Enterprise DG launched this study in
2002. It was contracted to Risk & Policy Analysts Ltd (RPA).
The objectives of the study were:
to perform a stocktaking exercise of
what has been done in the past, at European, national
and regional level, in terms of defining what is
considered to be good accessibility in the context of
the tourism industry.
to open up tourism in the EU to a
wider sector of potential tourists, with consequent
benefits to the competitiveness of tourism businesses,
in particular for SMEs.
to enable the tourism industry to
improve its quality, and therefore its sustainability,
through matching supply with the expectations of the
disabled customer.
to create greater confidence in cross
border travel and holiday experiences for disabled
people, by developing a definition of accessibility
which can be understood and used throughout Europe by
enterprise and tourist alike.
The output of this study provides tourism enterprises and destinations with recommendations and tools that allow them to give disabled people in Europe better access to their product. This relates in particular to tourist sites and infrastructures, so as to open up tourism in the EU to a wider sector of potential tourists. This will both strengthen the role of disabled people as customers and benefit the competitiveness of the European tourism industry.
The study has resulted in the production of information sheets on the levels of accessibility of a destination on individual facility.
For more detailed information contact
the Tourism Unit