Anotace

This project aims at promoting and initiating accessible tourism in V4 region. It presents good practices and solutions from all kinds of tourism facilities (cultural and natural tourist attractions, accomodation, food and transport enterprises), which may be adapted by wide range of tourism enterprises. It emhasis building social awareness, creating sustaiable values and goals, networking and exchanging experiences. The project leads to development and knowlegde creation in terms of accessible tourism as one of the very high social, economic and health importance for local societies.

Zdůvodnění

Travel and tourism constantly has to face new challenges. One of them is tourism accessibility. Infrastructure that doesn’t cater adequately for the needs of people with disabilities, including infants and the elderly, excludes many destinations from this promising market. The accessible tourism enables people with access requirements to function independently and with equity and dignity through the delivery of universally designed tourism products, services and environments. They tend to travel more frequently during the low season, usually accompanied or in groups, make more return visits and they spend more than average on their trips. The vast majority of attractions and tourist facilities are not properly adapted to serve tourists with different types of disabilities. Operators do not have the knowledge and experience of how to improve their products to fully serve all tourists, including those with disabilities and the elderly and infirm. The share of disabled people is growing, because the society lives longer and is getting old. Persons aged 16< with self-reported long-standing limitations in usual activities due to health problems (Eurostat, 2016): PL 22%, CZ 24%, HU 26%, SK 28%, their participation in tourism is very limited. In Poland people with disabilities travel three times less than other groups of customers. The research show that more than 80% people with disabilities do not participate in tourism at all. Facilitating travel for people with disabilities is therefore not only a human rights imperative, but also an exceptional business opportunity.

The partners of the project were selected on only because their experience, scientific and practical background but also because of their location, each of them represents one of the most important tourism regions in their countries (Lower Silesia in Poland, Region of Vysocina in the Czech Republic, Banska Bystrica Region in Slovakia and Central Hungary).

Měřitelné cíle projektu a metody k jejich dosažení

Field reserach in tourist facilities and entities in V4 countries: cultural tourist attractions and venues (museums, castles and palaces, monuments, churches, galleries etc.); natural tourist attractions (national parks, landscape parks, botanical gardens, zoos, caves, etc.) which can follow the example of access solutions described in the book, improving the conditions for travel for people with disabilities. The Publication will be transmitted in pdf form to a minimum of 800 tourist attractions.

The group of recipients will be selected on the basis of regional tourist organizations – in Poland it will be the members of Lower Silesia Tourist Organization and Lower Silesia Chamber of Tourism, in Czech Republic tourist entites chosen by Vysočina Tourism, in Hungary members of Central Hungary Tourism Association and in Slovakia facilities selected by Banská Bystrica Tourist Information Centre

In total minimum 800 tourist facilities - at least 200 in each country (PL, CZ, HU and SK)

The PDF publication will be distributed to at least 40 entities and organizations associating disabled people, including PSON (Polish Association of Disabled People), FESZT (National Council of Associations of Persons with Disabilities), Slovak Disability Council (SDC), Czech National Disability Council

One of the participants of the project will be the "AXIS" Association for Assistance to People with Spinal Cord Injury - a social organization which associates people after spinal cord injury and people working in rehabilitation movement. In Czech, Hungary and Slovakia organizations associating disabled people will be selected on the basis of the register of all organizations and statutory objectives of each organization, which have the significant impact on the tourism market development.

Members of Axis Association (60 people) At least 40 organizations and associations (10 from each country).

Plánované výstupy a období jejich realizace

01/06/2021–13/03/2022

Field Research focused in conditions for travelling for people with disabilities in at least 200 in Czech Republic tourist entites in Vysočina Region - cultural tourist attractions and venues (museums, castles and palaces, monuments, churches, galleries etc.); natural tourist attractions (national parks, landscape parks, botanical gardens, zoos, caves, etc.)

Field research in at least 10 organizations and associations in the Czech republic.

18/05/2022–19/05/2022

Participation of delegate from College of Polytechnics Jihlava on International Conference Tourism for all. Best Practise of V4 Countries Accessible Tourism"in Wroclaw. Disseminating the results and information about the conference in the Czech Republic.

01/06/2021–13/03/2022

Digital publication of the book “Best Practise of Accessible Tourism. Case Study from V4 Countries"

Publishing of the pdf book in English stands as the culmination of the first part of the project. It should become a guide and inspiration for changes to adapt the tourist facilities to meet the needs of people with disabilities. This publication could be download for free from Internet website.