNPD’s modus operandi
We take in consideration the location and type of building and we try to find a reasonable and generally acceptable compromise.
The Maltese building industry still tends to take the line that the minimum requirements in the AADG are actually the maximum required, thus trying to water down the guidelines. KNPD resistance to this trend is robust.
In cases where there is a problem and an outright exemption is requested applicants may apply to KNPD’s Test of Reasonableness Board.
SOME POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTSSOME POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS
Hotels/ guest-houses/ hostels/ boutique-hotels
Restaurants & retail outlets
Places of interest
Blue flag beaches wooden gangways, waterborne wheelchairs, accessible-
for-all sanitary facilities
There is a slow but sure growth in accessible tourism facilities in Malta:
TRANSPORTTRANSPORTSEASEA, land & air, land & air
Gozo Channel ferries are accessible for all
The Gozo terminal is accessible, while the Malta terminal (still under construction) will be functional and accessible by the end of 2012
The cruise liner terminal is accessible to all, as is most of the Valletta Waterfront. However, disabled Maltese still experience significant difficulties booking accessible cabins with local cruise- ship travel agencies
Harbour cruise facilities vary in respect of accessibility --- our saving grace remains, as always, our very helpful and supportive population
TRANSPORTTRANSPORTsea, sea, LANDLAND, air, air
The local bus service (Arriva Ltd) is, by and large, accessible to all, but land infrastructure (bus-stops, pavements, etc) lag far behind Wheelchair-users and local Blue Badge holders travel free-
of-charge
Wheelchair accessible transport includes: Yellow cabs Individual taxis Some mini-bus services (although these cater for multiple
wheelchair-users and are thus very expensive as an individual option)
Hand-control Rental Vehicles are still not available, although KNPD has been working very hard to resolve this issue
TRANSPORTTRANSPORTland , sea & land , sea & AIRAIR
Malta International Airport is physically accessible to all
Air Malta offers various services to disabled persons: Wheelchair accessible transport to and from the aircraft Assistance to and from one’s plane seat Personal assistance and priority services for wheelchair users to
and from destination Guide dog owners have their own arrangements
As an EU Member-State, Malta is bound by the European Commission’s guidelines to improve and facilitate the application of Regulation (EC) 1107/2006 [SWD(2012)171]
HERITAGE SITESHERITAGE SITES
Ggantija TempleGgantija Temple (Gozo)(Gozo) The Ġgantija temples are the earliest of
a series of megalithic temples in Malta.
External approach from the drop off
point / parking to the temples.
The solution had to be non invasive and
not to cause irreversible damage, i.e.,
suspended timber walkway
Now, more than 80% of the building is
accessible to all
HERITAGE SITESHERITAGE SITES Palazzo de PiroPalazzo de Piro - Mdina - Mdina
This 17th century palazzo in Malta's old capital city, Mdina, has been recently restored to create a venue of cross-cultural, artistic and social dialogue
Heritage Malta agreed to the installation of a timber ramp was installed to avoid further alterations to the façade
There are different levels on same floor
Lifts and step lifts are being installed
To date almost all the building is accessible to all except for one small room
HERITAGE SITESHERITAGE SITESCittadella Cittadella (Gozo)(Gozo)
is a historic fortified city or castle with steep, stepped passageways
The best possible non-compliant AADG ramps to be installed
KNPD has recommended the following: Information maps which will
indicate which areas are accessible and which not, and the gradient of the streets
Electric scooters are to be made available
HERITAGE SITESHERITAGE SITESLascaris War Rooms & NATO TunnelsLascaris War Rooms & NATO Tunnels
Thery were deliberately designed to be inaccessible
It is impossible to render them fully accessible to all
KNPD & Heritage Malta have collaborated to maximise
accessibility
are located 400 feet under the Upper Barrakka Gardens, they
are composed of a network of underground tunnels and
chambers that housed the WW2 HQ in Malta from where all
the defence and offensive operations in the Mediterranean
were directed.
BOUTIQUE HOTELSBOUTIQUE HOTELS… … BirguBirgu
located in one of the ‘Three Cities’ the owner of this boutique hotel
has rendered the historic building accessible to the maximum extent
possible, without damaging its fabric or historic value.
‘‘COULD-DO-BETTER’ Sectors COULD-DO-BETTER’ Sectors
Existing buildings Harbour cruises and sea cruises Encroachments on public land (restaurants, bars,
etc) hamper access for blind people and people with restricted mobility
Roads and public transport infrastructure
More investment and effort is always needed in order to change public attitudes
NOTE - Malta is a late-comer to accessibility. EU-funding with its obligation to increasing inclusion has ‘kick started’ a sudden interest in accessibility
TOURISM FOR DISABLED PEOPLETOURISM FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
Holiday planning: accessible websites & accessible, accurate information
Travel to destination: vehicle/ terminal accessibility & affordability?
Travel at destination: availability … affordability?
Accommodation: accessibility/ affordability … choice!
Heritage sites: accessibility site/ information
Leisure venues: bars, restaurants, discos
Cultural activities: Malta Nights, Evenings on Campus, Notte Bianca, various local festivals
ATTITUDE, attitude, attitude
Accessible tourism is a long chain made up of individual links, if one link is weak or broken the whole chain collapses.
THANK YOUTHANK YOU
KNPD website: www.knpd.org
Access for All Design Guidelines (KNPD on-line publication)
Rights, Not Charity (KNPD on-line publication)
Disability Equality Training for staff (contact KNPD)
KNPD ● Bugeia Institute, Triq Braille, Sta. Venera SVR1619 - MALTA ●
● T: 2278 8555 ● F: 2278 8490 ● SMS biss/ SMS only: 7978 8555 ●
● W: http://www.knpd.org/ ● E: [email protected] ●