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Accessible Germany
Main image: phaeno Science Centre. Photo: © Klemens Ortmeyer Left: Accessible natural beach on Lake Stechlin. Photo: © Tourismusverband Ruppiner Land e.V. Right: Sailing boat for wheelchair users near Ueckermuende. Photo: © Deutsche Zentrale fuer Tourismus e.V.
Tourism without barriers Barrier-free travelling has become one of the most important tourism topics of the 21st century. That is why the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is trying to shape the country as an attractive holiday destination for people with activity and mobility restrictions. In addition to promoting respective improvements throughout the country, the GNTB has now also launched a new website that provides a guide for accessible tourism activities.
with our partners we have made it our goal to develop and market reliable and quality tested products for the entire travel and service chain,”explains Petra Hedorfer, chairwoman of the GTNB.
TEXT: THOMAS SCHROERS
Two of the most important partners in this venture are the AG Barrierfree Destinations in Germany and the National Office of Coordination of Tourism for Everyone e.V. (Nationale Koordinationsstelle Tourismus für Alle e.V.). While the former represents a combination of cities and tourism regions that are working on the creation of barrierfree destinations, the latter is actively
Imagine if you will, that the whole population of Germany has a mobility or activity restriction. If you do so, you are looking at almost exactly the number of people living in the European Union who are in need of barrier-free tourism. 80 million people, or roughly 16 per cent of EU citizens, travel with the necessity for 36 | Issue 42 | September 2016
special requirements in terms of general transportation and activities on site. In the coming years, this number is expected to rise. For the GNTB this development is crucial and a further inspiration to make ‘tourism for everybody’ much more than just a slogan. “Together
Collaborating for solutions