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

The following is a guest article by Premiki, the first travel agency in Slovenia specializing in accessible tourism.  Premiki is a member of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT).

The social enterprise Premiki is an institute for accessible travel which includes a travel agency for accessible tourism in Slovenia.  It is a result of a number of projects led by ŠENT - the Slovenian Association for Mental Health.  ŠENT was awarded a Ulysses Prize by the UN World Tourism Organization in 2011.

The travel agency operates under the concept of ‘accessible tourism’, which aims to provide tourist destinations, products, services and information accessible to all people without regard to their physical limit, disability or age. Our aim is to contribute to the development of tourism for people with special needs by combining supply and demand for disabled-friendly tourists and creating a network of disabled-friendly tourist suppliers (hotels, attractions, services).

In this context we launched a “disabled friendly” certificate aimed at tourist organizations and  tourism providers. With this brand we want to create an environment where people with disabilities will no longer be deprived of the exploitation of tourism services.  We are a social enterprise that supports sustainable tourism in every way.

Our programs include holidays, short breaks and tailor made round trips,   sightseeings, thematic trips (Slovenian cuisine, wellness, adventure, wine cellar tourism, jeep safaries, festivals, local events and carnivals, ethnology, cultural experiences), and  other services (bus, rent-a-car, guided tours…….). We also provide training in accessible tourism in the tourism sector.