Access Tourism NZ TOURISM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, AND AGEING BOOMERS IN NEW ZEALAND AND WORLDWIDE

Brian Seaman of Tourism for All UK reports on the ENAT website:  On Friday the 12th March, ITB Berlin, the largest tourism trade exhibition of its kind, hosted a two hour workshop on accessible tourism. In front of an audience of 80 trade representatives, panellists discussed how Europe is meeting the needs of disabled visitors, followed by an in-depth Questions and Answers session hosted by SAT 1 TV presenter Bettina Cramer. Principally this session was about good practice and how the requirements of disabled people are being met in Europe, the barriers to tourism for disabled people and how these might be overcome.  Participants included:  Dirk Janczewski, Founder of Barrier-Free-Tourism.eu,  Lillian Muller, President of ENAT (European Network for Accessible Tourism), Mohammed Al-Tarawneh Vice-Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and Honorary ENAT Member,  Dr Rudiger Leidner – President of the Coordination Board on Tourism of the German Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Angel David Herrera González – Counsellor of Tourism for Arona in Tenerife.         In her opening speech, Muller pointed out that:

• Access Tourism is the fastest growing market in tourism
•  the Access Tourism market is equivalent to at least 630 million overnight stays in Europe per year (European Commission figures)
• 130 million in Europe alone want Access Tourism products
• Access Tourism visitors are willing to spend more money on their holidays, like to travel in the low season, are more loyal to destinations, and often travel accompanied by family and friends
• Catering for the Acces Tourism market can lead to increased turnover, a prolongeds season, and new job opportunities