By Pantou registered supplier, Algarve Senior Living
At a time when large sections of the tourism industry are reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we'd like to share some positive experience from a part of the sector that shows resilience and significant success: the long-term accommodation market.
The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and partners (Fundacion ONCE and ENAT), are asking administrations, destinations and companies, which have successfully incorporated accessibility in their COVID-19 mitigation measures, to share their stories through the questionnaire “Accessible Tourism Champions”.
Answer the UNWTO survey and share your story about combatting COVID while ensuring accessibility.
UNWTO and partners, will recognise the most outstanding and inspiring tourism providers by publishing their stories.
Go to this link to Access the questionnaire
Download these two publications free of charge from the UNWTO website:
Extraordinary Times Demand Extraordinary Solutions.
IMPORTANT NOTICE - to Pantou Directory Members, especially Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Individuals/Self-employed
1/7/2020. At the ENAT Annual General Assembly held on 24 June, due to the severe financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector in all countries, the members unanimously decided that ENAT Annual Membership fees for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Individual Members are to be waived for one year from 1st July 2020 to 30 June 2021.
This applies to businesses up to 249 employees (full-time equivalent) and individuals who may be self-employed, students, pensioners, retired or unemployed. (Any automated requests for payment received in this period can be ignored).
Last September, Disabled Accessible Travel a leading European accessible travel agent, introduced a mobile app called accessaloo. It is a user-generated content application that helps users to find suitable accessible toilets on the go. It also allows them to add and share accessible toilets they are familiar with, with the world.
19th September 2019
To all registered Pantou Service providers:
We are pleased to announce that ENAT will be presenting Pantou - the Accessible Tourism Directory at our own Stand at the 3rd International Conference on Technology and Tourism Diversity in Málaga, Spain, taking place on 23 to 25 October 2019.
TOMI is gold in design for society with the “TOMI For All” accessibility project. The EPDA has received hundreds of applications from more than 75 countries.
TOMI received gold in the “Design for Society” category at the European Product Design Awards, one of the most important design competitions in the world, that includes the European Parliament as its partner.
The winning project was the “TOMI For All,” which ensures that everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive needs, can seek intelligent information and services at TOMI. This innovation in the interactive urban platform was implemented earlier this year and promotes inclusion and accessibility in cities. TOMI has implemented new features that bring new dynamics to the digital transformation of cities and it has become accessible to all citizens with disabilities by making all services available to people with physical, visual, hearing or cognitive disabilities.
CRESAÇOR - Regional Cooperative for Solidarity Economy, CRL., as a pioneer in the implementation and promotion of social and inclusive tourism in the Azores, has been promoting the democratization of tourism in the Azores, since 2005, offering information, services and adapted activities for both residents and tourists, with or without special needs.
In 2014 the brand AZORES FOR ALL was created and registered with the conviction that an unforgettable journey begins way before departure, at the moment of choosing the destination, through accessible and complete information, prioritizing the transparency and details that make the difference during holidays.
Brussels, 26 June 2018. VisitFlanders, the tourism authority of the Flemish Region of Belgium, hosted a gathering of tourism organisations and professionals at the launch of the new World Tourism for All Quality Programme.
Photo (Chris Veitch, ENAT): Kathleen Linehan, Gleneagle Group, receives the first three Accreditation certificates for the Maritime Hotel, The Brehon and the Gleneagle Hotel from ENAT President, Anna Grazia Laura. From left to right: Paudie Healy, Universal Access, Ireland, Katerina Papamichail, Architect, ENAT, Ivor Ambrose, Managing Director, ENAT, Anna Grazia Laura, President, ENAT, Kathleen Linehan, HR and Employee Relations Manager, Gleneagle Group, Killarney, Ireland, Girma Anuskeviciute, Policy Officer, European Commission Tourism Unit, Linda Campbell, Registrar, Enterprise & Hospitality Development Officer, Failte Ireland.
Photo: Mountain Trek with Joëlette. By kind permission of Pedro Paredes-Haz (copyright), Wheel the World and Joëlette and Co.
Since 1849, our company FERRIOL-MATRAT is specialized in the tube work subcontracting industry. In 2003, Ferriol-Matrat decided to give a new meaning to its industrial activity by promoting sports and leisure for disabled people and created the brand Joëlette and Co.
July 2016 marked the launch of ‘visits4u’, an 18 month project that aimed to improve user experience and sustain inclusive design provision across its partners. The consortium comprised of seven partners from six countries: Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The pillar of the project has been to build capacity of the tourism sector across the partners’ regions through training activities that increased awareness and skills in developing inclusive tourism provision.
Following on from these activities, a series of online tools and resources has been developed, that are available for free via the project’s website: