TOURISM, A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.

Yannis Vardakastanis.
President of the European Disability Forum.
www.edf-feph.org

"Tourism for all" is not about creating separated services for disabled people, it is about a full integration of disabled people in the mainstream tourism sector.

In 1996, disabled people in Europe and their representative organisations decided to create the European Disability Forum and its Brussels-based secretariat. The aim of establishing such a pioneer umbrella organisation was to guarantee that no decisions were taken by the European Union without consulting disabled people, as all initiatives and European policies have a direct impact in disabled people's lives. "Nothing about disabled people without disabled people" was the chosen motto of the European disability movement and continues to be today at the heart of all its campaigns.

In the past years, EDF's scope of action has covered most areas of EU competence, including transport, employment, the information society, social policy, public procurement, accessibility. 

Tourism, a fundamental right for disabled people

Guaranteeing the right to travel for disabled people and to enjoy accessible tourism services and premises is also part of EDF's work programme, despite the fact that the EU Treaty gives no particular guidance for a community tourism policy and there is no specific legal base for Community measures on tourism . Nevertheless, it is among EDF aims to encourage a consensus among the EU-25 recognising the importance of a "tourism for all" and to promote the adoption of common standards, that will guarantee disabled people the right to travel, to enjoy leisure activities and simply, to relax.

"Tourism for all" is a fundamental right for any citizen without exception, but it is also supported by an economic argument: it makes real business sense for the industry. Indeed, there are 50 million disabled people in Europe which should be considered as potential tourists and consumers, a number that increases if we take into consideration their families and friends.

Moreover, accessible services benefit directly the European ageing population, whose purchasing power and free time for leisure cannot be ignored by the industry. Including accessibility from the planning stage when designing services and premises is not costly, as some may believe, and implies fewer expenses than adapting a tourist site at a later stage.

EDF regularly receives users' complaints and information requests regarding the tourism field, which show three main barriers: the lack of accessibility to hotels, tourist sites, beaches, leisure activities; the lack of reliable information on accessibility and harmonised criteria throughout Europe ; the lack of disability awareness and disability equality training of persons working in the tourism and transport sector.

For EDF, European standards in the sector are of particular importance, as very often, tourism sites claim to be accessible in their brochures and websites and the reality is far from the publicity made. The lack of control and of criteria for the use of these labels can sometimes cause abuses. To avoid such situations, systematic and independent verification of the use of accessibility labels is necessary, including the regular feedback of disabled consumers to the appointed regulators.

In the tourism sector, a holistic approach is essential to overcome the existing gaps and barriers, and to ensure that the interests and specificities of all impairment groups, including persons with visual or hearing impairments, intellectual disabilities or mental health problems are taken into account.

A concrete example of the benefits of such an approach is the potential impact of European transport legislation in the tourism sector. The EU regulations currently discussed at EU level on the rights of passengers with reduced mobility when traveling by air will allow disabled people to move more freely, preventing discrimination and protecting their rights. The European tourism sector will have to be prepared to respond to an increasing demand from the disabled consumers willing to travel and to enjoy their free time.

Next.....