Practical Paris

FOR several years, the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau has been active on the subject of accessibility, leading dedicated workshops and raising awareness among Parisian tourism professionals who are seeking to improve the welcome they offer to their visitors. Helping all visitors to enjoy and explore the French capital they have published the 2019-2020 version of its dedicated brochure Accessible Paris.

This practical 28-page guide provides visitors with everything they need to know on how to get to and around #Paris, where to stay, and also where to find adapted places for entertainment. It is also a source of information for #accessible cultural attractions and recreational activities, and suggests a sightseeing itinerary adapted to wheelchair users. The rich content of this new edition provides an increased number of accessible activities for everyone to discover.

Available in French and in English, at the Tourist Office’s information point, at City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), it is also available on request in large print or in (French) braille. In addition, it can be consulted and downloaded on the website PARISINFO.COM, in the rubric ‘Practical/Visiting Paris with a disability’.


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Barrier Free Travel

ENABLE Holidays, the leading tour operator for wheelchair-users and holidaymakers with limited mobility, has unveiled its new accessible holidays brochure for 2018.  The all-new collection includes more holiday types than ever before to cater for the ever-changing needs and aspirations of disabled tourists. 

For the bold adventurer, there are exotic tours (some of which are escorted) to Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, South Africa, India and Vietnam. For lovers of European culture and the good things in life, there’s the opportunity for wine-tasting experiences in France, Italy and Spain. And for holidaymakers looking for a little privacy in an oasis of tranquillity, Enable Holidays has added even more adapted villas across the Mediterranean, Aegean, Canary Islands and Florida.

The entire collection now extends to more than 500 personally audited accessible holidays in over 50 destinations, across 12 different types of holiday.

Lynne Kirby, managing director of Enable Holidays, believes that limited mobility shouldn’t mean limited choice: ‘’ All holidaymakers should have the opportunity to book and enjoy their ideal holiday, adventure or experience – barrier free.

‘’Our job is to source and deliver the widest range of tailor-made holidays to meet the needs of disabled tourists. It’s certainly not the easiest sector of the travel market to specialise in, but we like to do things right; and it’s extremely rewarding to see things come together for changing lives and making dreams come true.’’



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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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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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On the runway . . .

BRISTOL Airport gains Autism Friendly Award after joint project with OCS Group to improve assistance for passengers with hidden disabilities.  Bristol Airport has been named an Autism Friendly airport by the National Autistic Society following work with OCS Group to ensure the airport offers a friendly environment for autistic passengers along with support services that target the accessibility needs of the passengers and their families.

The Autism Friendly Award recognises the success of Bristol Airport and OCS Group in providing assistance that improves the experience at the airport for autistic passengers, their families and caregivers. Bristol Airport and OCS Group have worked together to ensure clear information is available about the airport, how to plan their journey and how to access assistance at the terminal.

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Heathrow Enhances Service for Passengers with Hidden and Visible Disabilities

HEATHROW has announced a multi-million pound package of investments and tools to improve the travel experience of passengers with disabilities and mobility restrictions at the airport.

The number of passengers requesting special assistance at Heathrow is rising at approximately 8% annually, with over one million requests in 2017 alone – more than any other European airport. Following a report by the Civil Aviation Authority this year, Heathrow is taking proactive steps to transform its service for these passengers, backed by an investment of £23 million in a revamped, upgraded contract with its special assistance partner, OmniServ.

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Picture Credit: David McKelvey Heathrow Airport, London via photopin

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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Special Assistance from Heathrow

HEATHROW welcomed over 80 passengers this weekend in its first annual special assistance Open Day. The event was jointly hosted with Omniserv, Heathrow’s special assistant provider, along with disability charities like TryB4uFly, Whizz-kidz, and Spinal Injuries Association, and airlines including Virgin Atlantic. Its aim was to help passengers understand how our Special Assistance service works so passengers with disabilities or mobility restrictions have the confidence and information they need before they travel.

In total, over nine companies exhibited at the Open Day. Passengers were also given the opportunity to go on behind-the-scenes tours of the airport, and to walk them through the actual journeys they would take from check-in to gate.

Over one million passengers at Heathrow request special assistance from the airport each year. Following a critical report by the Civil Aviation Authority this year, Heathrow is transforming its service for these passengers and will soon publish a new action plan outlining practical steps to ensure its special assistance is considered amongst the best in the UK.

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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 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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New app to help sign language users

NETWORK Rail has launched a new smartphone app on October 5, which will help enable the 1 in 6 deaf people who live in the UK to access a range of information to help them to use level crossings safely. The Signly Network Rail app launch forms part of a new campaign that aims to support people with visual, hearing or mobility impairment, who may face additional challenges when using a level crossing.

Signly Network Rail is the first national roll out of this new technology, which can be downloaded for free on Apple and Google. The app works much like a QR-code where smartphone users can point their device camera over leaflets or posters, but rather than a QR-code it is programmed to recognise an image. The app inserts a smart layer of signed (or spoken/filmed) digital information onto the screen of the user’s own mobile device. They simply open the app, point their device at the Signly- enabled information and a sign language translator appears as if by magic.

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Picture Credit: TrainPhotography.de 101612608@N08/28587819915 Blue hour level crossing via photopin.com

'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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Picture Credit: patrice bourdin 136648920@N03/29640857370 Bangkok Speed 2 via photopin.com

‘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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