Why accessible tourism should concern us all

It has been said many times that how a society treats people with disabilities is the true indicator of civilization. It is no exaggeration to say that, ultimately, it is an indicator of democracy, too.

Undoubtedly, one of the most important rights is the equal access to tourism and everything this includes. It is worth mentioning that by 2019, approximately 1.2 billion people were traveling around the world. However, for people with disabilities, who make up 15% of the world’s population or the elderly and people with mobility problems, taking a trip is a difficult, if not impossible, process.

At the same time, it is a fact that people with disabilities do not comprise a homogeneous group with the same needs; there are different types of disabilities which lead to different needs and therefore different possibilities when it comes to the people who experience them. Thus, it is necessary to organize initiatives so that we can create equal opportunities for people with disabilities in terms of the tourist product, especially in Greece, whose economy is far more dependent on tourism.

In an attempt to decode this field and find out more about the steps that have already been taken or need to be taken in the right direction, the CapsuleT team turned to AccessLab and Nable Solutions, 2 of the startups that have already completed our Acceleration Program and provide technological solutions to enhance accessible tourism in Greece. Read below what the co-founders of the teams shared with us.

⇒ Based on your experience, how “mature” would you say that accessible tourism currently is when it comes to Greece?

AccessLab: Undoubtedly, we cannot claim that accessible tourism in Greece is “mature” enough, however there are some good practices at local level, which can be widely adopted by all Greek destinations. This is evident from the number of people with disabilities who visit Greece and the particular destinations they usually choose. The truth is that some big companies have already spotted the innovation in our services and products and we have exchanged views and ideas with them. We are currently in the process of confirming relevant partnerships, which is something that makes us genuinely happy and optimistic about the future.

Nable Solutions: Within Europe, there is a potential market of 130 million people with disabilities who could possibly spend more than 68 billion euros annually to meet their tourism needs; this demonstrates the economic benefits that can be generated for tourism professionals. In Greece, it is a fact that there are several hotels, cultural and entertainment sites that have some basic infrastructure and services for people with disabilities. However, the majority of accommodations and points of interest remains blocked for people with accessibility needs. Nonetheless, based on the conversations we have had so far with tourism entrepreneurs, we are optimistic that many of them have realized that, having accessible infrastructure and services is not a form of charity, but rather a business strategy.

⇒ Which do you think are the steps that have already been taken to enhance accessible tourism in Greece? From your perspective, are there major obstacles that need to be addressed quickly to facilitate all stakeholders?

AccessLab: Greece has the Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” which is the most accessible gateway to the country. There are some accommodations, tourist attractions, cultural sites and beaches with a very good level of accessibility, however all of the above do not comprise the majority. In our opinion, it is necessary to create a unified information platform for each visitor and everything they need to know regarding accessible tourism, prior to coming to Greece or after reaching their final destination. In addition, it is necessary to apply technical rules and specifications for the accessibility of public and private space all over the country, so that the infrastructure can gradually become more accessible by people with disabilities.

Nable Solutions: In the most recent years, it is a fact that several steps have been taken by the state to improve the accessibility of destinations. In general, however, for Greece the big picture is not what one would expect from a country so heavily dependent on tourism. The actions that have been taken are mainly from individuals! We believe that there is a need to adopt a holistic model to enhance accessible tourism, which is something that will lead to better quality and safety of services for all. It is worth noting that an important disadvantage is the wrong “orientation” that still exists in Greece, since people with disabilities are being treated as people we must help, while they should be treated as potential customers with specific criteria that need to be met.

A few words about the 2 startup teams

AccessLab enhances accessible tourism in Greece by certifying the accessibility of touristic places and offering safe touristic routes in the cities for people with disabilities.

Nable Solutions has created the “Assistant”, a software solution that helps organizations and companies consider and improve their current accessibility provisions, while it offers people with reduced mobility or disabilities comprehensive assistance, helping them fully engage with the society.