Accessible Tourism: Harnessing the benefits of inclusive destinations for companies and people

All Regions
23 Jan 25

23 January 10:00-14:30 | FITUR 2025, IFEMA, North Conference Centre, Room N117+N118, Madrid | Livestreamed from 10:00 to 13:15 (CET)

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; and
Showcasing good practices of accessibility measures put in place, enhancing service quality, product excellence and labour inclusion, within the industry.

Registration

Provisional Agenda

9:30-10:00

Registration and Welcome Coffee

Master of Ceremony: Ms. Sonia García Fraile, Technician at Accessibility and Innovation Directorate, ONCE Foundation

10:00-10:30

Opening Remarks

Moderated by: Mr. Jesús Hernández Galán, Director, European Accessibility Resource Centre and Vice-president, European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT)

Ms. Inmaculada Placencia, Senior Expert in Disability and Inclusion, European Commission (online)
Mr. Dilyor Khakimov, Director for Institutional Relations, Partnerships and Advocacy, UN Tourism

10:30-10:40

Setting the Scene & Moderation of Panel I by: 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

Mr. Gianluca Caramanna, Member of Parliament and Advisor to the Minister of Tourism, Government of Italy
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
Ms. Stelena Angelova, Technician at Accessible Tourism Unit, IMPULSA IGUALDAD-TUR4all, Spain

Q & A

12:00-13:10

Panel II: Promoting accessible experiences and inclusive employment: Success stories championed by 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, United Kingdom
Mr. John Sage, Founder and CEO, Sage Traveling, USA

Q & A

13:10-13:30

Conclusions and Closing Remarks

Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director, UN Tourism
Mr. Jesús Hernández Galán, Director, European Accessibility Resource Centre and Vice-president, European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT)

13:30-14:30

Cocktail