Tourism is accessible to everyone. Is barrier-free tourism possible in Russia? The most vivid impressions of Mediterranean & Karst Slovenia

Yulia Shilkina

CEO of WELL

Tourism for people with disabilities - problems and prospects

How acute is the problem of tourism for people with disabilities in Russia? Are there many companies involved in such travel?

In Russia, according to statistical data, there are more than 15 million people with varying degrees of disability. Up to 70% of them would like to travel, both within Russia and to other countries. 30% of disabled people have sufficient income for this. However, only 3% of disabled people can afford to travel independently, about 7% travel with the help of relatives. Others who wish to travel cannot use this service. Why? Due to the inaccessibility of the environment and, most importantly, because tour operators and travel agencies cannot offer a tourism product due to its lack of availability for this category of citizens.

How is the situation in Europe?

According to experts in Europe, 70% of the total number of people with disabilities travel, and most of these people travel not alone, but with accompanying persons.
The demand for “accessible tourism” (accessible tourism is a term most often used in relation to tourism for people with disabilities) is constantly growing, and global experience shows that tourists with limited mobility occupy an important segment of the tourism market. Due to growing demand, tourism products and services are being updated. Thus, a new target group is being formed in the global tourism industry - tourists with disabilities.

Why, in your opinion, is the situation in Russia radically different?

Unfortunately, in Russia there is no appropriate legislative framework, a comprehensive social tourism program at the federal level, and there is no lack of an integrated approach to solving this problem. Attempts to reduce accessible tourism to a simple set of excursion tours or spontaneous trips for disabled people on the principle of “rescuing drowning people...”. The inaccessibility of the entire medical, socio-cultural environment, the inadequacy of transport, the unpreparedness of employees of cultural, educational and tourism institutions to work with people with disabilities, the limited information about the product, countries, regions and their capabilities to receive people with disabilities also have an impact. However, the lack of desire on the part of most travel companies to deal with the problems of social tourism due to its greater cost, greater responsibility and requirement for non-standard approaches and solutions also influences it.

However, are there prerequisites for the development of this type of tourism?

Undoubtedly. Now the policies of many states are aimed at creating new living conditions for people with disabilities, at changing the attitude of society as a whole towards the problem of disability. In addition, it should be understood that this is a huge, practically untapped market of a clearly segmented consumer of tourism services (in Russia there are already more than 15 million people). What is also important is the desire of the disabled themselves to “break out” of personal and social isolation, to see the world, to overcome their own fears and insecurities (this desire is so great that disabled people are ready to pay for their trips and excursions themselves, despite the sometimes extremely difficult financial situation).

What needs and problems arise during travel?

“Need does not always mean impediment”, which in most cases with tourists with special needs means providing services and facilities that best meet their needs. Considering that 84% of tourists with special needs declare only one need, 10% have at least two and less than 5% of them have at least three, a detailed analysis of the needs declared by tourists with special needs gives the classification below stated needs:
the most common need is special food, stated by 43% of tourists with special needs;
the need for an allergy-free/hypoallergenic environment was expressed by 37% of tourists with special needs;
the need to visit a doctor and receive medical care was expressed by 29% of tourists with special needs;
the number of tourists with special needs who stated the need for assistance in moving was 8% of tourists with special needs;
special needs related to sensory limitations were expressed by 3% of tourists with special needs
- What are the requirements for organizing tours for people with disabilities (for hotels, transport, infrastructure, etc.)?
Requirements (for us these are “wishes” for now) regarding accessibility for blind and visually impaired travelers:
1. Before entering the building, it is recommended to lay tactile strips:
- guides (with longitudinal reefs, 0.4 m wide. The length of the tactile guide strip depends on the length of the path of movement of disabled people);
- warning (with hemispherical reefs; 0.8 m wide, placed no less than 0.8 m before the start of the entrance).
2. The first and last steps of the porch should be marked with a contrasting stripe (preferably bright yellow).
3. The entrance porch, with a height of 0.45 m and higher above ground level, must be equipped with fences and handrails and have two levels in height 0.7 m and 0.9 m with non-traumatic endings, as a rule, connecting the upper and bottom handrail. The ends of the handrails must have a horizontal component of at least 0.3 m.
4. Entrance doors must be at least 900 mm clear in width. A tactile warning strip must be installed in front of the front door.
5. Thresholds at the entrance doors, as well as other doors along the route, must be no more than 0.025 m high. If it is impossible to ensure such a height, mini-ramps 0.9 m wide are installed with a slope in the proportion of height to length 1: 12.
6. The flight of stairs from the entrance vestibule to the elevator hall must be equipped with two-level railings with non-traumatic ends at a height of 0.7 and 0.9 m, which are attached either to the wall or to the steps of the flight of stairs. The first and last steps of a flight of stairs are marked with a contrasting stripe.
7. After finishing a flight of stairs, it is recommended to install a tactile guide strip before entering the elevator, and a warning strip before entering the elevator. There is duplicate sound information in the elevator.
8. Special relief copies of excursion objects

REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANIZING TOURS FOR DISABLED WHEELCHAIRS:
1. The width of all doors must be at least 80 cm (especially pay attention to toilet rooms).
2. The toilet is located at a height of at least 50 cm (if this is not possible, sanitary wheelchairs are required); near the toilet there are folding grab bars.
3. The best option for a bathroom is a shower, it should be flexible and installed at a certain height. It would also be nice to have a special seat in the shower (bathroom).
4. Bed height - no lower than 45 cm and no higher than 80 cm. A convenient option is 50 cm.
5. There should be no thresholds in the rooms.
6. For a beach holiday, a firm descent into the sea is required and the path is equipped with handrails. To make it easier for a wheelchair user to enter (enter) the sea, special beach strollers are required.
7. For the convenience of travelers, we recommend:
- to conduct excursions and provide transfers, a bus/minibus with a lift is required;
- presence of trace. information: the possibility of transporting a person in a wheelchair inside the bus, how many people can travel in this way on the bus; Are there buses with removable seats?
- availability of rental products such as electric wheelchairs, telescopic ramps;
- the presence of volunteers (special staff) at hotels and/or a program to support disabled people traveling with volunteers.

Accessible tourism (accessibleTourism) or, as it is often called, tourism for all (tourismforall), is one of the most dynamically developing segments of the tourism market. There is practically no information about accessible tourism in Russian. There are also no expert studies of the capacity of the Russian accessible tourism market. In the Russian Federation, there are 13.074 million (Rosstat, 2009) disabled people and about 2 million disabled children, about 3 million patients with diabetes, about 15 thousand patients currently on hemodialysis. About half of disabled people with limited mobility (in wheelchairs) are young people under the age of 40. They take an active life position and learn new professions. Inclusive education will also bear fruit. Demand in the tourism market, accessible to all, will grow in the coming years.

According to the UN, there are about 650 million people with disabilities in the world (about 10%) (of which about 200 million are children with disabilities), in European countries people with disabilities make up from 22% to 37% of the population (Eurostat, 2007) - a total of 60 million.

And completely different statistics: in Moscow there are 32 thousand working disabled people. The call center on Ogorodny Proezd employs about 1,000 blind people. It is planned to open another such call center, almost twice as large. There are other projects to create jobs for people with disabilities, perhaps not so large-scale. In addition, many have family, friends, and everyone has a desire to discover something new and travel. “Don’t worry too much about my rights, pay attention to my wallet!”, advised the head of the Spanish Society of the Blind, Jesus Hernandez, to representatives of the tourism industry.

Disabled people travel less actively than other EU citizens: from 37% in the UK to 53% in Germany. Meanwhile, 11% of all tourist trips in Europe and 7% worldwide are made by travelers with special needs, most often in the company of family members or friends.

Over the past 10 years, experts have noted dynamic growth in this segment of the tourism market, although even abroad it is still difficult to call it massive. However, the demand for affordable tourism is growing all over the world, and is emerging in Russia.

The meaning of terms that define tourism for people with disabilities has been the subject of scientific debate for more than 20 years. In addition, the term “Tourism accessible to all” is enshrined in international regulations.

Experts cite fear and inevitable discomfort caused by limited mobility or cognitive abilities in people with visual and hearing impairments, as well as a narrow understanding of the term “accessible tourism” and confusion around this concept as one of the reasons for low demand.

On the Russian tourism market, you can find various offers for people with disabilities: “travel for the disabled,” “paratourism,” “disabled tourism,” “tourism for the disabled,” “tourism for the deaf,” “tourism for the blind,” “rehabilitation tourism,” “correctional and educational tourism”.

Often this also includes “social tourism” - travel subsidized by the state from funds allocated for social needs (Federal Law “On the Fundamentals of Tourism Activities in the Russian Federation” 132-FZ dated November 24, 1996)

The terms used abroad are “tourism for all”, “accessible tourism”, “inclusive tourism”, “barrier-free tourism”.

It is difficult to say which term will take root in Russia. Affordable tourism is often called low-budget tours, and inclusive tourism is a tourism product in which transport services are paid simultaneously with meals, accommodation and other tourist services - “all-inclusive”.

Potential consumers of this segment of the tourism market are not only disabled and elderly people, but also their guardians and members of their families, families with small children.

Inclusive tourism (fr. inclusif - including, lat. include - conclude, include) is a process of tourism development that implies the accessibility of tourism for everyone, in terms of adapting the infrastructure of tourist centers and tourist attractions to the various needs of all people, including , disabled people, the elderly, their guardians and family members, people with temporary disabilities, families with small children.

Inclusive tourism concept - traveling around the world. Its foundation is universal design, the seven principles of which were formulated and implemented more than 30 years ago under the leadership of wheelchair architect Ron Mace and colleagues at North Carolina State University. Universal design is also reflected in the legal acts of the Russian Federation - GOSTs, SNIPs, standards. An accessible environment created according to the principles of universal design is vital for 10% of the world's population, needed by 40% of the population and convenient for everyone.

Disabled tourism is a type of recreational tourism designed for people with disabilities.

The direction Rogla - Pohorje is famous for its wide forests, peat bogs and lakes. Tourist routes connect the ski center of Roglu with the thermal resort of Zrece, as well as wonderful villages.

Bled

Bled is a heavenly place. This world-class tourist gem, located near the Triglav National Park, has been nominated for inclusion in the list of the new Seven Wonders of the World. The area has a mild, healing climate; here people come to the surface.

Bohinj

Bohinj is a paradise valley in the embrace of the Julian Alps. Lake Bohinj is located in the heart of Triglav National Park, one of the oldest national parks in Europe, it is the largest natural lake in Slovenia, overlooked by inaccessible mountain slopes and pristine peaks.

Carinthia

Carinthia, or Koroška, ​​a mountainous area covered with dense forests, delights with treasures that can be seen in the UNESCO Karavanka Geopark - the depths of Mount Pec, the depths of which can also be reached by kayak and bicycle, the wide plateaus of green Pohorje and the leisurely sleepy Drava River .

Kranj

The city of Kranj has long been known as the capital of the Slovenian Alps, and thanks to the outstanding Slovenian poet Franz Prešeren, it is also considered the cultural “heart” of Slovenia. A special attraction of the city is the deep river canyon, which can be seen in the very center of the city.

Kranjska Gora

Kranjska Gora attracts tourists and sports enthusiasts throughout the year. In winter, alpine skiing competitions are held here, and in nearby Planica, flying skiers break records. The highest mountain pass in Slovenia awaits cyclists, and there are also attractions for hikers.

Maribor – Pohorje

Maribor - Pohorje is an excellent starting point for exploring the sights of eastern Slovenia. The green hills of the easternmost part of Alpine Slovenia, where there are many ski slopes, hiking and cycling routes, are closely adjacent to the city. The oldest grapevine in the world grows in the very center of the city!

Radovljica

Radovljica, a medieval town surrounded by a moat with views of Karavanke and the Julian Alps, is today called “Sweet Radoljica”. The tradition of beekeeping and honey production is complemented by new “sweet” experiences. Radovljica became the capital of beekeeping and chocolate.

Upper Savina Valley

The Upper Savinja Valley and the Logarska Valley, through which the clean green Savinja River flows, have preserved Alpine life in all its pristine condition.

Cerkno

The smooth hilly terrain and green valleys of the territory called Cerklje attract lovers of hiking and cycling. During the winter season, skiers enjoy skiing on the local slopes - the most modern ski center in Slovenia operates here. Cerkno is located above the so-called. The Idrija Fault, from which thermal water flows, on the basis of which the only thermal resort in the Slovenian part of the Julian Alps was created. Here, at one time, archaeologists discovered the oldest pipe in the world, and during the Second World War, a unique partisan hospital operated in the forest thicket.

The most vivid impressions from Alpine Slovenia

On the peaks of mighty mountains, in the rushing waters of rivers, in secluded corners of pristine nature, or in vibrant Alpine tourist centers - find something that will make your Alpine Slovenia experience unforgettable.

Bela Krajina

The Bela Krajina region, adjacent to the legendary border river Kolpa, delights with the beauty of the landscape - the birch groves are so elegant! Crnomel, Metlika and Semic are the cradle of original folklore, folk crafts, excellent wines and wonderful dishes.

Church on Gorenjski

The town of Cerkle na Gorenjske is located at the junction of the Ljubljana Basin and the alpine landscape of the Kamniško-Savinj Alps. This is the starting point of hiking and cycling routes, from here you can also climb to Krvavec, where there is a ski slope.

Idriya

Idrija is a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the second largest mercury deposit in the world, a center of original lace-making and culinary arts, and a unique technical heritage. Explore the fortifications of river gorges, the “Slovenian pyramids”, and visit the UNESCO Geopark.

Kamnik

Kamnik is a medieval town with two castles and a monastery. There is also a picturesque street of artisans. The city is closely connected with the Velika Planina massif, where shepherds bring their cattle for grazing. Just a few minutes' drive away is the largest

Kochevsko

Kočevsko, together with the island of pristine nature preserved in the Krokar forest, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is a real mysterious forest of Slovenia.

Ljubljana

Ljubljana is the green capital of a green country. The city with its picturesque bridges and market owes its appearance to the famous architect Joža Plečnik. Ljubljana, where something interesting happens every day, is surrounded by parks and nature conservation areas.

Novo-mesto

Novo Mesto is the center of the Dolenjska region and boasts a rich archaeological heritage. The city of Situl is surrounded by hills covered with grapes, a special wine is made here - “Tsviček”, and the Goryantsi massif rises here. On a small island in the middle of the Krka River stands Otočec Castle, the only “castle on the water” in Slovenia.

Skofja Loka

Škofja Loka, as well as the Selška and Polanska valleys, offers a picturesque medieval scene of the Škofjeloška Passion, which is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. A city, two valleys and three highlands - and there are countless legends and enormous creative potential - from crafts to gastronomy.

The most vivid impressions from Ljubljana & Central Slovenia

In Ljubljana and Central Slovenia you can experience everything – from the vivacious cultural vibe to the peaceful moments in nature.

Čatež and Posavje

Posavje and the Terme Čatež resort offer many opportunities to spend any of the 365 days of the year without being bored. The largest thermal Riviera is located near the confluence of the longest Slovenian rivers Sava and Krka. Here you can count six picturesque ancient castles!

Dobrna

Dobrna is the place where the oldest Slovenian resort is located. An alley of majestic chestnut trees leads from it to the village, there is an energy park, there is a lot of greenery and attractions around, and there are walking, cycling and themed forest routes everywhere.

Dolenj region

The Dolenjske region, the region of thermal springs near the Krka River, includes the resorts of Šmarješke Toplice and Dolenjske Toplice, and Novo Mesto, where valuable archaeological heritage has been preserved. In the vicinity of the town of Situl, a special Slovenian wine, Cviček, is produced.

Lashko

Laško is a place where wellness and health, brewing, beekeeping and herb production come together. In the city, above which the castle rises, right next to the Savinja River there is the Termana Laško resort, and a little further away there is the Rimske Terme resort.

Podchetrtek

Podchetrtek is the center of the area adjacent to the Sotla River. The resort of Terme Olimia and the village of Olimje, where the monastery and one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe are located, attract us here. The herb plantations and Podsreda Castle are part of the Kozjansky Park.

Rogaska Slatina

Rogaška Slatina is the place where crystal masterpieces are produced and where the unique mineral water “Donat Mg” comes to the earth’s surface. A promenade park, spread among buildings in the style of decadence, connects the resort, known for four hundred years, and the most modern medical center.

Ptuj

Ptuj is an ancient city of new impressions. The castle, overlooking the city's oldest wine cellars, overlooks the streets where one of the most colorful carnivals in the world takes place: its central character, the “court”, has been designated a world cultural heritage by UNESCO. The Terme Ptuj resort is also nearby.

Velenje - Topolsica

Velenje is a city where there is a unique underground coal mining museum, and Topolšica is a wonderful thermal resort among green forests. Velenje has a popular lakeside beach and is home to the largest children's festival in Slovenia. Brda

Come to where the sun shines, where every moment is filled with sweetness! Enjoy the famous wines and cuisine of the Brda area, attend traditional festivals, visit romantic villages, vineyards, olive groves and gardens.

Izola

Izola is a small seaside town; in the past it was located on an island. The life of the townspeople is still closely connected with the sea. Izola invites you to stroll along its charming streets, frolic on the beaches, from where you can see the stunning Strunjan cliff, and the greenery of the continental part - there are many vineyards and olive groves.

Koper

Koper is the city of hundreds of suns that decorate medieval Venetian palazzos. The sun warms the lagoon of the Škocjan Estuary, home to hundreds of birds, and the steep edge of the Kraški rob karst plateau, where climbing walls are popular all over the world. Istrian cuisine invites its connoisseurs to a variety of events.

Nova Gorica and Vipavska dolina

Nova Gorica and Vipavska Dolina are the junction of two worlds, two different cultures. The wine region also delights in cuisine, and the city, home to many casinos, offers plenty of entertainment.

Portorož and Piran

Portorož and Piran are surrounded on both sides by salt mines. In the old days, salt was truly a wealth - it was it that helped Piran achieve its splendor. In cosmopolitan Portorož, salt has become an integral element of wellness procedures. Local salt is one of the best products obtained from the salt mines of Europe.

The most vivid impressions of Mediterranean & Karst Slovenia

An impressive karst landscape, vineyards stretching to the horizon, the roar of the sea, elegant white horses - let the beauty of Mediterranean & Karst Slovenia enchant you.

In Russia, the term “barrier-free” or “accessible tourism” began to be used only two years ago, while all over the world for more than 20 years tourism programs, infrastructure and even entire cities have been created for people with disabilities. Meanwhile, in Moscow alone, according to the capital’s Committee for Tourism and Hotel Industry, there are more than a million people with disabilities; in Russia as a whole there are several tens of millions of them, and no more than 7% of them have ever left their city for tourism purposes.

“In Russia, barrier-free tourism is still in its infancy. If it were not for enthusiastic social activists who are trying their best to somehow develop this area, we would have nothing at all,” he admitted at the Second International Conference on Accessible Tourism held in the capital Deputy Head of Rostourism Evgeny Pisarevsky.

He noted that the situation with the promotion of accessible tourism may change after Russia ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. “This document contains requirements for creating the necessary conditions in tourism infrastructure for people with limited mobility, which all organizations and facilities involved in tourism will have to comply with,” the expert emphasized.

Other forum participants expressed the opinion that state regulation alone cannot solve the problem, proposing the creation of a separate public organization in Russia that would deal only with affordable tourism.

“Strong partnerships between politicians, the private sector and disability organizations are needed. The attitude of service providers towards people with disabilities will be crucial in this activity, as this is a completely different approach, different from the standards of the hospitality industry,” says an expert from the World Organization tourism (UNWTO) Alla Peresolova.

Incorrect approach

According to Irina Rudenko, deputy chairman of the Moscow Committee for Tourism and Hotel Management, in the capital, accommodation facilities and museums are not yet ready to provide people with disabilities (especially wheelchair users) a comfortable stay. But work on the bugs is already underway.

“About 400 museum objects are adapted for unhindered visits by people with disabilities. The Darwin and Timiryazevsky museums are the best equipped to accommodate people with disabilities; 42 hotels have 130 rooms for guests with limited mobility. Of course, these are just the first steps,” she noted.

Representatives of companies that promote accessible tourism admitted that it is still difficult for disabled people to travel around Russia, since problems begin already at airports. And although the construction of new tourist infrastructure facilities includes all the technical devices necessary for people with disabilities, they do not always meet the requirements.

However, the main problem is not only in the infrastructure, but in the fact that Russia has not yet learned how to correctly serve such clients. “Disabled people only need a set of clear services that will provide them with comfort during travel. But more often it happens that the staff of hotels or other facilities panics or begins to overprotect tourists who do not need these “services” at all,” Peresolova believes .

Most accessible cities

According to the UNWTO, there are more than 650 million people with disabilities in the world. For example, in Europe alone there are at least 50 million, but at the same time, more than 10% of all tourist trips in the Old World come from people with disabilities, which indicates the prospects of this market. In many countries, accessible tourism has become not only a necessity, but even a fashionable trend: designer ramps, special menus in restaurants, cars, taxis, tourist buses, routes and even entire cities. Infrastructure for people with limited mobility is an important part of the country's economy, foreign experts believe.

The issue of promoting affordable tourism, in their opinion, should be considered not in terms of cost, but in terms of investment. “Such people always travel with accompanying persons, so accessible tourism is important for everyone and can bring huge profits. In addition, people with disabilities should not be limited in their ability to access all types of recreation. Any person who has temporary or permanent health restrictions has the right to book any the trip that I chose. The Convention on Human Rights confirms this,” recalled Andre Nowak, a member of the tourism committee of the German Bundestag.

As an example, he cited the national coordination center for tourism “for all” Natko, which has been operating in Germany for 13 years, which includes 11 public organizations. He recently developed a two-year program that provides for the creation of a large number of new facilities on the map of accessible tourism.

“We have long been producing a huge amount of information literature for our tourists, in which we tell them what services and where people with disabilities can receive. I have not seen a single brochure on this topic at Russian stands at tourism exhibitions,” admitted Novak.

According to sociological surveys, Barcelona is one of the leaders in accessibility among European cities. Tourism organizations have managed to achieve success in this area thanks to the public-private partnership system.

"Barcelona Airport receives about 200 thousand people with disabilities a year. In Catalonia, the accessible tourism infrastructure has been created not only for wheelchair users, but also for people with various health limitations. What role does the state play in this partnership? It promotes accessible tourism in international level, as well as educational programs for staff of accommodation facilities, displays and travel companies,” said Christina Ionitskaya, deputy director of the Catalonia Tourist Board representative office in the CIS countries and Eastern Europe.

She spoke about how accessible Barcelona is today for guests with disabilities. “Museums have video guides that provide sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired. Taxis for wheelchair users cost the same as a regular taxi (the state issues additional licenses for transport companies serving the disabled), 87% of metro stations are accessible to the disabled. For projects , designed for tourists with limited mobility, the state provides interest-free loans, and it is very easy to do so, thanks to such benefits, companies are interested in working in this area,” Ionitskaya noted.

In neighboring France, “tourist accessibility” is clearly stated in the law, meaning that the construction of roads and other facilities cannot be carried out without meeting the requirements for the disabled. Moreover, all tourist infrastructure facilities strive to receive the “Tourism and Disability” sign, indicating that this hotel or resort works for everyone without exception. Currently, more than 4 thousand establishments are marked with it.

An example of an accessible environment in France is Nantes. It was this city in the west of the country with a population of 600 thousand people that was recognized in the Fifth Republic as the most favorable for people with disabilities.

Accessible environment in a roadside cafe

Elena Kurochkina, a multiple winner of the World Chess Championships among participants with disabilities, a wheelchair user from Perm, travels to tournaments in Europe several times a year.

“As soon as we cross the border of Russia and arrive in the first European city, I fall into euphoria and stop thinking about the fact that I won’t be able to get through somewhere, won’t be able to go to a store, go down to the metro - as a rule, there are elevators everywhere - or reach to the hand dryer in the toilet. In all the cities in Europe that I have been to, there is this most accessible environment, even in the smallest roadside hotel or cafe. At first I wondered why they comply with everything like that, but then I realized that they are very high. fines, including the closure of the facility, for the lack of infrastructure for the disabled,” Elena explained to the RIA.Tourism correspondent.

According to her, it seems that this has always been the case in Europe. But in fact, this accessible environment was created in 10-15 years. “Once I complained to the owner of one of the Polish hotels that in Russia the infrastructure for the disabled is very bad, and, apparently, this will remain so for a long time. How surprised I was when he assured me that 10 years ago they had the same thing in their country there was nothing. This gave us hope that we too could create an accessible environment in 10 years,” Kurochkina noted.

It would be possible to end this text with the words “We can only hope for this,” if it were not for the pleasant circumstance - the awarding of the most active Russian companies and travel agency workers, whose efforts are developing barrier-free tourism in Russia, that took place during the conference. The "Accessible World" award was awarded to: the St. Petersburg companies "Liberty" and "Radio Guide", as well as the Petro Palace Hotel, the Rossiya and Transaero airlines, the Pastila Museum in Kolomna and the Tsaritsino Museum-Reserve, and the Art Hotel near Moscow Pushkino" and the rehabilitation center "Ogonyok", the sanatorium "Anapa" and the Sochi "Parus", as well as guides Olga Maksimenkova from St. Petersburg and Muscovite Svetlana Morozova.

Lyudmila Titova

The II International Conference on Accessible Tourism was held as part of the Intourmarket 2012 exhibition. Its participants agreed on a draft memorandum providing for the creation of a separate Russian Association for Accessible Tourism in the industry.

Let us remind you that the 1st International Conference on Accessible Tourism was held exactly a year ago, also within the framework of the Intourmarket exhibition. Taking into account the achievements and agreements after the previous exhibition, this time the participants decided to go further. As a result of the conference, they agreed on a draft memorandum, which provides for the creation of the Russian Association of Accessible Tourism (RADT). Other announced measures for the development of barrier-free tourism in the country include the formation of the necessary regulatory framework, the drawing up and promotion within the framework of the RADT of priority measures to ensure the accessibility of tourism facilities, etc.

Disabled people lack information and personnel

The tourism industry for people with disabilities has been developing around the world for 20 years. In 1991, the UNWTO General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Creating Tourism Opportunities for Handicapped People in the Nineties”. Its text was updated in 2005 in Dakar (Senegal) and entitled “Tourism for all” (Resolution A/RES/492(XVI)/10). In the Declaration on Facilitating Tourism Travel, adopted at the 18th session of the General Assembly in Astana, UNWTO calls on Member States to make their tourism sites and facilities accessible to people with disabilities. And also publish clear and detailed information about the existing reception service for people with disabilities and the problems they may encounter during their journey.

As Andre Nowak, a member of the Tourism Committee of the German Bundestag, said, in Germany this type of tourism is already 30 years old, but even in this country it has still not reached a perfect level. “The biggest barriers are in the minds,” Andre Novak said during his speech. He emphasized that most people with disabilities do not want special treatment that sets them apart from the general population. “People with disabilities want to go on holiday or travel in a completely normal way, just like everyone else. Therefore, there is no need to create “Hotels for the Disabled” and other special-purpose facilities,” the expert is confident.

Information can help them achieve their own desires, and not what society considers necessary for them. Already at the travel planning stage, a disabled person should know what awaits him upon arrival at the airport. What types of transport he can use, what hotel and what room he will live in, how suitable the infrastructure is for him. However, most often it is this point that causes the greatest problems: advertising usually embellishes the real state of things, and other sources of information are difficult to find. “We give out brochures at exhibitions, which indicate what and where disabled people will see in Germany, what awaits them, what kind of infrastructure. We have not seen such information or even heard it verbally at any tourism exhibition. In Germany, all technical devices for the movement of disabled people have also already been unified. In particular, a certain ramp angle has been unified. In a number of cities around the world, ramps are installed “for show”: in reality, no one can use them,” said Mr. Novak.

Deputy Director of the representative offices of the Catalan offices in the CIS countries and Eastern Europe, Christina Ionitskaya, noted that in Catalonia, the state monitors sites intended to be visited, including by tourists with disabilities, publishing all reliable information on the website.

You can't do without the state

The barrier-free tourism industry around the world requires serious government intervention. This includes the creation of appropriate infrastructure and training of the necessary personnel. Cristina Ionitskaya said that in Catalonia, a program to promote accessible tourism is being created on the basis of public-private partnership: business must take into account the interests of people with disabilities when creating facilities, and the state must ensure that existing tourist facilities are adapted to accommodate people with disabilities. In Catalonia, such state monitoring was introduced back in 2007.

“State participation is also necessary in the creation of municipal and transport infrastructure. For example, the authorities can issue additional taxi licenses for disabled people, while ordinary taxis, due to their excess, cannot be licensed,” argues Kristina Ionitskaya.

Experts are confident that barrier-free travel in all areas of tourism cannot be achieved by one law or government regulation. Diverse, interrelated measures are needed: laws and regulations, financial support and sanctions in the tourism economy, uniform definitions, norms, quality marks and much more. For example, in Germany, the topic of “barrier-free tourism” is at the top of the government policy agenda, even if actual activity in all areas still leaves much to be desired. Barrier-free tourism is not a niche. It should be a priority. And most importantly, it is important to listen to the opinions of tourists with disabilities themselves, and not make do with populist statements from officials who are far from understanding the needs of tourists of all categories of mobility.

Behind all of Europe

Russia, including its capital, seriously lags behind most European countries. The conference participants also recalled the lack of ramps in most places visited, and the difficulties of transportation by public transport that can be encountered when leaving the Moscow airport.

More than 1 million people with disabilities of various categories live in Moscow alone. Many of them are ready to travel, but they are faced with the fact that often just a trip to the airport makes them think about the need to travel in general. As Irina Rudenko, deputy chairman of the Moscow Tourism Committee, said, recently the capital’s authorities have begun to actively adapt the city to the needs of people with disabilities: city programs have been adopted for the transport network, for the development of culture, and for the development of recreation and tourism. By 2016, more than 70% of public transport units are promised to be low-floor, so that wheelchair users can also use them.

“There are now more than 800 display objects in Moscow. Half of them are already adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, for example, the Darwin Museum. Our task is to organize work to adapt the hotel fund to their needs. Now 40 hotels have 130 rooms for disabled people,” said Irina Rudenko.

In the near future, the Russian Federation will finally ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The document was signed by the Russian side back in 2008, but has not yet received ratification and, as a result, has not been incorporated into Russian legislation. Among other things, the convention provides for norms on the unhindered movement of people with disabilities and the opportunity for them to visit tourist and other sites.

The best received a star

The conference participants recognized that much work still remains to be done in this area both in our country and abroad. However, the last conference was not in vain. More and more companies providing services in the tourism industry are paying attention to this new type of work. Organizing recreation for people with disabilities ceases to be something overwhelming and difficult to implement. The recreation industry for people with disabilities in Russia is only two years old, but it can already be stated that the attitude of service providers towards people with limited mobility is gradually changing. This is evidenced, in particular, by the interest that was shown in the II International Conference on Accessible Tourism.

This year, for the first time, the organizers awarded the “Accessible World” award to companies for the greatest contribution to the development of accessible tourism. Gold stars were awarded to the best guides for people with disabilities (Olga Maksimenkova and Svetlana Morozova), the best operator (Liberty LLC), the best museums and museum complexes (Tsaritsyno, Museum Pastila Factory in Kolomna). For its support of international development of disability tourism, the Office of the Hungarian Tourist Advisor received a gold star: the former head of the office, Andrea Szegedy, was the first to draw the most serious attention to the problem in Russia. The award was received by Andrea's husband, Mihai Aranyossi, who now leads the work of the Bureau. The best hotels for people with disabilities were recognized as Parus Sochi, Petra Palace (St. Petersburg), and Art Hotel Pushkino. The best airlines are Rossiya and Transaero.