I have recently traveled with my family to Vuelos Bajo Coste witch is a wonderful place to spend your vacation. As for tourists with dissabilities, there were no improvements made and I don't even remember seeing such a person nowhere in the area. Some people just don't take the time to think that there are less fortunate people that are worth the same chances and benefits we get.

Subject: Via Libre Pilot Study: Tourism Accessibility Standards in Europe: Visitor Accessibility Survey

To: Tourists with disabilities and others who have particular access needs, when travelling for business or leisure
2nd July 2009

Dear Sir or Madam,

Via Libre, a member of the Fundosa Group, Spain (ONCE Foundation) is conducting a pilot study about the use of accessibility standards in the tourism sector, for disabled visitors and others with particular access needs.

The study aims to identify the existing Standards, Quality Norms, Laws and Minimum Requirements concerning accessibility in tourism in selected European countries; to evaluate these instruments in terms of their effectiveness towards tourism providers and in relation to the accessibility of destinations,as experienced by visitors with disabilities and others who require good access conditions.

As part of this study you are invited to answer a short, on-line Visitor Accessibility Survey.
The only condition for participating in the survey is that you must have travelled away from home (on business or for pleasure) to a European country in the last 3 years. You can, of course, answer if you have travelled within your own country or to more than one country!

To go to the survey page, please click on the following link:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cnZQd25OQWNkZTV0QXBuSEJjMnpvTGc6MA..

If the link does not work immediately, please copy and paste the link into the address line of your web browser.

The questionnaire can be answered in less than 10 minutes.
You must answer the whole survey in one "session" and submit the form by pressing the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page!

Deadline! Please note that the visitor accessibility survey will close at midnight (Central European Time) on 15th July 2009

The survey results will be published by Via Libre during this summer. Your answers are anonymous. Only aggregated data will be presented in the survey report.

We hope that, with your participation, this survey will shed new light on the use of industry standards for accessibility in the tourism sector, providing a baseline for company policies and practices in the future.

A website for the Study of Tourism Accessibility Standards has been opened at:
http://studyoftourismstandards.wordpress.com/
- You may post your comments on the pages of this website about any aspect of the study or about accessibility in tourism.

With kind regards,

Ivor Ambrose and Carolina

The strength of the Travel Team concept is found in the societal need for people with disabilities, ill and mature who need help is traveling to and from medical facilities for care. Often people in need find it difficult to secure someone to travel to get their medical needs met. Families, friends and co-workers want to help the person in need to obtain medical care, but often time, financial, familial support is not available. This task can be physically, psychologically and temporally demanding. The Travel Team could provide help in these people time of need anytime.

The schooling of the Travel Team Members and service will be located on the hospital site. This site can serve as a school to train members. The MD in charge of each case can prescribe the required help.

Dawn

Bamboo Wheelchair Project
Thousands of people around the world have lost the use of limbs as a result of land mines during times of war as well as many other reasons. I propose to offer a way to improve their lives and teach them how to earn a living by building bamboo wheelchairs with materials onsite. (The wheels can be acquired from bicycles that have been discarded.) They in turn, they will teach others in their country. This social entrepreneurialism will not be restricted to people injured in as a result of war, but to all PwDs who will be benefit from the BWP worldwide.
Dawn

I live on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal and along the Elephant Coast and the largest ecotourism area of South Africa. My dream for many years and through observing a real need for a specialist operator catering for mobility impaired travelers was to offer special unique safaris and tours to our very special slice of Africa. Thus Access2africa Safaris was born.

When motivating the KwaZulu Natal Tourism for a familiarization tour of our beautiful country last year, I had no idea of the dynamic and incredibly driven person I was going to meet. Scott is an inspiration and he has opened doors to a vast network of organizations and many persons involved in the Inclusive Travel Industry.

Access2africa Safaris prides itself on being a personal and hands on type operator and we are privileged to have hosted Scott’s tour to KwaZulu Natal. Some of my favorite moments of Scotts tour. Scott surrounded by and singing along with the assegai welding Zulu dancers at Dumazulu Traditional Zulu Cultural Village. Scott grinning from ear to ear with a very large shark in the aquarium background at Ushakamarine World, Durban.

Among numerous goals achieved was exposure and promotion of South Africa as an accessible destination to many operators worldwide through Tourwatch and Rolling Rains Report. Access2africa Safaris are proud to have coordinated various meetings including Ari Seirlis The National Director Of Quadriplegic Association, James Seymour senior researcher at KwaZulu Natal Tourism, owners of Makaranaga Lodge who are passionate in their support of MS Society and the reason why 10 of the 22 rooms at this 5 Star Lodge are accessible. (As Scott pointed out the swimming pool is the perfect example of Universal Design.)

A significant highlight of Scott’s tour to KwaZulu Natal was his introduction to Shakila Marajah who sits on the board of KwaZulu Natal Tourism and chairs the Disability Tourism Forum of KwaZulu Natal. Through Scotts and Shakila encouragement, KwaZulu Natal and Durban City Tourism included a section promoting Inclusive Travel to KwaZulu Natal at these years Travel Indaba in Durban. Volunteers including myself wore bright T-Shirts with the Inclusive Travel logo and a strong message was seen by many. That is KwaZulu Natal supports and welcomes disabled travelers.

Access2africa Safaris, with Scott Rains inspiration and encouragement, endorses Inclusive Tourism and therefore caters for all travelers including blind, deaf, wheelchair bound and able bodied travelers.

Jennae Bezuidenhout
www.access2africasafaris.co.za
info@access2africasafaris.co.za

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Jennae Bezuidenhout
www.access2africasafaris.co.za

Estoy muy emocionada por ver todo lo que se ha avanzado en este grupo de estrategias de turismo accesible para México que liderea el DR. Scott Rains en Tour watch. Estoy segura que esta "bola de nieve" no se detendrá hasta tener propuestas muy bien consolidadas. Me gustaría comentarles los proyectos y avances que se tienen en Cancún y la Riviera Maya y que podrían servir a todas estas ideas que se han planteado en este grupo.

1. La encargada de las relaciones públicas de la Secretaría de Turismo de Quintana Roo ya esta enterada del grupo que hemos formado y me ha pedido mantenerla informada de todas las acciones que realicemos en el grupo y ella no puede apoyar para difundir nuestras propuestas y hacerla llegar a las personas indicadas del Gobierno del Estado. También le gusto mucho la idea del “fam trip” del que hemos hablado en este grupo y nos ayudaría promovernos como un destino accesible.
2. Estoy preparando mi tesis para titularme de la maestría en Mercadotecnia turística y mi proyecto de tesis en la parte de trabajo de campo se basará en recopilar información de sitios turisticos turísticos accesibles en Cancun y la Riviera Maya por lo que esta información también podrá estar disponible muy pronto para compartirla con todo el grupo.
3. El día de ayer terminé el tercer curso que he impartido en la Universidad del Caribe sobre turismo Incluyente y para la tercera edad. Esta es una asignatura que solo se les imparte a los alumnos de la carrera de “turismo sustentable” y en el último semestre en donde el objetivo es sensibilizar a los alumnos sobre el tema de las personas con discapacidad y de la tercera edad y del enorme potencial que este segmento representa para nuestro destino turístico. Debido al éxito del curso los mismos alumnos ha pedido a la directora de la carrera que incluyan esta asignatura desde los primeros semestres y a todas las carreras de la universidad. Por lo que estamos elaborando la propuesta para presentarla al rector de la universidad y que esta asignatura sea incluida dentro de las básicas y desde el primer semestre de la universidad. Creo que esto es un gran paso pues al menos en esta universidad le están dando importancia a este tema y los alumnos que ya han tomado esta clase conmigo ahora están incluyendo el tema de la accesibilidad a todos sus proyectos de turismo que tienen que presentar para su titulación. Espero que con el apoyo de todos ustedes pronto podamos estar impartiendo este curso en todas las universidad del país hasta llegar a la educación básica (primaria y secundaria)
4. Estos mismos alumnos han entregado un proyecto final sobre un análisis la accesibilidad en la zona hotelera de Cancún y que lo van a subir al youtube.com para que ustedes también lo puedan ver. Esta sería una herramienta excelente para todos los destinos turísticos de México podamos presentar a las Secretarias de Turismo de nuestros Estados y hacer presión para que den mantenimiento o modifiquen las calles y avenidas principales en donde se verían beneficiados los turistas que usen una silla de ruedas, que tengan movilidad reducida o incluso los que llevan a sus bebes en carreolas. Pero lo mejor de todo es que también las personas con discapacidad de la localidad se verán beneficiados al tener calles más accesibles.
5. La universidad del Caribe y la Directora de Turismo está muy interesada en participar de las acciones para apoyar este segmento del turismo y estamos planeando realizar para finales de este año un congreso de Turismo accesible. Espero pueda coincidir con la fecha de “fam trip” y poderlos tener de invitados a las conferencias y talleres que tendríamos.

Todos estas ideas no podrían ser una realidad sin la ayuda del Dr. Scott Rains y todos los que participan en la Página de Tour Watch.

Saludos a todos / Judith Cárdenas / Cancun Accesible /www.cancunaccesible.com

After meeting Dr. Scott Rains online about 1 1/2 years ago; I could not believe someone with such a wide knowledge-based repertoire of global inclusive tourism skills, backed by a baptism in academia and such a white-hot seemingly indefatigable drive towards accomplishment could even exist. I have known for a very long time that Superman is not real. Now, after a period of time in which I have more closely examined the man, I can tell you that Dr. Scott Rains, despite a physical affliction, has this almost superhuman strength that he has laser focused on Inclusive Geotourism.
Over the years, he has developed a global network of dedicated individuals who he has begun working with towards eliminating physical/psychological barriers to handicapped travel and accommodating destinations.
My business here in Mexico, has been enriched because of our affiliation with Dr. Scott Rains. His ideas and his philosophy have touched my guests, my employees, my vendors, the state and federal politicians and government entities.
Because of his guidance and cheerleading, we have now pulled together a group that represents "changemakers" from all across Mexico. I believe, because his dynamic personality and commitment, we will make a change here in Mexico!
Bill Bussear

I vote for and endorse Scott Rains as a competition winner as he is making a difference around the world not only at home. He has made local government in South Africa sit up and listen to what visitors to our beautiful country who are in wheelchair, need. Action, not token paper chasers, making the national parks accessible, making hotels and attractions have at least a couple rooms accessible for ALL, not only wheelchair users, but those who have hearing and sight impairments, as well as the mature traveler and those are increasing year on year. A UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR INCLUSIVE TOURISM is required with global input rather than each area having their own rules and regs which do not have any clout outside their area. I hope his tireless commitment is rewarded. Pam Taylor. Cape Town - South Africa

Posting at this late stage, it's difficult to find original superlatives to describe Scott's influence on this industry.

Tireless (as in indefatigable, not 'without tires') is definitely something extra to say, while his depth of knowledge, wealth of worldwide contacts and energy for work are astounding.

As a result, the web resources he has built have been extremely useful in my guidebook research and his personal advice often invaluable.

Scott's vision and drive has been crucial in driving cultural change in Tourism. The size of the task is enormous but through his efforts people from around the globe are now working together to provide resources for inclusive tourism. The network and the inspiration provided by Scott was instrumental in the formation of my own www.travability.travel here in Australia.
The task goes way beyond just provided information and resources about accessible destinations, or indeed ensuring compliance with disability legislation, but it is about cultural change and full inclusion of all people in travel activities. We must change the perception from a problem that needs to be solved to one of active encouragement of full participation of all through clever and consistent use of universal design.
The task is enormous but Scott's drive and passion is bringing resources from all over the world together. It is vital to making the world accessible to all.

As someone who's rolled about this planet for 25 years, and as someone who also tends to vacation and travel in places off the beaten path, I can attest to how instrumental the Internet has become in researching and planning a trip that includes accommodations for my disability.

Web sites such as Scott's Rolling Rain Report provide vital information and resources to allow a traveler to anticipate the degree of accessibility available at a location. As a traveler in a wheelchair, I need information more than the average traveler. I don't want nor expect everywhere I travel to be 100% accessible. But provided I have the resources to plan a trip based on what is accessible, I can create an itinerary that meets my needs.

I created www.AccessingArizona.com based on that same premise. Arizona is a wonderful place to explore, but if one arrives with only a general level of travel knowledge, they'll likely see less and experience less because they didn't have an insider's guide to the places offering specific details regarding accessibility. Now a visitor can review locations and gain perception.

The Rolling Rains Report is the disabled traveler's resource for similar information on a global scale plus a whole lot more. Scott's vision and ability to mobilize for the cause offers businesses and communities with resources to allow them to open their doors to a growing niche of the traveling public. Scott's approach is unique in that he's not just sending a location some sort of Accessibility-101 list of to-do's. He's showing up and meeting with those who can influence local practices and sponsor change when needed. All to often a divide is thrown up between those who have disabilities and those who don't. Because accessibility limits those who do, and because accessibility is often viewed as a burden to those who's establishments lack efficient access, our niche is viewed as an unprofitable market. Scott Rains explores practical ways to balance out the differences.

I view Scott's site as the ideal place for others to come and discover how

On its “About” page, The Rolling Rains Report (RRR) describes itself as a “service to the travel and hospitality industry.” It goes on to say that it “provides resources on Inclusive Tourism – a concept arising from the vigor of a global disability community that both enjoys and asserts the right to full social inclusion.” But for me, it is much, much more than this. It is also a beacon to those of us in academia who are working to further local, national, and international well being and sustainability through the development of tourism for people with disabilities (PWDs). The RRR acted as my first guide and source for research into tourism for PWDs, and I still use this and other open-source, collaborative, social networking websites created by Scott on a daily basis to inform my work in Inclusive Tourism.

I have never personally met Scott Rains, but I feel I have known him as an old friend for several years now. I first came across the RRR when I examined inclusive tourism products here in New Zealand in 2005. Newly blessed with an age-related disability, I was shocked to find during the study that PWDs were inadequately catered for and were not considered a viably sustainable market (see http://www.tppweb.ac.nz/pdf/resreports/disability%20studyv2.pdf ). This despite the fact that already at least 10% of the world’s population has a disability, that this percentage is bound to increase as Baby Boomers like myself age, that PWDs already have the means and the desire to travel, and that the increasing number of PWDs in future will also have the means and the desire to travel. And according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, they also have a right to travel. The Convention is intended as a human rights instrument with an explicit social development dimension. It states that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to participate in cultural life, leisure, recreation, tourism, and sport.

I have also used the work of Scott Rains as an example of best practice when advocating to government and industry about how Inclusive Tourism could become an economically and socially sustainable subset of the tourism industry if the concepts of Universal Design are followed. It has also informed the work I have done examining how stated New Zealand government policies and strategies make it imperative that our country develop sustainable Inclusive Tourism (http://www.tppweb.ac.nz/pdf/resreports/Report_Tourism2008.pdf).

The exemplary work done by Scott has informed tactical representation that has played some part in successful attempts to encourage government in New Zealand to finally consider if there is something “in” Inclusive Tourism (Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Social Development, personal communication by email).

Scott and the RRR have also provided me with resources and contacts in the global community of those working to further sustainable Inclusive Tourism. Contacts I have made through Scott have become invaluable in my work. Daily news updates also keep me in touch with worldwide items of interest.

Thanks Scott for helping open my eyes to the concepts of sustainable Inclusive Tourism and how it can act as an agent to alleviate the worldwide social problem of access in general for PWDs.
Sandra Rhodda, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Greymouth, New Zealand

Hi, I´m very happy because Scott all the time is looking what he can do to help people with dissabilities. He´s working to have more accessibles destinations. In México, has been very hard change our culture, travel with someone with specials needs, but we are doing and I think we can do more. Everyone can do something, Scott can´t do it along. If each one works with his comunity, the accessibility will be in all the cities and countries.

www.accesiblemexico.com

Scott's vast network and broad vision of accessibility and social justice are truly reflected in the community that he has brought together through the Rolling Rains Report and TourWatch. At the same time that he has stayed focused on developing his own work, his commitment to social justice spans broadly. He has consulted and helped in the efforts to bring together the disability rights community with other communities, including the workers that provide assistance to travelers with disabilities. This has been extremely helpful for these groups that may not have historically worked together, to develop a better understanding of the different facets of struggle for our communities, in order to advance progressive policies that benefit those who often get overlooked in the tourism industry.

I'm glad to see Scott's effort to make a more decent world by showing us how important it is to care about ourselves and the environment we live. Rolling Rains Report is so fantastic because it talks about life, about reality, about points of view and not only, it is hard reading it without leading to a deeper reflection of how could we become a better citizen.

Several people have reported difficulty registering and posting Comments. This test post is also a chance respond with more information on the whirlwind 30-day research tour in South Africa
previously referred to by travel writer Monica Guy:

On Safari Bring Extra Tires for Your Wheelchair

It begins:

I travel a lot - more than most other quadriplegics that I know. Even so when I first look up at the sky on every trip to the southern hemisphere I am temporarily disoriented.

It’s not like I am a celestial navigator. I couldn’t find my way home from the corner pub by looking at the stars even if all I had to drink was Stones Ginger Beer. Set me sailing out on the ocean at night by the stars – well, I’ve never been sailing at night so I’m not certain – but I image you would never hear from me until I drifted up on a forsaken beach somewhere...

Continued

Scott's project description goes some way to describing what he has dedicated his life to doing, but in no way conveys the absolute enormity of what he has managed to achieve. He has connected thousands of travellers with disabilities from all over the world to each other, to a knowledge base that he has built up himself, and to the tourism industry. His network spans every time zone and his name, among people in the disability community, brings cries of recognition and more often than not personal memories. He does this all at his own expense of time and money, and more often than not at the expense of his health and personal life. He does it not because he is a "do-gooder", but because he is a man driven by a passion for social justice.
My own personal memory of Scott is from his whirlwind tour of South Africa in February this year. He galvanised the sluggish authorities into action, advised and encouraged wherever and whenever he could, gave invaluable support and recognition to the few ongoing projects that existed for people with disabilities - and proved an excellent, entertaining travel companion. Among other things, his encouragement and the network of contacts he introduced me to led me to launch the website: www.accessiblecapetown.com. He continues to play a huge role in moving forward the issue of inclusive tourism in South Africa.
A unique man, an invaluable resource, an absolutely vital challenge for the global tourism industry.

An estimated 10% of those traveling at any point in time have a disability. These include not only people with visible aids such as wheelchairs or white canes but also many people with disabilities that are not immediately obvious to the unaware observer. Yet “invisible” disabilities, too, can profoundly impact the travel behavior of people who experience them, for example disabilities that affect hearing, speaking, reading, reading social signals, or other communication.

The United Nations estimates there are 500 million people with disabilities in the world while a study by Open Doors Organization in 2002 demonstrated that the 42+ million Americans with disabilities spent $13.6 billion annually on travel. How is this market and this cultural phenomenon addressed by the tourism industry?

To be considered ecologically sustainable a project must be socially sustainable. That is, it must be realistic in accounting for the human needs and cultural variation among those it impacts. The following questions are meant to stimulate your thinking about how successful you have been in accommodating the diversity of capacities of travelers in ways that make earth-sensitive tourism projects open to all.