Inclusive accessible travel for all

ADVENTURE tour operator, Cascada Expediciones & EcoCamp Patagonia, have claimed another title, this time winning Best Transformational Travel Experience at the 2018 PURE Awards held in September. In 2017 EcoCamp brought the first disabled visitor to explore Torres del Paine and in 2018 their tours became fully inclusive. In January they trekked a wheelchair-using guest around the Park in their uniquely-designed wheelchair.

This is the second year in a row that they have taken home this prize, with their Dientes Trek on Navarino Island winning in 2017. This year their efforts promoting inclusive travel and accessibility in the travel industry helped them earn this award.

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A challenge but not impossible

SOUTH America may seem like an unconventional choice for disabled travellers, but many countries here, including Peru have made great progress in improving their cities to be more accessible and wheelchair friendly.

Getting to Machu Picchu is difficult to reach, but especially if you need help in walking or use a wheelchair. Amazing Peru and Beyond however is not your ordinary travel company. When they launched "Amazing Peru Disability Travel," a travel program which invites disabled people filled with adrenaline to take part in (sometimes) extreme sports in Latin America, who would have thought that one of the highlights of their numerous operated disability tours would be an amazing Inca Trail Adventure with two wheelchair users and a film crew. 

Steve Gleason a former NFL football player who under the most difficult of circumstances experienced a seemless tour with many stories to tell. This documentary was televised by the NFL and shown on USA TV. With their team of expert assistants who have work experience in the Andean Mountains of Peru and the Himalayas, we made it possible to trek the 2 day Royal Inca Trail for two wheelchair-bound travellers as never before. 

This tour is an upscale adventure allowing for mobility-challenged individuals the chance to access Machu Picchu via the original Inca Trail, a truly unique journey that will empower all those who accomplish it.



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Accessible Yosemite National Park

WITH the reopening of the Mariposa Grove this summer, Yosemite National Park unveiled a natural area that’s both free of commercial operations, and accessible to wheelchair-users and slow walkers. And those features are highlighted in the second edition of Candy B. Harrington’s popular title, Barrier-Free Travel; Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers.


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Wheelchairs and Mountains

AT first glance Mount Rainier might not appear to be the best vacation choice for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. After all, the namesake mountain towers some 14,000 feet over the surrounding national park. In fact all three of the Evergreen State’s national parks offer #accessible options for those that use wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches.

This inclusive title is part of Candy B. Harrington’s national park series; and although it’s written for wheelchair-users and slow walkers, moms who have stroller-aged kids will also appreciate the access information in this guide. More access resources for some of America's top #nationalparks can also be found on Harrington’s Barrier-Free National Parks website at www.barrierfreenationalparks.com.

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Travel support for those with communication difficulties

GOVIA Thameslink Railway (GTR) is introducing sets of innovative rail travel access aids to support passengers who need help with communication, such as those who are hard of hearing or have language or learning difficulties.

The Accessibility Communication Guide, the second aid, is a pictorial guide that makes it easier for GTR customer service staff and passengers with communications support needs to understand each other. 

Customers can simply point to photographs or pictograms to explain what help they need: getting onto their train, catching a bus or taxi outside the station, finding a toilet or a public phone.

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Access Tourism launches the first Social Tourism portal in the UK

SOCIAL Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourist market and offers opportunities for businesses to expand into this growth area. The ageing population (with an average age of over 45 and increasing) together with people with special needs which account for some 12 million in the UK bring new challenges to tourism providers: the provision of access to extensive information.

Zoltan (36), Founder at Access Tourism explains the concept as 'the first channel that provides thorough information to people who seek access to extensive travel material due to their age, mobility issues, single parent family status or disability'.

The unique Guides are promoting places with elderly visitors, families and people with special needs in mind in a format that gives clear information to readers about accessibility- and family- and multi-generational related particulars. They are aiming to publish the first Social Tourism Guide by October, 2018 on Amazon and in print.

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Accessibility guides for England and Scotland

VisitEngland and VisitScotland have launched a website for #tourism businesses to produce accessibility guides.  The guides are a new way for tourism operators to increase business by providing potential visitors with important #accessibility information in a user-friendly format.

As well as being easier for businesses to complete, the new guide format standardises how information is presented making it easier for disabled customers, their friends and family to compare venues.

VisitEngland research in 2015 showed that £12 billion was spent on trips where a member of the party had an impairment. Research by VisitScotland in the same year found £1.3 billion was spent on those trips, which includes day trips, domestic overnight trips and inbound trips.

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Picture Credit: WELS.net Wheelchair Access Sign via photopin

Cebu Pacific invests in facilities for Persons with Reduced Mobility

THE Philippines’ largest carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB), is set to roll-out Disabled Passenger Lifts (DPLs) in key airports in the Philippines. The DPLs which would allow Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRMs) an easier and more comfortable boarding experience on Cebu Pacific flights.

CEB is the first airline to invest in its own DPLs, in line with its thrust to improve passenger experience. The use of the DPL is free of charge for Cebu Pacific passengers with reduced mobility. Aside from Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), these include pregnant and elderly passengers who may have difficulty climbing stairs to board their flights.

In 2016 alone, over 43,000 passengers availed of wheelchair assistance from the check-in counter. Of this number, more than 14,000 were wheeled from the check-in counter and carried to their seats in the aircraft.

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Accessible trains in Russia

THE Federal Passenger Company, a subsidiary of OJSC Russian Railways, has equipped more than 1,400 carriages on 47 branded and international and 7 express trains with removable gangways.

The removable gangways are very strong and have been installed to improve passenger safety and convenience when boarding train from the platform.

These gangways will allow passengers carrying a lot of luggage, families with children, elderly travellers and low mobility passengers on wheelchairs to board and leave the train without difficulty and overcome easily the gap between the train and the platform.

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Accessible Beaches in Cyprus

#CYPRUS has over 40 beaches that are accessible to those with special needs, 11 of which are fully #accessible with 29 partially accessible.

The 11 fully accessible #beaches means the wheelchair user is able to get from the beach into the sea moving on a wooden or plastic ramp. There are also fully accessible facilities and parking places for disabled people. 

Also worth mentioning is the fact that on six of these beaches there is an innovative system (Seatrac) that enables disabled people to have a full access into the sea. It is an automatic system powered by photovoltaic energy, consisting of a seat fixed in a rail that drives the disabled person into the sea at an approximate depth of 60cm. Seatracs are available for use free of charge.

Fully accessible beaches:

Agia Napa: Lanta, Vathia Gonia (Seatrac)

Paralimni: Protaras (Fig Tree Beach), Vrysi C΄ (Seatrac)

Larnaka: Foinikoudes

Lemesos: Akti Olympion A΄ (Seatrac)

Parekklisia: Municipal Beach

Germasogeia : Dasoudi (CTO)

Pafos: Vrysoudia Α (Sodap) (Seatrac)

Polis Chrysochous: Municipal Beach (Seatrac), Dasoudi (camping site) (Seatrac)

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Dominican Republic introduces an app in aid of developing accessible tourism

A new app is available for travellers to the #DominicanRepublic which provides users with information on #accessible #tourism in the destination. 

The RD4ALL application includes updated information on 12 restaurants, four airports, 42 hotels and 21 beaches as well as featuring information on parking facilities, rooms and other services that provide access to individuals in wheel chairs, or who have limited mobility and impaired vision or hearing. 

www.accessdr.com/2016/11/app-for-accessible-tourism-in-the-dominican-republic/

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Accessible Germany

THE German National Tourist Office UK and Ireland (GNTO) has announced a new hotels section from 2017, on its accessible travel website ‘Discover Germany BarrierFree’.

From youth hostels to 5-Star hotels, 33 establishments with accessible rooms will be listed here, providing accommodation choices for all preferences.

Through the dedicated website www.germany.travel/barrierfree, visitors can plan their journey to Germany from beginning to end independently, or via a reputable travel operator.

In July 2016, the GNTO also launched ‘Feeling Fearless’, an accessible holiday guide to extraordinary accessible activities in Germany, including white water rafting, skiing, climbing and cycling.

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'Universal Access for All' launched in Thailand

THAILAND plans to create eight new tourism routes in each of the country’s eight major regions specifically designed to cater to the needs of travellers with special needs.

This year’s theme for World Tourism Day 2016, ‘Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility’, was the catalyst and inspiration for the plan. After completion it would expand #Thailand tourism offering in line with existing promotions to make travel around the country inclusive to all tourists regardless of impairment or disability.

H.E. Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, announced the innovative initiative during World Tourism Day 2016 celebrations in Bangkok.

She said: “Amazing Thailand means Amazing Thailand for all. In order to create a quality tourism experience and equality for every visitor, this will first be launched on a trial basis in Khon Kaen and then replicated around the country without any missing links from arrival to departure.

“It is not just for physically disabled travellers, but for sight or hearing impaired tourists, the elderly or anyone with special needs so that everyone is able to enjoy travelling to all regions of Thailand.”

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Reservoir rambles for the disabled

YORKSHIRE WATER is working to improve access around some of its scenic reservoirs so that more wheelchair users can visit the popular countryside beauty spots. 

Approximately two million people visit Yorkshire Water’s 70,000 acres of land, such as reservoirs, ancient woodland, and moorland, every year. The locations have become increasingly popular since they first opened up to the public after privatization of the water sector in 1989.

The company has teamed with Experience Community, a not-for-profit community interest company that helps disabled people access the British countryside. This has already resulted in more disabled group rambles around Yorkshire Water reservoirs, such as Langsett in South Yorkshire and Swinsty in the Washburn Valley, on specially-designed mountain trikes and bikes.

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Says Geoff Lomas, recreation manager at Yorkshire Water: ‘We have 115 scenic reservoirs dotted around the region and these are all popular with dog walkers, picnic-goers, runners, anglers, and cyclists, but we now want to make some of them more inviting to disabled people as a go-to destination. This might mean improving paths around reservoirs by making them flatter and wider and addressing any surface issues so wheelchair user’s accessibility needs are met.

‘Many of our reservoirs are now recreational hotspots and we want to make them as inclusive as possible by providing information and access that is both informative and enticing to disabled people.’

For more information, go to www.yorkshirewater.com/walks 


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‘Wear It Blue’ day kicks off Titanic Belfast’s Year of Access

TITANIC BELFAST has launched its Year of Access, aiming to highlight the issue of disability access and encourage industry improvements when dealing with disabled travellers, with Autism NI’s ‘Wear It Blue’ day. 

Each month, it aims to focus on a different disability and ensure Titanic Belfast’s services and facilities develop to meet the needs of guests.


Titanic Belfast has been listed by SAGA and the Rough Guide to Accessibility Britain as one of the most accessible attractions in the UK.

Deputy chief executive and director of operations at Titanic Belfast Judith Owens said: ‘At Titanic Belfast, we are very proud to be consistently recognized as industry leaders on a local, national, and international level for our accessibility standards.

‘We have designated 2016/17 as our Year of Access. Each month, we aim to look at different disabilities and ensure that we are fully accessible for all our differing customers’ needs. We also hope that our example will inspire the tourism industry locally, nationally, and internationally to do more to better cater for disabled travellers.’

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Access for all

MARCH this year saw the launch of Limitless Travel, an online platform that allows hotels and attractions to list their access amenities for #disabled guests, and visitors to rate facilities. Users with #disabilities and mobility problems –and their friends, families, and carers – can search for destinations across the world based on their specific access requirements, saving them both time and money.

It was founded by Angus Drummond, who was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy in 2012. He quit his job in investment banking, travelled the world, and experienced at first-hand the difficulties people with disabilities can face when visiting a new place.

Angus says: ‘When you go holiday, what would you do if you couldn’t climb the stairs or get into the shower? What would you do if you couldn’t read the menu? These are just some of the issues facing people with disabilities when travelling the world, and one that Limitless Travel is solving. While I was travelling, I often found that places marked as disabled-friendly are quite inaccessible, which was extremely frustrating.

‘The Limitless Travel team’s aim is to promote equality and fairness for all who travel, and raise awareness and understanding within the travel industry. Through our website we believe the future is limitless. Disabled #travel doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience; we are making it an exciting opportunity to discover new parts of the world.’

The website kicked off with a guide to London, and aims to expand its coverage to hotels and attractions across the UK, Europe, and then the rest of the world. It is also in touch with tour operators who can offer trips to far-flung destinations for travellers with different access requirements.

www.limitlesstravel.org

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Dubai to strengthen accessible tourism

#DUBAI is striving to become the world’s friendliest place for the #disabled. Initiatives include Smart Gate Special Counters at the airports, guidelines in Braille, government staff trained in sign language to support those with hearing and speech impairment, ease of wheelchair access in buildings, parks, transport facilities, government offices, and parking facilities close to the centres.

Sami Al Qamzi, director general at the Department of Economic Development (DED): ‘We have formed a special team to make the DED and its institutions disabled-friendly entities to ensure that the design and facilities inside the buildings allow people with disabilities to use the services and move around with ease.’

The UAE and Dubai have been taking numerous initiatives toward enhancing the lives of people with disabilities and integrating them into the society.

Government departments are using smart technologies to make transactional procedures easily accessible for the disabled, providing job opportunities and introducing facilities aimed at integrating those with disabilities into society.

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Rough guide to accessible Britain

THE ROUGH GUIDE TO ACCESSIBLE BRITAIN – developed in association with Motability Operations Ltd – features nine scenic drives through Britain’s countryside, including the Exmoor Scenic Drive which covers 21 miles of windswept moors to wooded valleys and coastline. Those further north can plan a journey through the North Yorkshire Moors. 

For an artistic day out in East Anglia, drive the 26 miles through Stour Valley and Dedham Vale where John Constable worked. Across the border in Wales, Snowdonia has a drive through many different backdrops from woodlands to valleys, mountains, beaches, and castles.

The online reviews contain must-have accessibility information, the website also features the Days Out blog, which has first-person experiences of accessible days out across the country, written by disability experts and tourism professionals. The website offers people the opportunity to submit their own reviews for places they have visited or great days out they’ve experienced. 

Visitors to the website can read reviews by other readers; download a free activity pack to keep kids entertained on long journeys, and access special offer vouchers. For more information, go to www.accessibleguide.co.uk

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11298518@N05/4653290552">Buttertubs Pass</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/127152385@N08/14979581553">Porlock Bay, Exmoor</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)

Research compares disabled facilities at top UK airports

A GUIDE comparing the disabled facilities and services available at the 20 busiest airports in the UK has been created by Airport Parking & Hotels (APH). 

The research looks at airports including Birmingham, London Heathrow, and Manchester and compares the facilities available for disabled travellers such as mobility access, areas for guide dogs, services for the hearing-impaired, and disabled parking options.

For the hearing-impaired, all 20 of the airports researched have induction loop systems installed and five airports provide text phone facilities including London City, Edinburgh, and London Stansted, with Belfast City providing a text phone on request from the information desk. Airport staff who are proficient in British Sign Language Stage 1 are also available at London Stansted and Birmingham, with most of the staff at London Stansted also being trained in deaf awareness.

For those thinking about driving to the airport, disabled parking spaces are available at all of the 20 airports researched, with eight airports offering free or discounted parking options for Blue Badge holders.

To assist travellers in wheelchairs or those using electronic mobility aids, 10 of the airports researched including Liverpool and Belfast International provide specifically highlighted accessible doors, and East Midlands International offers a dedicated security lane for wheelchair users. Those travelling with their own electric mobility aid should check the airport requirements prior to travel with three airports –London Gatwick, Liverpool, and London Luton – all explicitly requiring electric mobility aids to be switched off before boarding. All of the airports researched require at least 48 hours’ notice prior to travelling in order to plan assistance for disabled travellers.

Changing facilities for disabled travellers are available at nine of the airports researched, including London Heathrow, London Stansted, and Belfast. Travellers wanting to use changing facilities should keep in mind that this needs to be booked in advance at Birmingham. London Heathrow offers disabled travellers access to the Lichfield Suite at Terminal 5, which has a height-adjustable changing bench, hoist, and shower.

All airports researched allow guide dogs within the terminal buildings, but travellers should be aware that guide dogs can travel only if they are registered with the Pet Travel Scheme and permitted by the airline.

The research can be found in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website … www.aph.com/disabledfacilities.

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Northern Territory to expand tourism in remote areas

UPGRADED conference facilities at Crab Claw Island, the renovation of Seven Spirit Bay in Arnhem Land, and #wheelchairaccessible pathways in Central #Australia are among the Northern Territory (NT) projects to be funded under a national #tourism infrastructure scheme. 

Chief minister and tourism minister Adam Giles welcomed the funding of AU$775,000 from the Federal Government’s Tourism Demand-Driver Infrastructure Program in 2015/16, which will be administered by Tourism NT.

‘The Northern Territory government is determined to expand the range of tourism experiences on offer, particularly in our regional and remote areas, so we can create more jobs and drive economic development in these communities,’ he said. ‘The funding from the federal government will support a selection of high-quality, large scale projects that deliver a broad benefit across the tourism sector, and the territory government has focused investment to encourage visitors to disperse and extend their visit. These are all exciting tourism projects that will help attract more holiday-makers to the territory.’

The projects to receive funding include:

• Air conditioned accommodation, Lorella Springs
• A meeting and events area in the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre, Katherine
• Renovation of Seven Spirit Bay to develop a West Arnhem touring route
• Wheelchair accessible walking trails at Standley Chasm, Central Australia

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