-
Sustainable attractions
Cultural sites and festivals can act as catalysts for sustainable development when bringing people together around big and small experiences. The ‘Aarhus Sustainability Model’ for sustainable development includes a guide and examples to bring sustainability into a European context across the cultural sectors. For example, NorthSide, Denmark’s most sustainable festival, takes place in Aarhus, and the organisers of the event have ensured green solutions for everything, from food and dealing with waste to power supply based on 100% green electricity. The festival’s sustainability programme ‘Lead the Way’ governs decisions about procurement, investment, collaborators, interior design, resource management, transport, charity and the supply of organic food and beverages throughout the festival. Likewise, Aarhus’ Moesgaard Museum is one of the world’s most energy-efficient museums, built with sustainability in mind from the start, including building materials and an optimal use of daylight, decreasing overall energy consumption and water waste. The green roof of the museum contributes to decreasing the energy consumption of the building and reduces the overall need for cooling due to decreased heat absorption.Find out more at: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/55220233/aarhus-sustainability-model
-
Athens Green Business Toolkit
Athens is conducting a destination assessment in partnership with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to gain a better picture of how heat and climate change could impact tourism across the public and private sector. Stakeholder interviews and workshops help to address responsible tourism with hotels, food & beverage services, tour providers, and stakeholders across the local industry. Meanwhile the Athens Green Business Toolkit mobilizes financing for small businesses to upgrade the appearance and energy efficiency of their storefronts, helping to enhance perceptions about sustainability, urban well-being, and innovation.Find out more at: https://www.athina984.gr/en/2021/04/26/o-dimos-athinaion-chrimatodotei-tis-athinaikes-epicheiriseis-me-stocho-tin-energeiaki-toys-anavathmisi/
-
An accessible and climate-neutral airport
The Ängelholm Helsingborg Airport aims to be one of Sweden’s leading airports in terms of climate and sustainability. The whole world can be reached from the airport via Stockholm, with regular daily departures available. The airport has prioritised the reduction of its CO2 emissions for many years is about to become climate-neutral by 2022. Becoming a climate-neutral airport was made possible by the Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme which Ängelholm Helsingborg Airport will complete by 2022. Some examples of how the airport’s CO2 emissions have been reduced include in-house solar power, climate-smart heating from recycled energy, charging stations for electric cars, LED-lighting, solar-powered plane steps and in-house energy-effective plane heating. Moreover, all of the airport’s vehicles are powered by electricity or are 100% fossil-free fuel. The planes are powered by mixed bio-aviation fuel reducing their emissions by up to 80%. Find out more at: https://www.angelholmhelsingborgairport.se/2020/12/10/fly-green-fund-levererar-drygt-15-ton-bioflygbransle-till-angelholm-helsingborg-airport/ and https://flygreenfund.se/agh/
-
Changer Cargo Bike (CCCB)
The use of cargo bicycles across EU cities has proven to be a very successful model for solving the problem of unloading cargo, especially in their pedestrian zones. As part of the EU pilot project City Changer Cargo Bike (CCCB), the City of Dubrovnik procured four electric cargo bikes. They were presented to the public together with the advantages of their use in the historic centre, where the pilot project is being implemented, and where the use of such bicycles for delivery could make everyday life easier for caterers, traders, delivery services and citizens. Through this project, the CCCB wants to demonstrate the benefits of the solution, raise awareness in the public and private sectors, reduce pollution and congestion with motor vehicles, and improve the safety and use of public areas. Find out more at: https://civitas.eu/projects/city-changer-cargo-bike
-
Exploration through Poetry
The “Silent Play per Dante” projects visitors straight into the poetry of Dante Alighieri. Accompanied by an engaging narrative voice visitors can visit some of the symbolic places of the city while listening to some of Dante’s most famous lines. Find out more at: https://www.ravennaexperience.it/it/activity/299415/silent-play-per-dante-visita-guidata-immersiva
-
FeelFlorence Platform
The FeelFlorence platform has dedicated sections on barrier-free tourism, cultural itineraries, guided tours, events, fairs, markets, and facilities. Thanks to their qualified staff, All Infopoints ensure assistance in more than 5 foreign languages and International Sign Language via frontend and call centre service. Moreover, Professional Tourist and Environmental Guides are available, each of them a specialist in their field and constantly trained in courses organised by Municipality of Florence, Chamber of Commerce, business associations, etc. Appropriate tours and experiences are elaborated with the precise aim to include different types of tourists and city users. The complete museums system is equipped with technology designed to meet different needs from various target groups.Find out more at: https://www.feelflorence.it
-
Locations with wheelchair ramps
Both Tourist Information Centres in Ljubljana have wheelchair ramps at the entrance and the Slovenian Tourist Centre has installed lower counters for easier interaction with people on wheelchairs. The city of Ljubljana has started with the project of setting up mobile wheelchair ramps (10 in 2021) in front of restaurants and shops in the historical city centre, thus improving the accessibility at that destination. Further wheelchair-accessible locations can be found on the ‘Ljubljana by Wheelchair’ app that gives advice on more than 130 locations (restaurants, accommodation, shops, accessible toilets, sights etc.). The city also offers playgrounds for children with disabilities and many of them include training stations for the elderly. Ljubljana was awarded the Accessible Tourism Joint Award 2016 for its accomplishments in traffic safety for children and people with disabilities.Find out more at: https://www.ljubljanabywheelchair.com and https://www.visitljubljana.com/en/visitors/travel-information/essentials/accessibility-of-ljubljana-by-wheelchair/
-
Assisting beachgoers to get to their destination
La Concha beach offers an assisted bathing service for the elder or for people with a disability who want to experience the joys of going into the sea. In addition, the beach comes with an audio guide that helps visitors get to know the beach through an aural medium. Find out more at: https://www.sansebastianturismoa.eus/en/to-do/beach-parks/let-s-go-to-the-beach
-
Assistance to those with autism
DAA knows 1% of passengers have reduced mobility challenges and is leading the way in accessible travel by establishing a Disability Users Group, comprising representatives from a broad range of organisations catering for individuals with specific disabilities. Decisions relating to future developments are discussed with diverse groups with specific needs. For example, DAA has co-designed and implemented ‘important flyer wristbands and lanyards’ so that passengers with Autism could self-identify as needing additional help. The wristband can be shown to any Dublin Airport staff member at security or passport control or any area where help is required, enhancing the visitor experience to the airport and city. Additionally, DAA provides a sensory room to calm passengers who might feel overwhelmed in a busy airport. Designed for passengers with autism, dementia, cognitive impairment, or other special needs the room has been very successful. Among other innovations are an assistance dog relief room, and induction loop amplification points around the airport for passengers with hearing difficulties. In 2020 DAA and Hack Access held an accessibility hackathon focused on improving the customer experience for passengers with accessibility challenges. In 2019, the DAA mobility assistance provider conducted over 340,000 interactions. It is planned the success of the programme will now be replicated in other international airports.Find out more at: http://www.dublinairport.com/at-the-airport/help-and-support/travelling-with-autismhttps://www.dublinairport.com/at-the-airport/help-and-support/sensory-room/sensory-room
-
Accessible transport system
Bordeaux’s public transport network is 100% wheelchair accessible, thanks to large sliding doors, step-free access and reserved spaces. In the city, the creation of a pedestrian GR-accredited circuit follows the same dynamic. The network of footpaths runs for 160 km through the suburbs and green spaces. It is easily accessible via public transport and well-signposted. The circuit provides a diverse range of landscapes and experiences and constitutes high-quality local tourism that is open to all. It is even possible to stay in a natural space for free in “suburban refuges”, some of which are veritable works of art, not just quirky accommodation options. Find out more at: https://www.infotbm.com/en/accessibilite.html https://www.infotbm.com/en/practical-information/accessibility.html
-
Dedicated accessible tour through the city
Padua has designed an accessible tourist itinerary, especially for those with physical disabilities. The tour includes a 2.5 km route that can be done on foot or with mobility aids such as wheelchairs.
-
Inclusion and access for everybody to cultural attractions
The city offers wide access and creates incentives for people from all social and economic backgrounds to partake in its tourism and cultural offerings. Targeted people marketing serves to support the development of differentiated offers such as vacation packages, events or cultural highlights for people of all ages. Especially in the cultural sector, Karlsruhe strives to provide inclusive offerings so that, for instance, financially less well-off citizens can visit museums free of charge every Friday afternoon. The Oberwald Zoo also offers a free insight into the biodiversity of numerous wild animals in their natural habitat. The Grötzingen indoor swimming pool is another recreational opportunity offered for free in daily operation. Large events like DAS FEST are subsidized to encourage and ensure cultural participation for all citizens and guests and many museums offer alternative tours for people with walking or visual disabilities. Due to Karlsruhe’s location close to France and Switzerland, many exhibitions are multilingual and deliberately aim to address an international audience.
-
Getting around with eco-friendly transport options
The city of Cork is focused on promoting social inclusion. Thus, it aims to enhance public transport and greater eco-friendly transport options for all. With the city’s transport strategy to 2040 (Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy) Cork anticipates investing around €3.5 billion. Investments will help Cork to fulfil its ambition to support the vibrancy, accessibility and livability of Cork City Centre and Metropolitan centres for the local community and visiting guests. Find out more at: https://www.nationaltransport.ie/planning-and-investment/strategic-planning/regional-transport-strategies/cork-metropolitan-area-transport-strategy/ https://consult.corkcity.ie/en/consultation/draft-cork-city-development-plan-2022-2028/chapter/4-transport-and-mobility
-
"Accessible Zagreb" App and Map
The web and mobile app Pristupačni Zagreb (“Accessible Zagreb”) provides information on the accessibility of different facilities in the public, private and civil sector in eight categories - culture, education, sports, hospitality, administration, services, social welfare and healthcare. Additional categories will be added. The database contains around 2,500 facilities categorised as accessible, inaccessible or partially accessible, as well as a photo gallery showing the current situation in terms of accessibility. An accessibility map is being developed on Google Maps, which will display an accessible walking route for persons with disabilities within the covered area. Find out more at: https://pristupacni.zagreb
-
Accessible Routes System (SIA)
An interactive accessibility instrument, the System of Accessible itineraries is greatly benefiting policy makers and decision makers in Porto by providing an easy to use and easy to understand system of analysis for transforming urban landscapes into a more modern and accessible space. For urban planners and high-volume tourism destinations, the SIA is a steppingstone for greater understanding what an accessible city requires. Developed in Porto, this strategic too, can provide greater awareness and understanding of how to create a democratic tourism destination for all. Find out more at:https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/5840
-
"Dialog Through Touch" Project
The project “Dialogue Through Touch” has been actively involved in efforts to adapt museums for the blind, visually impaired, and the deaf-blind (a guide in Braille, audio guide, translation into sign language). Find out more at: http://www.mgz.hr/hr/edukacija/dijalog-kroz-dodir,3270.html
-
Digital products tailored for disabled people
The city of Lublin has started to improve its digital products to fit the needs of persons with various kinds of disabilities. All the tourist websites it has to offer are prepared for deaf, blind and amblyopic people and for persons with physical disabilities. The tourist websites as well as the mobile apps Tourist Lublin can be reached with keyboard shortcuts, contrast bottom, responsiveness (according to various sizes of devices’ screens), changing the font size, accessibility for text reader etc. All functionalities are described in the special accessibility declarations. 23 Find out more at: https://miastoinspiracji.lublin.eu/#programy-inspiracji https://lublininfo.com/en/#glowna https://lublin.eu/en/what-to-see-do/tourist-culture-information/mobile-application-visit-lublin/
-
Smart learning about the city in advance
Located just 100 kilometers away from the capital of Vilnius, Kaunas has implanted an innovative measure designed to make the journey more interesting and useful in regard to time spent. The Kaunas Tourism Information (Kaunas IN) have implemented the new smart project “Tourism Information Friendly” (TIF) places, where tourists can find publications, maps, and information in different languages in many places across the entire city and, including the trains to and from the city. This enables the travel to the city to already help become part of the attraction, the immersion, and the insights into the city. Find out more at: https://visit.kaunas.lt/en/plan/practical-information/tourism-information-friendly-places/
-
Emphasis on accessibility in Typhlological Museum
The Typhlological Museum is one of the few museums in Europe focused on issues experienced by persons with disabilities, in particular the visually impaired. The Museum respects diversity, promotes solidarity, and having adapted its collection for persons with disabilities, invites visitors to actively participate in the visual, olfactory and tactile experience. 22 Find out more at:https://www.tifloloskimuzej.hr/en/about-us/about-the-typhlological-museum/
-
Autism Life Center
The Efeler Municipality has brought the Autism Life Center as one of its projects into life – with the vision of making Efeler a "Brand City" – to provide education and social development opportunities to individuals with autism and their families. The 20 project’s aim is to support the independence, to develop fine-coarse motor skills and to enable individuals with autism to use language communication skills effectively. Besides raising awareness for a better education and better future, the overall objective is to provide equal opportunities to individuals with autism and their families who cannot be included in these programs due to financial difficulties. Individuals with autism can benefit from education and rehabilitation services for free, develop their creativity and socialize by performing artistic activities. The Autism Life Center has a floor area of 210 m and can serve 400 individuals and its training and development programs are tailored to different age groups and individual skills. The program is extended towards activities such as painting, game and music. This initiative provides moral support for families and will help to reintegrate autistic children into society. Find out more at: https://www.efeler.bel.tr/guncel/haberler/efeler-den-ozel-bireylere-ozel-bir-yer https://www.aydinhedef.com.tr/efelere-400-kisilik-otizm-yasam-merkezi-acildi-28305h.htm
-
Committee and Collaboration for Accessibility in the city
Three times a year, a Municipal Accessibility Committee, made up of representatives from different entities and associations, as well as from various areas of the City Council, meets in Gijón. Furthermore, active collaboration is organised with specialised entities such as PREDIF, ADAPA or COCEMFE ASTURIAS. The aim is both to raise awareness with campaigns and to create accessible tourism products and services. Among them, the city already offers four routes of tourist interest accessible to all, and 34 Gijón tourist resources, included in the Tur4all application. 17 Find out more at: https://drupal.gijon.es/sites/default/files/2019-05/mapa-accesible_def.pdf https://www.viaja.tur4all.com/planifica-tu-viaje/?destino=Gij%C3%B3n
-
“Barrier Free Gdynia” as a long-term solution for accessibility
The vision of a “Barrier Free Gdynia” is an innovative and long-term approach to solve the issue of accessibility in Gdynia. It is a continuation of previous activities and aims to eliminate barriers and provide residents and visitors with full and equal access to goods and services. The city follows a strategy of building sports and cultural facilities, such as the National Rugby Stadium, the City Stadium and the Gdynia Sports and Entertainment Hall, friendly to the elderly, people with disabilities or children. Venues like these have been designed considering accessibility for all, including tourists. During sporting events, blind people can make use of audio description, pavements in Gdynia have tactile paving for the visually impaired and in many places, steps were replaced by ramps. Additionally, all traffic lights at pedestrian crossings in Gdynia are equipped with sound signals. Since 1999, the “Barrier Free Gdynia” competition has been organized to honor institutions, organizations and individuals - authors of ideas and improvements that help overcome stereotypes regarding the perception of handicaped persons. Find out more at: https://www.gdynia.pl/mieszkaniec/aktualnosci,3805/program-gdynia-bez-barier-2018-2023,529145
-
The House Lodging project
Carried out in the Han District in partnership with Eskisehir Osmangazi University and Han Municipality, the “House Lodging” project is organising trips with accommodation for the tourist coming to Yazılıkaya region. It is aiming to create a new business line for women living in rural areas, but also to do the promotion of the Phrygian Valley, one of the most important cultural and historical assets of Eskisehir, and to strengthen the members of the Han’s Eli Women’s Cooperative socio-economically, that 15 was established in the Han District. 14 women from the Han District had the opportunity to complete the House Lodging training modules. Find out more at: https://ge.eskisehir.bel.tr/icerik_dvm.php?icerik_id=5450&cat_icerik=1
-
A new information tool on accessibility
A new website has been launched by San Sebastián and can be considered as a new information tool on accessibility in the city. Users can find information about the degree of accessibility offered by tourist services and 14 attractions. The website target different groups, such as people with reduced mobility, vision, and hearing problems, and neurodivergence, and is constantly being refined for improvement. Find out more at: https://accessibility.sansebastianturismoa.eus/en/
-
“Padova per tutti” Project
Thanks to a wide network of local public and private bodies dealing with disabilities and aiming at making the city more usable for everyone, the “Padova per tutti” project started in 2019. It main output is the online “Accessible tourist itinerary in Padova”, a guide of Padova and especially the city’s historical and cultural attractions, providing useful information on the accessibility of the route. In total, 2.5 km can be travelled on foot or with aids such as wheelchairs, with indications on the barriers for both people with motor disabilities and reduced mobility, which includes elderly people and visually impaired ones. Find out more at: https://padovapertutti.wordpress.com/2020/10/30/guida-itinerario-turistico-accessibile-di-padova-il-cuore-della-citta/