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

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a specialized agency of the United ‎Nations and the leading international organization in the field of tourism.   Its membership includes 154 countries, 7 territories and over 400 Affiliate ‎Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations ‎and local tourism authorities.‎  It ‎includes tourism and travel by people with disabilities as a vital element of any responsible and sustainable tourism development policy.  In 2005, the Organization’s General Assembly adopted “Accessible Tourism for All”, which features a series of recommendations to the sector, highlights the need to provide clear information on the accessibility of tourism facilities, the availability of support services in destinations for persons with disabilities, and the training of employees on the needs of people with disabilities.  The document was prepared with the help of experts from the ONCE Foundation (a Spanish disabilities organization).    In October 2009, UNWTO again underscored the importance of accessibility with the “Declaration on the Facilitation of Tourist Travel”, approved by its General Assembly.  The declaration calls upon states to ensure the accessibility of tourism establishments and endorses the general principles enshrined in Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  In 2011, UNWTO plans to work with ONCE and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) to develop guidelines, indicators, benchmarking and training in Accessible Tourism.  It will also work on policy-making, awareness-raising, and capacity building projects, especially via the UNWTO Themis Foundation, which is responsible for implementing the UNWTO work programme on education and training.