Inclusive Tourism in Lleida: You set the limits

I would like to encourage you to experience the regions of Lleida; to enjoy them to the full and without complexes, as we keep our commitment on working in order to make these lands even more accessible to everyone.

I'm addressing you on behalf of the Association of Paraplegics and the Physically Disabled of Lleida (ASPID). Main goal in our projects is to promote and encourage the participation of physically disabled people in normal, day to day life activities: education, employment, sports and leisure.

The right and opportunity to enjoy accessible leisure activities and accessible related services is of great importance for the 9%, 3.5 million people, of the Spanish population who are disabled, as much as for their relatives, in order to guarantee our total social inclusion.

Therefore, equality of opportunities when it comes to leisure enjoyment has become extraordinarily outstanding, which mobilizes millions of people all over the world, constituting not only a factor of wealth and economic progress without precedents in different autonomous regions in our country, but also a decisive element for the improvement of knowledge, of communication, the degree of relationship and respect among the citizens of different countries.

Lleida is an important tourist destination due to its historic patrimony, cultural heritage and artistic wealth, outstanding scenic areas and natural beauty and, above all, the variety, interest and attraction of the lifestyles and behaviour of its inhabitants. As tourist destination, Lleida is attracting visitors from all over Spain and Europe , year after year.

The Pyrenees in Lleida are the most outstanding spot, offering a range of activities wide enough to meet expectations by those interested on natural environments. Promoting equality of opportunities and participation are essential elements of inclusive policies and basic items in leisure management projects, accomplished by Lleida as the works made in Aigüestortes and San Mauricio National Park give proof of.

The City Hall of Lleida has made accessible the Natural Park of the Mitjana, located in the heart of the city. It's remarkable too the work carried out by the Generalitat de Cataluña in the Aiguabarreig area, just 15km away from the city of Lleida, in the municipality of Granja de Escarp.

In the cultural field, the participation of all the people has been encouraged: meaning access to the cultural heritage and patrimony. Romanesque Churches in the Boi Valley (recently qualified by the UNESCO as Human Cultural Heritage) can be visited and admired by all.

In the city of Lleida we can visit fully accessible sites like the Seo Vella, from where we can enjoy an exceptional panoramic view of the city of Lleida and its surroundings.

Concerning the sports area, accessible facilities in the premises have improved a lot, especially those related to winter sports and to those of adventure that can be practiced in our lands and are designed to be enjoyed by the disabled. The ski resorts of Baqueira Beret and Boí-Taüll have ski chairs (property of ASPID), which can be loaned free of charge by all those people with impairments who would like to practice this sport accompanied by an instructor.

Enjoy Lleida as a tourist destination!

Josep Giralt i Lladanosa
ASPID's President
E-mail: jgiralt@aspidlleida.com
www.aspid.cat
Tel: +34 973 228 980