TUI Group launches accessible tourism pilot project
The TUI Group is committed to providing as many people as possible with accessible holidays. To this end, TUI has developed an “Accessibility Roadmap“ with the German NatKo – Tourism for All Association – and analysed the strengths and potential for development of its own accessible tourism portfolio.
A 16-page brochure has been published covering various aspects of accessibility and their significance for travel. The first two copies were presented to Jürgen Dusel, Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Persons with Disabilities, and Alexander Stedtfeld, Member of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, as a representative for Parliamentary Secretary of State Thomas Bareiß, Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism, by Thomas Ellerbeck, Member of the Group Executive Committee at TUI Group, on the Barrier-free Tourism Day at the ITB fair in Berlin. “Inclusion changes perceptions. It also changes travel offers. Our accessible tourism initiatives make an active contribution to providing as many people as possible with an enjoyable holiday experience,” commented Ellerbeck.
Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Persons with Disabilities Jürgen Dusel (center) and Alexander Stedtfeld (right), Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, take the first copies of the TUI brochure on accessible travel from Thomas Ellerbeck, Member of the Group Executive Committee of the TUI Group, on the Barrier-free Tourism Day on 8 March 2019 at the ITB.
The first actions have already been taken, based on the roadmap findings, to further optimise TUI’s enduring commitment to accessible tourism. Seven TUI hotels and resorts – from the Canary Islands to Mecklenburg Lower Pomerania – are currently undergoing audit certifications in a pilot project. TUI Group is supporting and promoting the German government’s “Reisen für Alle” (Travel for All) certification system, which until now has primarily been used in Germany. It provides reliable information about the local infrastructure, which is helpful to people with restricted mobility in the holiday planning process. They not only have to ensure that suitable travel and transfer arrangements are available, but also that accommodation and excursions are designed with disabled people in mind. The TUI Group is contributing to eliminating barriers along the entire tourism service chain to provide even more guests with an enjoyable and accessible holiday experience.