UN Tourism and European Accessibility Resource Centre are joining forces at FITUR 2025 to feature solutions that make travel and tourism more inclusive and accessible, for people with or without disabilities, visitors and locals alike. Organized in collaboration with the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), Fundación ONCE and Ilunion Accesibilidad, the seminar will raise awareness about specific tools geared towards the implementation of Design for All and Universal Accessibility principles, by:
- Highlighting the leadership of governments, destinations and private sector in making tourism experiences more accessible, across the entire value chain.
- Analysing a wide range of socioeconomic opportunities that the accessible tourism market brings for clients, companies, employees and local communities.
- Showcasing good practices of accessibility measures put in place, enhancing service quality, product excellence and labour inclusion, within the industry.
Details on the event:
- Target audience: Public administration, policy and strategic decision makers, tourism companies, researchers, designers and developers of tourism products and services, users of products and services linked to tourism and people.
- When: Thursday, January 23, 2025
- Where: IFEMA, North Conference Centre, Room N111+N112, Madrid. How to get there.
- Access to the workshop will be free of cost. There is no need to purchase a FITUR ticket to attend the event.
- Format: Hybrid. Livestreamed from 10:00 to 13:30 hours (CET).
- Type of event: Workshop
- Language: English
- How to participate: Free registration
- Accessibility information: Accessible venue, captioning in English, interpretation in Spanish, and interpretation in International Sign System.
- inclusion | social policy | tourism | tourism policy | EU policy | public administration
- Thursday 23 January 2025, 10:00 - 14:30 (CET)
- Country
- European Union
Programme
- 23 Jan 2025, 09:30 - 14:30 (CET)Agenda
09:30 - 10:00 Registration and welcome coffee
10:00 – 10:30 Opening remarks
This session will be the welcoming to the event and will introduce the main challenges and opportunities in the field of accessibility in tourism for all.
Moderated by: Mr. Jesús Hernández Galán. Director of the European Accessibility Resource Centre:- Ms. Inmaculada Placencia, Senior Expert in Disability and Inclusion, European Commission (online)
- H.E. Mr. Jordi Hereu. Minister of Industry and Tourism, Government of Spain - TBC
- Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili. Secretary – General, UN Tourism
10:30 – 10:40 Setting the scene: Mr. Igor Stefanovic. Technical Coordinator of Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Department, UN Tourism
10:40 – 12:00 Panel I: Accessible tourism policies, standards and strategies: Governments and destinations leading the way.
Moderated by: Mr. Igor Stefanovic. Technical Coordinator of Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Department, UN Tourism:- Mr. Gianluca Caramanna. Member of Parliament and Advisor to the Minister of Tourism, Government of Italy.
- Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts, Tunisia - TBC
- Ministry of Tourisn, Republic of San Marino - TBC
- Ms. Teresa Ferreira. Director, Department of Tourism Resources, Turismo de Portugal
- Mr. Jonathan Gómez. Head of Malaga Tourism Board, Malaga City Council, Spain
- Mr. Jonathan Ponstingl. Deputy Head, Destination Development, Visit Berlin, Germany
Q&A
12:00 – 13:10 Panel II: Promoting accessible experiences and inclusive employment: Success stories championed by destinations and the private sector
Moderated by: Mr. Ivor Ambrose. Managing Director, European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) and Senior Expert at AccessibleEU- H.E. Mr. Mateo Estrella. Minister of Tourism, Government of Ecuador
- Mr. Glenn Mandziuk. CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, UK
- Ms. Linda Ristagno. Assistant Director, External Affairs, International Air Transport Association, IATA
- Ms. Tatiana Alemán. Ilunion Accessibility, Spain
- Mr. Mark Aspinall. CEO, Holmeswood Coaches, UK
- Mr. John Sage. Founder and CEO, Sage Traveling, USA
- Ms. Stelena Angelova. Technician in the Area of Universal Accessibility, Inclusive Tourism and Culture. Impulsa Igualdad. Spain
Q&A
13:10 – 13:30 Conclusions and Closing Remarks
- Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UN Tourism
- Representative of FITUR/IFEMA
- Mr. Jesús Hernández Galán. Director of the European Accessibility Resource Centre
13:30 -14:30 Cocktail
Practical information
- When
- Thursday 23 January 2025, 10:00 - 14:30 (CET)
- Languages
- English