Greece Takes More Actions To Ensure Accessible Destinations
- by XpatAthens
- Wednesday, 09 March 2022
Greece took one more step towards making destinations accessible to people with disabilities following a recent agreement between Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias and the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (ESAmeA).
Under the protocol of cooperation, the ministry and ESAmeA commit to a series of initiatives including the provision of comprehensive accessibility information, the inclusion of relevant curriculum at tourism schools on all levels, the development of education and training programs for people with disabilities in tourism professions and support actions for their employment and inclusion in the labor market.
Speaking in February during a special committee, ESAmeA President Ioannis Vardakastanis had said efforts were being made to host the Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the European Disability Forum (EDF) in Athens in June. However, Vardakastanis said the confederation, which this year presides over the assembly, was finding it difficult to find 20 accessible rooms “despite the plethora of expensive 5-star hotels”.
Vardakastanis went on to stress that an agreement with tourism stakeholders was crucial in order to make accessible tourism a priority with specific results-oriented time-frames and targets that will ensure accessibility onboard ships, tourist buses, at hotels, on mass transport, on beaches, and at archeological sites, “and to ensure these works are reliable consistent,” he said.
Earlier this year, Kikilias said establishing Greece as an accessible tourism destination was a ministry priority, adding that the focus was now on turning words into actions and “giving people with disability the chance to participate wholly and equally in the tourism chain”.
To read this article in full, please visit: news.gtp.gr
Under the protocol of cooperation, the ministry and ESAmeA commit to a series of initiatives including the provision of comprehensive accessibility information, the inclusion of relevant curriculum at tourism schools on all levels, the development of education and training programs for people with disabilities in tourism professions and support actions for their employment and inclusion in the labor market.
Speaking in February during a special committee, ESAmeA President Ioannis Vardakastanis had said efforts were being made to host the Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the European Disability Forum (EDF) in Athens in June. However, Vardakastanis said the confederation, which this year presides over the assembly, was finding it difficult to find 20 accessible rooms “despite the plethora of expensive 5-star hotels”.
Vardakastanis went on to stress that an agreement with tourism stakeholders was crucial in order to make accessible tourism a priority with specific results-oriented time-frames and targets that will ensure accessibility onboard ships, tourist buses, at hotels, on mass transport, on beaches, and at archeological sites, “and to ensure these works are reliable consistent,” he said.
Earlier this year, Kikilias said establishing Greece as an accessible tourism destination was a ministry priority, adding that the focus was now on turning words into actions and “giving people with disability the chance to participate wholly and equally in the tourism chain”.
To read this article in full, please visit: news.gtp.gr