2 – 3 DECEMBER, AN ACCESSIBLE TOURISM EVENT YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS

Francisco J. Sardón, presidente de PREDIF

2 – 3 DECEMBER, AN ACCESSIBLE TOURISM EVENT YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS

In early December, Valencia plays host to the very first edition of the TUR4all International Congress on Accessible Cruise Destinations, an even spearheaded by PREDIF in collaboration with Turisme Comunitat Valenciana (Valencia Tourism Board) , AISM and Accessible Portugal


A press conference took place earlier today for the 1st TUR4all International Congress on Accessible Cruise Destinations, which will be held in Valencia on 2-3 December at the Santos Las Arenas Hotel. At today’s event held at the iconic Casa de la Panadería in Madrid, PREDIF’s President, Mr. Francisco J. Sardón, stated that “it is a pleasure to be able to put on this congress” as well as commenting that “in Spain 7 million people decide on a destination based on the accessibility that it provides”. Also attending the presentation were Managing Director of Cruises News Media Group, Virginia López Valiente; Valenciaport’s Head of Marketing, Francesca Antonelli; Business Center Director of Castile-and-León BCD Travel Spain, Fernando López Lasierra; Director of the Cruise Department at Panavisión Tours, Yolanda Gavilá Zarzo and the Managing Director of Politours, Carlos Ruiz, as well as the Legal & Shared Services Director of Costa Cruceros, Juan Manuel Sánchez Aparicio


For the very first time in Spain, a congress is being organised that will focus solely and exclusively on accessible cruise tourism. PREDIF – the Spanish Representative Platform for People with a Physical or Organic Disability – has become a pioneer in organising an event of this magnitude, namely the 1st TUR4all International Congress on Accessible Cruise Destinations.


Together with Turisme Comunitat Valenciana (Valencia Region Tourist Board), AISM – Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association -, Accessible Portugal and with the support of ENAT – European Network for Accessible Tourism - and Cruises News Media Group, PREDIF has organised this event that will be held on 2 - 3 December. The aim of the sessions run over two days is to promote the normalisation of cruise tourism for people with disabilities, reduced mobility or other accessibility needs.


Acting as master of ceremonies to present the Congress at the event was Fernando Valmaseda, an expert in tourism communication and Managing Director of Agencia RV Edipress. The journalist interviewed PREDIF President, Mr. Francisco J. Sardón, who emphasised that “the Congress will mark a point of reflection about the real need and the deep conviction that all businesses in the sector are thinking along the same lines, because ultimately we are looking to share spaces, needs, experiences, opportunities … and not do things differently from how an able-bodied person does things”.


Joining Mr. Sardón on the press conference panel were the Managing Director of Cruises News Media Group, Virginia López Valiente; Valenciaport’s Head of Marketing, Francesca Antonelli; Business Center Director of Castile-and-León BCD Travel Spain, Fernando López Lasierra; Director of the Cruise Department at Panavisión Tours, Yolanda Gavilá Zarzo, the Managing Director of Politours, Carlos Ruiz and the Legal & Shared Services Director of Costa Cruceros, Juan Manuel Sánchez Aparicio.


All those involved expressed the need for the sector to learn, discover and become more aware of accessible tourism. They also underlined that is not simply a question of professional responsibility, but rather the right of people to get the most out of their cruise experience. Because people with disabilities, reduced mobility or with other accessibility needs are far from being second-class passengers. They are first-rate travellers.


The presentation clearly showed that further steps need to be made in this domain. Because accessibility is synonymous with good quality and the congress is an ideal opportunity to network for accessible tourism, encouraging collaboration and raising awareness among all stakeholders in the cruise tourism sector. To learn more about the congress, simply go to www.congreso2019.tur4all.com