European Commission DG Enterprise and Industry, Tourism Unit.
Brussels, 18 - 19 January 2007
Agenda - PDF - Filesize: 79 Kb
Pedro Ortún, Director, European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry EN - PDF - Filesize: 37 Kb
Miguel Angel Cabra de Luna, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee ES - PDF -Filesize: 10 Kb
Constance Hanniffy, Member of the European Committee of Regions EN - PDF - Filesize: 67 Kb
Wallis Goelen, Head of Unit, European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Tourism and transport are irrevocably interconnected and access to transport is a prerequisite to the full enjoyment of tourism. Full access to transport is therefore an essential requirement for persons with reduced mobility in order to enjoy full citizenship. Without accessible transport, people with reduced mobility cannot go on holiday. Transport systems and services must be accessible to users, for without these essential links tourism for disabled people and others with access needs is just a dream. Moreover accessible transport means also higher quality for everybody.
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Nigel Dotchin, Head of Unit, UK Government EN - PDF - Filesize: 3.8 Mb
Mark D'Eigens, Managing Director, Touring Coach Industry NL - PDF - Filesize: 23 Kb
Mokrane Boussaid, Director, European Blind Union EN - PDF - Filesize: 20 Kb
Keith Richards, Head of Consumer Affairs, Association of British Travel Agents
Mariusz Daca, Seconded National Expert, European Commission, DG Transport and Energy - PDF - Filesize: 234 Kb
A key principle must be the provision of information that is reliable, accurate and accessible for all users. Most tourists use internet for getting information about the destination, accommodation etc. and book online. Internet is a way to communicate with the costumer – the tourist. In the way people (potential tourists) use internet they are also driving the tourism sector. Accessible information means also to provide information about the level of accessibility of the hotel, restaurant, sight, and destination in general etc. Unfortunately, this information is still lacking. Important would be to invest in comprehensive information and to promote improved infrastructure.
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Ivor Ambrose, EWORX S.A. Greece
Rob Franklin, Director, European Travel CommissioN EN - PDF - Filesize: 199 Kb
Greet Vandenrijt, Project Coordinator, Tourism Flanders EN - PDF - Filesize: 31 Kb
Andrew Daines, eBusiness Partnerships Manager, VisitBritain EN - PDF - Filesize: 2.6 Mb
Gudrun Stock, Project Officer, European Commission, DG Information Society EN - PDF - Filesize: 22 Kb
Currently accessibility is still insufficient considered as part of training programmes. Knowledge of accessibility (e.g. understanding the needs) is important when working in the tourism sector (for tour guides, hotel staff etc.) and should also be part of further education, staff training and the raising of professional qualifications of employees. There is also a new demand of experts in this field and a need of persons with accessibility knowledge in all parts of the tourism chain: in accommodation, transports, catering, sightseeing etc. Moreover, new job opportunities for people with disabilities can become true: the experiences of disabilities can be of value for the labour market. For the industry it can be an advantage for their own business to employ people with knowledge of accessibility. New job profiles like accessibility auditors/advisors, trainers, instructors for disabled people will appear in the near future.
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Laura Schiff, Coordinator EN - PDF - Filesize: 4.6 Mb
Gabriele Guglielmi, Chairman, European Trade Union Liaison Committee on Tourism EN - PDF - Filesize: 268 Kb
Lilian Müller, Project Manager, Tourism for All in Sweden EN - PDF - Filesize: 23 Kb
Christian Abenthung, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Skiing instructors of Tyrol DE - PDF - Filesize:1.3 Mb
Inmaculada Placencia Porrero, Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities EN - PDF - Filesize: 20 Kb
Investing in accessibility in hotels and restaurants means also to invest in the whole destination and in the transport service to the destination to make the holiday for disabled people and people with special needs as comfortable as possible. But for the tourism industry – especially the accommodation sector – it is not only a question of competition and business but also a financial question. A number of the barriers can be overcome with careful planning and consideration and with little cost. Other barriers will require a more substantial resource investment. Also, the tourism sector is typified by a predominance of small and medium enterprises, which have limited capacity for innovation, change and investment. Examples show that the investment can be quite high and is often not possible without any additional financial support by a foundation, by the government or even through EU funded programmes. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness within the industry but also to prepare information about how to make the environment accessible.
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Jesús Hernández Galán, Director of Accessibility, ONCE Foundation EN - PDF - Filesize: 310 Kb
Maria Nyman, Policy Officer, European Disability Forum EN - PDF - Filesize: 20 Kb
Corinna Abele, Managing Director, Hotel Haus Rheinsberg, Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés in Europe DE - PDF - Filesize: 2 Mb (FDST Foundation)
Liisa Hundertmark, Member of European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation and of Enterprises of General Economic Interest
Pierre Godin, Policy Analyst, European Commission, DG Regional PolicY FR - PDF - Filesize: 26 Kb
Frederic Pierret, Director of Tourism, France FR - PDF - Filesize: 96 Kb
Geert Bourgeois, Minister of Foreign Policy, Media and Tourism, Flanders
Cveto Uršič, Director General, Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, Directorate for Disabled, Slovenia EN - PDF - Filesize: 405 Kb
Pedro Ortún, Director, European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry EN - PDF - Filesize: 57 Kb