Accessibility
Travelling can be a major challenge for the 15% of the world´s population who live with some form of disability. More than 1 billion people face physical, sensory, cognitive and cultural barriers on a daily basis, as well as difficulties in finding clear and accurate information on the accessibility of the tourism facilities, services and experiences, offered by destinations and service providers. The pandemic has supposed new obstacles and brought along new limitations.
The ISO 21902 Accessible Tourism for All is a major achievement towards making our sector more accessible. It has been designed as a comprehensive international standard to benefit all, including people with disabilities and specific access requirements, seniors, families with young children and people with temporary disabilities, allowing all to enjoy travel and tourism on an equal access basis.
Measuring and monitoring accessibility, at a global level, is still in its infancy, as the sector usually relies on estimates from research projects or specialized observatories. For decision- making on future development in the sphere of accessible tourism, specific qualitative and quantitative data is needed. Such will not only help to better understand the actual needs and behavioural patterns of the travellers with access requirements, but will also make the business case of Tourism for All more evident for the private sector and public investments.
PUBLICATIONS
| Manual sobre Turismo Accesible para Todos: Principios, herramientas y buenas prácticas – Módulo IV: Indicadores para el estudio de la accesibilidad en el turismo, World Tourism Organization, Fundación Once, European Network for Accessible Tourism (2015). (Spanish only) |
| ISO 21902: Recommendations for key players in the cultural tourism ecosystem, World Tourism Organization, Fundación Once, UNE (2023). |
| ISO 21902: Recommendations for key players in management of natural resources, World Tourism Organization, Fundación Once, UNE (2023). |
| ISO 21902: Recommendations for accommodation, food & beverage and MICE sectors, World Tourism Organization, Fundación Once, UNE (2023). |
| ISO 21902: Recommendations for public administrations and tourism destinations, World Tourism Organization, Fundación Once, UNE (2022). |
| Accessibility, Excerpt from Indicators of Sustainable Development of Tourism Destinations, A Guidebook, World Tourism Organization (2004), pp. 90–93. |
| Social and Cultural Impact, The European Tourism Indicator System, ETIS Toolkit for Sustainable Destination Management, European Commission (2016), pp. 21 and 23. |
| B8 Access for all, GSTC Destination Criteria, Version 2.0, The Global Sustainable Tourism Council, p. 10. |
PRESENTATIONS
| Video Recording of Technical INSTO Webinar on Accessibility, World Tourism Organization (09/2021). |
| Introduction to the ISO Standard 21902 Accessible Tourism for All: Requirements and Recommendations, Presentation at the Technical INSTO Webinar, by World Tourism Organization (09/2021). |
| Measuring the Economic Impact of Accessible Tourism within the European Union and Beyond, Presentation at the Technical INSTO Webinar, by European Network for Accessible Tourism (09/2021). |
| Measuring Accessible Tourism - Tourism Observatory, Presentation at the Technical INSTO Webinar, by ONCE Foundation (09/2021). |
| Thompson Okanagan - Accessible Tourism, Presentation at the Technical INSTO Webinar, by Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (09/2021). |
| Tourism Observatory of the City of Buenos Aires, Presentation at the Technical INSTO Webinar, by Buenos Aires Tourism Board (09/2021). |
| Smart Talk: Advancing Accessibility in Smart Destinations, Discussions at the Second UNWTO World Conference on Smart Destinations (06/2018). |
OTHER RESOURCES
| ISO21902:2021 Tourism and related services–Accessible tourism for all–Requirements and recommendations, International Standard Organization (2021). |
| Mapping and performance check of the supply of accessible tourism services, final report,European Commission (2015). |
| San Marino Action Agenda on Accessible Tourism 2030 |
| Observatorio de la accessibilidad universal del turismo en Espana, Fundacion Once (2017). (Spanish only) |
| Reopening Tourism for Travellers with Disabilities: How to Provide Safety Without Imposing Unnecessary Obstacles, World Tourism Organization, Fundación ONCE and European Network for Accessible Tourism (2020). |
| UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guide–Sociocultural Impacts of COVID-19, Issue I: Persons with Disabilities, World Tourism Organization (2020). |
| Recommendations on Accessible Tourism, World Tourism Organization (2013). |
| Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST), UNWTO |
| System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA), United Nations |