With the signing of the agreement, the Spanish Secretariat of State for Tourism wants to ensure the success of this meeting of experts in December, in addition to encourage training in the sector so that all tourists receive a top quality and professional service
Through the signing on 7th October of the agreement, the Spanish Secretariat of State for Tourism (SETUR) becomes the leading sponsor of the 1st TUR4all International Congress on Accessible Cruise Destinations. At the official event, held at the Secretariat itself, Isabel Oliver Sagreras, Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism, highlighted that “we work to develop projects aimed at improving the accessibility of Spanish tourism destinations, establishments and services”. Also attending the signing were Ignacio Angulo Ranz, Deputy Director of Tourism Development and Sustainability; Francisco J. Sardón, President of PREDIF, Ignacio Osorio de Rebellón Villar, Managing Director of PREDIF and Tatiana Selva, Technical Director of Universal Accessibility, Tourism and Culture at PREDIF.
On 2-3 December, Spain will be hosting a pioneering event that focuses exclusively on accessible cruise tourism. Given the importance of an event of this type for the sector, the Spanish Secretariat of State wanted to be involved so on the morning of 7 October, there was an official signing ceremony for the collaboration agreement between SETUR y PREDIF – The Spanish Representative Platform for People with a Physical or Organic Disability – the organiser of the event.
“We work to develop projects aimed at improving the accessibility of Spanish tourism destinations, establishments and services. Our aim is to promote Spain as an accessible and socially responsible destination and it is within this framework that we have signed this agreement”, highlighted Isabel Oliver Sagreras, Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism during the event that was also attended by Ignacio Angulo Ranz, Deputy Director of Tourism Development and Sustainability; Francisco J. Sardón, President of PREDIF, Ignacio Osorio de Rebellón Villar, Managing Director of PREDIF and Tatiana Alemán Selva, Technical Director of Universal Accessibility, Tourism and Culture at PREDIF
The agreement highlights the important role of the congress as an “ideal and very interesting framework in which to discuss and present the challenges of this tourism around the world and its influence in the flow of tourism towards Spain”. Moreover, it was underlined that the focus of the event is “experiences at destinations for people with disabilities, reduced mobility, families, the elderly or people with any other kind of accessibility need”.
Through this agreement, PREDIF undertakes to create a map showing information about accessible tourism resources in the Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Bay of Cadiz, Malaga, Valencia, Cartagena, La Coruña, Seville, Getxo-Bilbao, destinations that welcome the highest number of cruise passengers, according to the Spanish Ports Authority. The map will be available in English, Spanish and Braille, and will be handed out during the event and at other tourism-related events.
Moreover, there will be a series of different training initiatives focusing on the following accessible tourism related topics:
- Accessible and Inclusive Tourism: concepts and benefits for the sector
- Customer service for people with accessibility needs
- National and International Accessibility Regulations applicable to tourism
- Best practices in accessibility for tourism establishments
- Accessibility at smart tourism destinations
- Organisation of accessible events
TO learn more about this event being held at the Santos Las Arenas Hotel, just go to www.congreso2019.tur4all.com
