How accessibility is good for business

As a service industry always thinking about the consumer first, we reflect on accessibility in tourism and how considering specific access requirements can bring economic benefits.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 15% of the population has some kind of need for accessibility assistance. 70% of Europeans with disabilities have physical and economic possibilities to travel.

According to the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) accessible tourism includes:

  • Barrier-free destinations: infrastructure and facilities
  • Transport (air, land and sea) suitable for all users
  • High-quality services: delivered by trained staff
  • Activities, exhibitions, attractions: allowing everyone to participate in tourism
  • Marketing, reservation systems, websites and services: information accessible to all.

In that context, HOTREC is a partner of the DIVETOUR project funded by the Erasmus + programme. Targeting students and professionals as well as staff and organisations in tourism and hospitality, DIVETOUR is delivering innovative e-learning tools relating to accessible tourism.

The first deliverable, to be launched in January 2023, is an online training platform and open learning community (cMOOC). It will give access to the latest research in accessible tourism as a response to challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The cMOOC will enhance the dialogue among Vocational Education Training professionals and companies to share ideas and best practices. The second deliverable is a game-based app to foster awareness among students of the ethical and economic relevance of accessible tourism. Last but not least, a hotel chatbot will be developed to interact with clients and improve the quality of information about issues such as inclusiveness and accessibility.

So don’t miss your chance to embark on this accessible tourism journey and discover why the tourism sector and the hospitality industry can highly benefit from considering specific access requirements. Register to the cMOOC (available from 21 November 2022): MOOC – Divetour.

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Meeting DG HOME + DG GROW: Ukrainian refugees
01/03/2023    
14:00 - 15:00
On 1 March 2023, HOTREC held a meeting with DG Home and DG GROW on the Ukrainian refugees topic.  Participants to the meeting European Commission [...]
Pact for Skills - coordination meeting
02/03/2023    
15:00 - 16:30
Main outcome of the meeting available
09 Mar
09/03/2023    
10:00 - 12:00
Presentation and draft minutes are now available.
European Platform Undeclared Work - Ukraine refugees sub-group
09/03/2023    
10:00
Participants:  Participants of ELA (European Labour Authority), labour inspectors from Member States, European Federation of Employers; HOTREC (Marta Machado) Agenda Subgroup on displaced persons and [...]
10 Mar
10/03/2023    
11:00 - 12:00
ExCom Video Conference Link ExCom draft agenda - 10 March 2023 Draft Minutes of ExCom meeting of 25 January 2023 Antitrust Statement HOTREC Statutes HOTRE [...]
14 Mar
14/03/2023    
10:00 - 12:00
We are delighted to invite you to the Social Affairs Working Group meeting, taking place on 14 March 2023, online. Please register by using this [...]
Sectoral Social Dialogue meeting
20/03/2023    
10:00 - 13:00
We are delighted to invite you to the next Sectoral Social Dialogue (SSD) meeting, which will be hybrid, taking place on 20 March 2023 (from [...]
Working group on restaurants, bars, cafes & late-night entertainments
23/03/2023    
10:00 - 12:00
Agenda of the event List of participants Presentation
Online Series: 90 Minutes to Close The Loop
30/03/2023    
14:00 - 15:30
Online Series: 90 Minutes to Close The Loop Episode 9 – broadcast live on the 30th of March 2023 at 14:00 to 15:30 Roadmap for [...]
Events on 01/03/2023
Events on 02/03/2023
Events on 10/03/2023
Events on 14/03/2023
14 Mar
Events on 20/03/2023
Events on 30/03/2023