Lanzarote is in the very North East of the Canary Islands . It has an area of approximately 800 Km2 and its relief is low and scarcely mountainous. The highest altitude on the island is of 700 metres above sea level. Named Biosphere Reserve in 1933 due to its valuable natural assets, a territorial and town planning program was put into place on the entire Island; town panning program was passed for the entire putting a ceiling on tourist occupancy and on growth rate. The use of land is strictly regulated. There are 12 sites and one national park, Timanfaya , protected by the Canaries' Nature Law. In total, 90% of the land receives some type of legal protection.

The aim of the “Guía de Turismo Accesible de Lanzarote” is to offer information on accessible attractions both to the traveller with mobility and/or communication impairments and to the tourist who has higher quality and comfort demands. The website is sponsored by the Tenerife Island Authority (“Cabildo”) through SINPROMI S.L. (the Tenerife Association for the Support of the Disabled) within its programme named as "Tourism and Culture for All" . Would you like to request information not shown in their website, you may through www.portalturismoaccesible.org/us/informa.jsp (either in English or in Spanish).

The Guide is available in several languages: www.lanzaroteaccesible.com and in the SINPROMI's “Portal Internacional del Turismo Accesible” www.portalturismoaccesible.org, providing a comprehensive database which studies nearly everything, from luxury hotels to public buildings, from cultural and leisure facilities to sports facilities, from squares and gardens to the beaches and rural pathways, and much more.. A total amount of 190 facilities were checked, being 58,9% of them lodgings, mainly apartments; parks and avenues are 14,2 %, leisure and culture attractions 7,4 % and beaches 6,8 %.

The previous study concludes that 31,1 % of the facilities analyzed in Lanzarote have been validated as adapted, that is to say, adjust to the functional and dimensional requirements that guarantee their independent use with comfort by the people with reduced mobility or communication. It's quite shocking that a tourist destination like this can't offer a fully accessible/adapted beach.

Not to be missed in the island's main attraction (Timanfaya National Park) is the Mancha Blanca & Timanfaya Interpretation and Visitors' Centre, offering accessible facilities for the disabled and where trained staff to guide and assist impaired visitors is available too. You can learn about accessibility to the Timanfaya Park in http://www.polibea.com/turismo/boletinesAnteriores/2006/noviembre/noticia1_en.htm

Lanzarote Tourism Board
Blas Cabrera Felipe, s/n.
35500. Arrecife
Lanzarote
Tel: (+34) 928 811 762
Fax: (+34) 928 800 080
E-mail: info@turismolanzarote.com
Web: www.turismolanzarote.com

SIMPROMI
C/San Francisco 102, Edificio Majona
38001 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Tel: (+34) 922 249 199 y 902 505 225
Fax: (+34) 922 244 658
portal.turismo@portalturismoaccesible.org

 

Rebecca Arce