The International Expo Zaragoza will take place between 14 June and 14 September. Zaragoza was elected in Paris on 16 December 2004 as the host city of the 2008 International Exposition, beating out the other candidates. This event will coincide with the bicentennial commemoration of the Siege of Zaragoza (1808) and the centennial celebration of the Hispano-French Exposition of 1908.

EXPO ZARAGOZA 2008 will be an international celebration of the dynamic relationship between water and human societies, in a global, effective and supportive project, created on the bases of an enduring concept: WATER AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. The planned and expected participation is over one hundred countries, as well as international organisations, NGOs, companies, etc.

The event involves an innovative renovation programme for parts of the city's aesthetics, as well as significantly promoting tourism within the region. Aragón (including three provinces: Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel) has much to offer in these areas and may surprise those who have not yet visited this part of Spain.

The organisers of the event, in order to ensure that all people, regardless their abilities and capabilities, have access to all premises and activities, have set several agreements of cooperation and contracts: in 2006 an architectural consultancy was chosen to grant that buildings and premises are barrier free designed . Later on, in 2007, an agreement with the CERMI (disabled organization) was signed in order to provide access not only to people with reduced mobility, but to blind and/or hearing impaired visitors and . It was in 2007 too when the organisers decided to create a Centro de Atención a Personas con Discapacidad (CAD) , a "disabled visitors centre" intended to coordinate assistance to impaired visitors as well as provide a rest area (including adapted toilets), wheelchair loan services,etc.

The city of Zaragoza 's website, www.zaragoza.es features a section concerning accessibility in the town: " Zaragoza sin barreras", which in spite of being so far available just in Spanish might be very useful for visitor and travellers. Icons have been used to evaluate accessibility in public sites and venues, hotels, transport means, and leisure and tourism resources. Descriptions of accessible features are in Spanish, but often can be easily understood.

Checkings have been made by members of several disabled organizations like Disminuidos Físicos de Aragón, Agrupación de Personas Sordas de Zaragoza y Aragón (ASZA), la Asociación de Implantados Cocleares de España (AICE), ONCE and Comité de Entidades Representantes de Personas con Discapacidad (CERMI).

EXPOZARAGOZA 2008
www.expozaragoza2008.es

Tourist Office in Plaza del Pilar
Ntra.Sra. del Pilar, s/n
50003 Zaragoza
Tel: 902 201 212 / +34 976 201 200
Fax: +34 976 721 281
E-mail: infoturismopilar@zaragoza.es
turismo@zaragoza.es

Barrier free Zaragoza.
http://cmisapp.zaragoza.es/ciudad/sinbarreras/

 

 

Rebecca Arce