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

This year’s November Pro-ICAT conference  Tourism For All in Malaysia will discuss just that, amongst other things.  With an emphasis on what developing accessible tourism can do to promote national and regional economic development, the conference aims to:

• highlight the existence of Accessible Tourism through hosting events that will draw attention to this niche in the tourism sector
• provide information on Accessible Tourism to the public locally and internationally
• make known to the public the obstacles and challenges in Accessible Tourism and ways to overcome them
•  encourage a tourism system in Malaysia that welcomes people with disabilities having good liaison between disabled organizations and tourism organizations so that attractions can be facilitated more systematically.
• encourage the Ministry of Tourism in Malaysia to do more research in promoting Accessible Tourism.
• advocate for the removal of architectural and transportation barriers that prevent people with disabilities from sharing fully in all aspects of our society including going for tours.

Visit Scotland – the national tourism organisation – says that that the accessible tourism market is already hugely important and is growing.  Between January – June 2009, 12% of all domestic trips to Scotland were made by visitors with access needs, or those accompanying someone who has access needs. This amounts to:

• 659 thousand trips, contributing almost £121 million to the Scottish economy in just six months, and rose to £325 million pounds for the 11 month period 2009/10.
• Senior tourists, over 55’s hold 80% of the nation’s wealth, and the 11 million disabled people in the UK have a potential spending power (disposable income) of £80b per year.

This is significantly higher than some more established targeted markets.

VisitScotland is leading an Accessible Tourism Steering Group (ATSG) with representatives from Capability Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Tourism Forum, the Scottish Government and other leading individuals from the accessible tourism industry. ATSG have planned a series of activities looking to engage and help tourism businesses to grasp emerging opportunities in accessible tourism market. The key objective of this programme is to raise awareness, alter perceptions and enable the Scottish tourism industry to better plan for accessible tourism product development.

VisitScotland has commissioned Capability Scotland to set up and run six events from August – October 2011 to engage with disabled people and find out what needs to be enhanced or changed to make Scottish tourism more accessible.   Disabled people with a range of impairments and conditions will meet with representatives from Capability and VisitScotland to talk about their experiences as a tourist in Scotland and the barriers that they face.  Recommendations will then be made to VisitScotland and the Scottish tourism industry.

Engaging the tourism industry

• Business Workshops – ATSG will attend about  12 Industry events in autumn at which they will present the findings, the statistics around the economic value of accessible tourism and run question and answer sessions.
• VisitScotland is making a film in three parts, based on the findings from the project, with interviews. This will be used to promote Accessible Tourism throughout 2011/12, with a showing of the finished film at the 2012 conference.
• Industry conference – October 2012: workshops and presentations; opportunity for businesses to ask questions in an open and helpful environment.

The Economist magazine, in association with the National Confederation of Disabled People in Greece (ESAEA), is organizing the 3rd Conference on
Corporate Social Responsibility, “People with disability and the right to
inclusion: what is the role of anthropocentric companies?” The conference, planned for 27 September 2011, will address a number of themes,
including tourism for people with disabilities.  Discussions will include:

• Why has tourism been used as the Trojan Horse?
• The impact of “Tourism for All” on the country’s economic development
• How accessible is tourism in Greece both to Greeks
  and foreign visitors with disabilities?

Planned speakers include Ivor Ambrose, Managing Director, European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), representatives from ESAEA, European Disability Forum, George Nikitiadis, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Greece, George Tsakiris, President, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, and Werner Pietsch, Managing Director, Stadthaushotel, Hamburg.  A case study of Stadthaushotel will be included.

The 13th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED 2012) scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India September 17-21, 2012 will have as one of its themes “Accessible Tourism: Conservation, Access to the Historic and Natural Heritage”. Hosted by Svayam in partnership with the Ministry of Transport, Government of Delhi and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the conference is co-sponsored by Transportation Research Board (USA). Held every three years, TRANSED conferences are milestone events in the field of accessible transportation, attracting researchers, policy-makers, transport operators, consumers and other specialists from around the world to share innovations and best practices in order to make transportation and mobility accessible to everyone.  The theme of the Conference is “Seamless Access for All: Universal design for transport systems and infrastructure as a key element in the creation of liveable cities”. Other sub-themes are:

• Role of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) •  Best practices and innovations • Environmental impact, sustainability, and accessibility of integrated multimodal systems • Accessible Public Transport (Bus Rapid Transit, Metro, Para-transit systems etc.) • Highway design and safety • G. Pedestrian mobility & safety for livable communities • Rural access and mobility • Implementation, monitoring and enforcement • Potential of Technology in Accessibility for all (Information Technology, Accessibility aids, etc.)

Deadline for abstracts is July 31, 2011. For more information, visit the conference website or contact secretariat@transed2012.in

Tourism for All UK will run in the northern autumn  a conference for Senior Marketing, Sales and Business Development & Owner Managers in the UK Hospitality and Tourism Industry about marketing to and service for People with Disabilities (PwDs).  Recent research by VisitEngland (England’s national tourism board) revealed that the demand for travel and leisure products from disabled people is growing rapidly, and worth £2 billion a year in domestic travel alone. Yet many businesses are missing out on a share of this market.  VisitEngland recently released a booklet which was created through a joint partnership with the Government’s Accessible Tourism Stakeholder Forum with the aim of inspiring tourism businesses to improve accessibility for customers in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic Games & Paralympic Games.  The booklet – “At Your Service” – describes how to capture this £2 billion market.   Around 11 million people in England have an impairment of some kind whether they are wheel chair users, have poor vision, hearing loss or learning difficulties.   Overseas, there are potentially 78 million American and 75 million European disabled visitors, friends and family.

The Tourism for All conference will look at how a focus on exceptional customer service, accurate information and clear leadership can open up a whole new market for tourism businesses, how the long term loyalty of this market can be achieved at relatively low cost, and how to maximise the opportunities offered by the huge interest in the Olympic and Paralympic Games

The conference plans to includes a great lineup of speakers.  To see these, continue reading…………………

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Thanks to funding provided by the federal government of Canada and the Prince Edward Island (PEI) provincial government, a program to promote, educate, and advance the tourism industry, business and communities on accessibility services and provisions has been set up. Quality Tourism Services Inc. (QTS) launched accessadvisor.ca recently after researching the strengths and weaknesses of the current level of accessibility on PEI and how this is marketed to the public.  It will now offer operators the resources to categorize and promote their business
or location using four accessibility designations – limited accessibility, fully mobile accessibility, sight accessibility and hearing accessibility. The program will help improve the quality of the consumer experience and better empower businesses to compete for this growing and maturing market. The program will also help inform operators on how to meet the needs of persons travelling with accessibility challenges. Prince Edward Island strives to be a welcoming destination to all visitors. The Government of Canada has invested $87,000 in the project and the Government of Prince Edward Island, through the Department of Tourism and Culture, $22,500. Quality Tourism Services Inc. has also invested more than $66,000. The Access market is a significant segment of the population said Murray MacPherson, Industry Chair of Quality Tourism Services. The first Baby Boomers turned 65 on January 1, 2011, and they are accustomed to travelling and when they retire they will continue to do so, as they have leisure time and disposable income.  As disability increases with age, it is imperative that the tourism industry adapt to this. Quality Tourism Services Inc. is the non-profit, professional quality assurance company that inspects and assesses all ccommodation and camping facilities across PEI. QTS delivers numerous quality assurance programs to tourism and related businesses, including Canada / Camping Select, PEIs Tourism Water Quality Program, Cyclist Welcome, as well as advice on Access Tourism and the new accessadvisor.ca. program.

A National Dialogue of key stakeholders in inclusive and accessible tourism was opened in Australia on Monday by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers at Parliament House, Canberra. In her opening address, McLucas said that the Australian government wants to see improved access to airlines, resorts, hotels, tour operations, restaurants and cafes.  People with disability should be able to enjoy their holidays without barriers. The National Dialogue brings together peak providers of tourism focused information and referral services for people with disabilities to share evidence and research on tourism and disability and to identify ways to raise awareness of the value and need among the industry as well as government and the general community of improved accessibility for people with disability (McLucas).

The Dialogue, hosted by NICAN and chaired by Annette Ellis, National Patron and former Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers, has agreed on a call to action for the tourism industry, government and the Australian community.  A joint communiqué notes amongst other things that:

• Accessible tourism for people who have a disability or who are ageing is seen as an opportunity for Australian Tourism to seize the competitive advantage in a tight market.  The time is right for action as Australia’s baby boomers retire.
• Key stakeholders including researchers, tourism operators and referral providers have joined forces, with the support of the Australian Government, to build awareness about the opportunities and to address barriers to tourism by these groups.  
• There is growing understanding of the potential of accessible tourism to boost visitor numbers and strengthening Australia as a top draw international tourism destination
• Access to leisure and recreation, including holidaying, is an important part of living an ordinary life and helps realise the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with a Disability and the Australian National Disability Strategy.
• Accessible tourism will help build a more welcoming and inclusive society, where individuals and families with a disability have choices and no longer feel shut out
• Accessible tourism makes good business sense and is also consistent with rights, access and corporate social responsibility.

The Dialogue welcomed the Government’s commitment in the area of travel and tourism through the National Disability Strategy as well as work on Access to Premises and Transport Standards, access to airlines and cinema access.   It pointed out that more could be done including an inclusive/accessible tourism category within a mainstream tourism award; a marketing strategy; a practical information guide; a national forum with tourism operators and further work to refresh and promote the business case for inclusive and accessible tourism, especially with industry.  The communiqué was issued by Australia For All Alliance Inc, Greatvenue,  Disabled Motorists Association, Disability Information and Resource Centre, NICAN, IDEAS, Travability, and Leadership Plus.

There is a new guide for travellers with disabilities about using parking permits, cards, and placards around the world.  The FIA Guide for the disabled traveller (FIA: Federation Internationale de L’Automobile ) explains the parking rules for parking card / permit holders, and whether or not the parking card / permit of a visitor can be used (reciprocity).    The project was supported by the FIA Foundation and the FIA European Bureau in Brussels.  FIA affiliated motoring club and government experts provided much of Guide’s information. We also reviewed national and state laws to obtain or to verify information.  Comments and suggestions on the Guide, particularly in respect of the accuracy of the information it contains, are welcome and can be made to fiaguide@fiabrussels.com

DisabledGo UK are working in partnership with Leonard Cheshire Disability to help promote their Action for Access campaign which aims to provide resources and information for campaigners and businesses. DisabledGo provides online access guides in a great deal of detail to a huge range of venues (90,000 so far), such as hotels, restaurants, parks, historic land marks, tourist attractions, cinemas, hospitals, colleges, sports grounds, council offices,etc. Leonard Cheshire Disability exists to change attitudes to disability and to serve disabled people around the world. 

Inspired by local campaigners tackling the issue of inaccessible shops and services in their local areas, Action for Access gets campaigners and businesses working together to improve access for everyone. The campaign focuses on providing the right resources and support for campaigners so they can take direct action in their local communities. The campaign works with both groups of campaigners and individuals and offers support in campaigning through email, phone and meetings. Talking about the partnership Amy Parker, Campaigns Supporter Engagement Officer at Leonard Cheshire said, ‘We are really pleased to be working in partnership with DisabledGo. Together we can provide people with the information and tools they need to reduce the impact of access barriers and go out and take action for an accessible UK.’

Those in the UK can get involved in this campaign by following the four easy steps at www.actionforaccess.org . For more information Tel: 0203 2420 410 or E: campaigning@LCDisbaility.org or amy.parker@LCDisability.org

There is a call for papers for a special issue of ‘Recreation and Society in Africa, Asia & Latin America’ about the linkages between leisure, tourism, and caregiving and the implications of these links for wider society.  Interested researchers are invited to contribute theoretical and/or empirical papers related to the theme.   The topics of potential manuscripts include, but are not limited to: 

• The role of caregiving in the construction of leisure and tourism environments and experiences.
• What is the personal and or economic impact related to  caregivers on their leisure and tourism choices
• The social and/or cultural construction of caregiving  in their society and this construction relates to their leisure and tourism experiences
• The role of caregiving in the construction of cultural, sub-cultural and personal identities
• The role of caregiving in the construction and/or deconstruction of gendered identities within their societies related to Leisure and Tourism.
• The role of caregiving  and destination marketing in Africa, Asia and Latin America
• Caregiving as a barrier/constraint to leisure and tourism opportunities as a potential area of interest for the special issue
• What support do service providers and government agencies provide for the caregivers and how, in turn, do they affect, leisure and tourism opportunities?
• How cultures affect the identity of caregiving and the terms of Leisure and Tourism?

 For submission guidelines and more information, continue reading……………

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The Annals of Leisure Research is seeking papers for a special issue that examines the inclusion and citizenship of people with disability in “cultural life” (recreation, leisure, the arts, sport, or tourism).  The purpose is to:

a)      clarify what the terms inclusion and citizenship mean in different cultures;

b)      to place inclusion and citizenship to ‘cultural life ‘(recreation, leisure, the arts, sport or tourism) across discourses relating to economic, social and environmental contexts that affect people with disabilities participation; and

c)       to discuss the terms inclusion and citizenship from the ideological frameworks of government, researchers, providers of service or disability advocacy groups.

Submissions are sought from the consumer (demand), providers (supply) and coordination/regulation (government) sector perspectives. The guest editors invite interested researchers to contribute theoretical, methodological or empirical papers related to the theme of this Special Issue. The topics of potential papers include but are not limited to:

• The role of inclusion and citizenship in the construction of ‘cultural life’(recreation, leisure, the arts, sport or tourism) environments and experiences;
• What is the impact of inclusion/exclusion on the person and their experiences?;
• The social and/or cultural construction of inclusion in ‘cultural life’(recreation, leisure, the arts, sport or tourism) activities and experiences;
• The role of inclusion in the construction of cultural, sub cultural and personal identities of different societies;
• The role of inclusion in the construction and/or deconstruction of the intersection with gendered, ethnic and sexual identities within the experience of ‘cultural life’(recreation, leisure, the arts, sport or tourism);
• How experiences of inclusion compare and contrast between different dimensions of disability (e.g. mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, sensitivities etc.);
• The impact of inclusion and citizenship within space and place making

Important Dates:

• Abstract deadline: 30 June 2011 to Jerome(at)dal.ca
• Notification of acceptance of abstracts deadline: 1 August 2011
• Submission for double-blind reviewing process: 30 November2011
• Review Process Notification: 30 January  2012
• Special issue publication: June or December 2012

For submission guidelines and more, continue reading……………..

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The Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities (Pac Rim) will this year include a number of themes in the realm of tourism.  These are:

• Best practice for inclusive and accessible tourism which includes destination, products, and services
• Accessible tourism best practices, information, guidelines, audits for tourism products
• Universal design (i.e., design which includes all people) for tourism, sport, and recreation, international accessibility standards, and technologies
• Community tourism as a means to reduce poverty and prevent disability or provide accessibility or services

The Pac Rim conference takes place April 18 and 19^th in Honolulu.   Pac Rim – run by the Centre on Disability Studies, University of Hawaii – has been widely recognized over the past 25 years as one of the most “diverse gatherings” in the world.   Each year the conference hews to its traditional areas which have bred much of the interdisciplinary research and educational advances of the last three decades. But each year new topics are introduced to foment discussion and change. The intent is to harness the tremendous synergy as generated by the intermingling of these diverse perspectives.  The event encourages and respects voices from “diverse” perspective across numerous areas, including: voices from persons representing all disability areas; experiences of family members and supporters across all disability areas; responsiveness to diverse cultural and language differences; evidence of researchers and academics studying disability; stories of persons providing powerful lessons; examples of program providers, natural supports and allies of persons with disabilities and; action plans to meet human and social needs in a globalized world.

The World Leisure Journal announces a special issue on Leisure, Health, and Disability aimed at a wide range of topics. Empirical research (both qualitative and quantitative), systematic reviews, scholarly descriptions, brief reports, and book reviews are invited.

Sample topics may include:

•  Models of disablement and their implications for leisure and health research
• Intersections of aging and disability
• Disability demographics and statistics as they apply to leisure behavior and services
• World Health Organization’s ICF and its implications for leisure and health services
• Research on service provision for individuals with disabilities (including therapeutic
• recreation)
• Policy and systemic issues relating to disability, health, and leisure
• Medical and health-related travel and tourism
• Accessible travel and tourism
• Trends and issues in leisure and health service provision for individuals with disabilities
• Research and service gaps in leisure and health for individuals with disabilities
• New methodologies for researching leisure, health, and disability phenomena
• Technology’s impact on the equalization of opportunities for those with disabilities

 For more information, continue reading……………….

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With the European Union  estimating the Access Tourism market in Europe to be worth €80B, it is foolish not to take the chance to look make the Vuokattin region of  Finland  a destination of choice for everybody to enjoy regardless of their physical capabilities.   So says Danny Silva, Project Manager of the ELMA project at Vuokatti For All.    The  ELMA Project is committed to serving the region and all those who select Vuokatti and Kainuu as their destination of choice whether it be for holiday, business or any other reason.  It aims to create a high level sport and leisure environment for people with disabilities (PwDs).   “In my personal opinion (although influenced by proven research) sport is a pleasurable and healthy activity for all and Vuokatti’s main potential is sport and leisure tourism and the fact that a barrier-free sport and leisure environment is a rare but very desired thing, we now have the tools to become unique and a sought out destination” says Silva.    ELMA want to support all individuals and inspired entrepreneurs who look to develop in the Accessibility markets.   Silva reminds people that being accessible is not just about ramps and elevators but also about hospitality, friendliness, security, support and lots of fun.

 ELMA is also working with Snowpolis – a unique technology park with 27 companies specialising in wellness and sport – to coordinate the “Able Access for All Exchange” program (AAAE).  The AAAE is a European Union Calypso Project  for low season tourism exchanges for PwDs and others to travel to Europe’s holiday spots.  The AAAE will involve 2 other member states: Portugal and Cyprus.  Snowpolis will coordinate the activities of this project and the participating countries. The activities aim at studying, testing and proposing the possibilities of creating tourism exchange programs between organizations of different member states whilst using specific target groups to experience unique programs of the visited countries and promote low seasonality as a key period for a holiday.

The Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) and Eden Social Welfare Foundation (ESWF) are holding the 4th International Conference on Accessible Tourism, “ICAT 2011“, Taipei Taiwan 11-14 April.  Amongst supporters of the conference are the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Economic Affairs Board of Foreign Trade, Tourism Bureau, and the New Taipei City Government.  The aim of the APDF and the ESWF is to promote accessible tourism in the Asia Pacific Region and around the world, and to turn Taiwan into the leading pioneer of accessible tourism in Asia.  Invited speakers include Lilian Müller,  President of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), who will give a plenary presentation on “Global Trends for Accessible Tourism”.  Other speakers come from Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.  Under discussion will be

• Accessible tourism & national economic development.
• Accessible tourism & the development of human rights, and national well being.
• The construction of friendly living circle (soft and hardware).
• Accessible transportation and devices.

The Rick Hansen Foundation and the Rick Hansen Institute are holding a conference and exposition in Vancouver next year (May, 2012) as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Rick Hansen Man In Motion World Tour.   The Tour was undertaken by Hansen, a wheelchair user, when he travelled 40,000 km through 34 countries (including New Zealand) over a period of 26 months.  The Tour raised $26 million for spinal cord research and quality of life initiatives.  The anniversary conference – Interdependence 2012 - will focus on creating accessible communities and furthering spinal cord injury (SCI) research for a cure. About 3000 delegates from around the world are expected to attend this inaugural event.   The accessibility agenda of the program, led by the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF), will be centred on the following themes:

Accessible and inclusive tourism

Accessible public spaces

Accessible transportation

International standards and rating systems

Legacies of major international sport events

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Delegates will include all levels of government, private sector, tourism industry, transportation industry, sport and recreation industry (inclusive of major sporting events), building and construction industry (e.g., architects, developers, trades people), national and international organizations who impact and are impacted by the field of accessibility and assessments, as well as people with disabilities. 

The i2012 committee is in the scoping phase prior to inviting speakers and exhibitors.  The committee is looking for information from anyone who runs a resort, manages a travel agency, rents or adapts vehicles, keeps a directory of accessible hotels or tourist destinations, invents or sells adaptive equipment, consults with the travel and hospitality industry, or serves travellers with disabilities in any of the numerous other ways.   Send a brief summary snapshot of your work ASAP to srains(at)oco.net or sandrarhodda(at)hotmail.com

 A study of Access Tourism in Phang-Nga, Thailand found that most disabled travellers make travel decisions based on word-of-mouth.  “Inclusive Tourism in Phang-nga”, a project under Kenan Institute Asia’s tsunami recovery action initiative (TRAI), was researched and written by Michael Yehle of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School.  The Bangkok and Chang Mai regions are well established in the accessible travel world, wheras Khao Lak is much less established.  While there are Access Tourism products – such as the accessible Baan Khao Lak, the leading accessible resort in Khao Lak – the problem for Khao Lak arises because there is a lack of information about accessible travel in the region.  For this reason, the author created an access guide to Khao Lak and Phang-nga.  The “ Universal access guide to Khao Lak” describes Tour operators, accessible accommodation, attractions such as golf courses, tours such as sailing, information about transport and you can read about it here.

Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing and Health (IAH) is Europe’s leading research organisation tackling the broad challenges of population. It is a major source of knowledge and innovation with potential for translation into products or services.  They lead the Newcastle Science City Ageing and Health theme and are committed to seeing genuine benefit, both social and economic emerge from their world class research. They work with businesses and other organisations to support the development of knowledge and innovation to underpin new products and services suited to a society with a much greater average age. According to IAH, few companies are prepared for the changing age demographic. Many seem stuck in the groove of automatically targeting their efforts at the younger generations: so far at least, many companies have failed to age with their customers. As with all forces for change, ageing presents a challenge and an opportunity. Companies that analyse the situation correctly and successfully should prosper.  Companies that engage and trade the 50+ market will be working with a longer living, healthier, more demanding and more diverse group of consumers which:

• Is a growing market with wealth spending power and high expectations
• Is currently 20 million strong in the UK and growing fast
• Holds 80% of the UK’s wealth
• Spends as much as 40% (£260bn) of UK consumer spend
• If aged between 50 and 65, spend twice as much on leisure and entertainment as the under 30s
• Own laptops (56%) and mobile phones (70%) (NSC)

A seminar about business opportunities and an ageing society will be held at Kirkley Hall, Ponteland Newcastle on 18 January.  Register here.

A seminar for tourism stakeholders was convened by the European Standards Committee (CEN) in Brussels in December to discuss the possible need for new standards in the tourism sector. European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) Managing Director Ivor Ambrose was one of the invited speakers and presented a summary of a recent study on Accessible Tourism Standards in Europe. The study identified existing standards, quality norms, laws, and minimum requirements concerning accessibility in tourism in selected European countries, to evaluate the requirements and consequences of these instruments in terms of their effectiveness towards tourism providers; and in relation to the accessibility of destinations as experienced by visitors with disabilities and others who require good access conditions. 

CEN is a business facilitator in Europe, removing trade barriers for European industry and consumers. Its mission is to foster the European economy in global trading, the welfare of European citizens and the environment. Through its services it provides a platform for the development of European Standards and other technical specifications. CEN’s 31 National Members work together to develop voluntary European Standards (ENs).  Since its creation in 1995, CEN/TC 329 “Tourism services” has developed 11 European Standards in relation to terminology, recreational diving services, language study tours and tourist guides training and qualification programmes.  The aim of the Brussels seminar was to take stock of the work done so far and to have an exchange of views among stakeholders on any needs and opportunities for new standardization work in the area of tourism services.

Sandra Rhodda of Access Tourism New Zealand gave an invited presentation at the Third International Congress of Accessible Tourism for All in Valladolid Spain in November.  She spoke about people with disabilities, access tourism, and arts and culture in New Zealand.   The congress – held over three days – was attended by more than 300 people from Europe, the U.K., Asia, and the Americas, and comprised a number of presentations and concurrent workshops on progress and business initiatives in developing Access Tourism, professional training, employment, and research in Access Tourism, presentations on access, culture, and the environment, disabled students as access tourists, Access Tourism and technology, and Access Tourism rating, standardization, and labeling systems.  The Congress was backed by Fundacion ONCE, the largest disabilities NGO in Spain, and the European Network for Accessible Tourism.

 The main theme of the congress was cultural tourism and was therefore aimed at professionals in the cultural sector wishing to enhance their participation in the tourism sector.  It had as a main goal that of establishing Universal Accessibility and Design for All, with which to promote inclusion of people with disabilities.  One of the main goals of Fundación ONCE is to ensure the full inclusion of disabled people in all areas of society. Making access to cultural tourism easier for disabled people helps them get to know the culture of the place they are visiting. On the other hand, incorporating Design for All into the new cultural tourism offerings makes more people aware of the importance of Design for All and Universal Accessibility.

A timely presentation was that given by Juan Aljama from the Accessibility Commission of Spain, who spoke about the work of the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain (Accessible Heritage and Tourism section).  The Group was created to preserve and promote thirteen historic cities in Spain, and the access section is involved with assessing and improving access for locals and visitors with disabilities.  One of the thirteen cities – Avila – this week won the first-ever European Commission award for improving access for the disabled (The Access City Award 2011)