The celebration of the World Tourism Day 2016 under the theme “Tourism for All – promoting universal accessibility” comes at an encouraging time for international tourism as more political decision makers and the tourism industry are advocating for Tourism for All, a tourism which can be enjoyed equally by everybody, regardless of one’s abilities.
UNWTO’s commitment to accessible Tourism for All is guided by the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, a fundamental frame of reference for responsible and sustainable tourism development. Article 7 of the Code recognises that “direct and personal access to the discovery and enjoyment of the planet’s resources constitutes a right equally open to all the world’s inhabitants”.
The World Health Organization estimates that 15% of the global population, roughly 1 billion people, live with some form of disability. With populations ageing rapidly, the number of persons experiencing obstacles will only rise. Most of us will develop some form of disability at some stage, and sooner or later we will have specific access requirements to tourism infrastructures, services and products.
This booklet presents six selected case studies illustrating some of the key parts of the accessible tourism supply chain.
