Accessible tourism in Lisbon - Portugal
Accessible tourism is about making it easy for all people to enjoy tourism experiences.
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According to the UN, an estimated 650 million people in the world live with disabilities. Together with their families, that means approximately 2 billion people are directly affected by disability, representing almost a third of the world’s population.
More people have access needs, whether or not related to a physical condition. For example, older and less mobile people or people with pushchairs have access needs, which can become a huge obstacle when going on holiday. The European population is aging: by 2050 the number of people over 65 will be 3 times what it was in 2003, and the over 80s will be 5 times greater in number.
For those people, travelling can be a real challenge, as finding the information on accessible services, checking luggage on a plane, booking a room with special access needs often prove to be difficult, costly and time consuming.
For those people, travelling can be a real challenge, as finding the information on accessible services, checking luggage on a plane, booking a room with special access needs often prove to be difficult, costly and time consuming.
They represent a huge market potential for tourism which today remains vastly under-served.
An under-served market
Making tourism more accessible is a social responsibility, but also a compelling business case to boost the competitiveness of tourism in Europe.
Making tourism more accessible is a social responsibility, but also a compelling business case to boost the competitiveness of tourism in Europe.
Many examples show that making basic adjustments to a facility, providing accurate information, and understanding the needs of disabled people can result in increased visitor numbers. Improving the accessibility of tourism services increases their quality and their enjoyment for all tourists, as well as improving quality of life in the local communities.
The European Commission is committed to increasing accessibility in tourism by:- Raising awareness among stakeholders and economic operators in the tourism sector
- Gathering knowledge about the demand and behavioural profile of travellers with special access needs, and assess the economic impact of accessible tourism : A study on the "Economic impact and travel patterns of accessible tourism in Europe" has been published in June 2014.
- Identifying options for improving the range of accessible tourism services.
- Improving dedicated skills in the sector. A study on "Mapping skills and training needs to improve accessibility in tourism services" has been published in June 2014.
- Improving information on accessible tourism for disabled people : See the study "Improving information on accessible tourism for disabled people
" issued in 2004.
- Supporting social tourism through the initiative Calypso
If you want come to Portugal please contact me. I can tell you more information about tourism services in Portugal.
Ricardo .
servicospersonalizados.blogspot.pt
correio.dsp@gmail.com - +351 . 935 279 620 / 218 247 021 - Lx - Portugal
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