MITA International Meeting on

Accessible Tourism
Vicenza, 22nd March 2013

The Tourism of Tomorrow:

European Regions as drivers of
Sustainable Change. NECSTouR
Accessibility Task Force
Cristina Nez
NECSTouR Permanent Secretariat
22 March 2013

NECSTouR
The Next Tourism !
Launch 2007 Creation: 2009
- A network of European Regions,
associated with representatives of the tourism
entreprises, tourism associations and universities/
research institutes aiming at:
-

Develop a strong framework for regional

cooperation at European level;
Develop research & development model of
Sustainable tourism management;
Strenghening the Role of Regions in the European
Tourism Policy

EUROSTAT DATA 2010

-Overnight
A network
launched
during Euromeeting
2007
in
stays
in accommodation
structures for
tourist
for NUTS2 Regions
Florence
NECSTouR = <600 million of overnight stays per year

- A self financed network

History
2007

EC COM AGENDA FOR A SUSTAINABLE AND COMPETITIVE TOURISM

3.2.1. Mobilising actors to produce and share knowledge
The European Commission will support the strengthening or the creation of
platforms by also using new technologies where lessons drawn by good
and bad practices can be exchanged and where collaboration between
tourism and other related sectors can be improved. The promotion of best
practices exchange towards sustainable destination management (e.g.
addressing the issue of seasonality and the prolongation of the tourism
season) can contribute in a significant way to the competitiveness of the
tourist destinations. These platforms could allow a more specific approach
reflecting the territorial and economic characteristics of destinations

Catalunya (ES) Provence-lpes-Cte dAzur (FR) Toscana

(IT)
2009 ADOPTION LISBON TREATY Official Creation of NECSTouR asbl
2010

EC COM EUROPE, THE WORLDS N1 TOURIST DESTINATION-A NEW

POLITICAL FRAMEWORK FOR TOURISM IN EUROPE
Action XI The Commission will be supported by the initiative
implemented in cooperation with the Network of European Regions
for a sustainable and competitive European tourism (NECSTouR) and the
EDEN destinations network with a view to developing a system of indicators

FULL MEMBERS
27 Regional authorities (NUTS 2)
Portugal: Alentejo, Algarve
Netherlands: Zeeland
France: Provence-Alpes-Cte d'Azur,
Aquitaine, Midi- Pyrnes, Bretagne,
Bourgogne, Ile-de-France
Italy: Emilia Romagna, Puglia,
Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto, Piemont
Spain: Catalunya, Islas Baleares, La
Rioja, Pas Vasco
United Kingdom: Cornwall Region
Belgium: German-speaking
Community of Belgium Region,
Flanders
Switzerland: Valais Region
Sweden: Vstra Goteland Region
Czech Republic: Zln Region
Greece: South Aegean Islands
Croatia: Istria

Associated
Members
National, European, International public/Private Organisation
working in the Sustainable Tourism Sector

What do we do?
Increase KNOWLEDGE: Collection, exchange and
evaluation of good practices
Presentation during high level EU Events
(ETD, ETF)
Thematic Regional Conferences
Increase JOINT ACTIVITIES :Database
Information,
Facilitation,
(more
than 100 on
Development
the website) of projects
Dynamic Taskforces
Increase EXPERTISE: Cooperation with European and
International organisations
Formal Cooperation agreements
Increase
signed VISIBILITY: Promote the strategies and activities
of the members
Website, internal/external
newsletter, social media, Annual
Ensure
a Bottom
up CONTRIBUTION:
Monitor, contribute
Regional
Conference,
Taskforce Meeting
and influence the
European
Tourism Policy
Consultations
/Amendements/Positions

Ongoing Activities
Cooperation with the European Commission
Indicators (Action XI of EC Communication
2010-352)
Maximising the potential of Tourism Networks
Projects
T4ESTD: Provide a free training to our Region resulting
with an international certification for the management
of sustainable tourism projects
ODYSSEA City Harbor: Support the development of the
European Cultural route of the mediterranean
NEZEH: Nearly Zero-Energy Hotels aims to accelerate
the refurbishment rate of hospitality industry buildings
into Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings

New 2012 Taskforces:

Accessibility & Blue Growth

Accessibility Task Force

Coordina
tors

Veneto & Ile de France

Objective

Develop an action plan for accessible destinations

Cooperation with all stakeholders at European and
International level
Contribute to the European Tourism and
accessibility policy

Principle
s

Members

SOCIAL
Accessible Tourism = responsible Tourism
DIALOGUE
Sustainable Tourism
COMPETITIVE
NESS
Veneto, Ile-de-France, Catalonia, Flanders, Toscana,
Puglia, Emilia Romagna, FederCultura Turismo,
MEASURABILI
University of Girona, European Federation of Nautical
Stations
TY

Accessibility Task Force: Work

Programme

Action

Deadline

1. Accessibility Task Force launch

Sep 2012

2. Official presentation of Accessibility Task

Force

Nov 2012

3. Mapping of accessibility best practices &

strategies

Dec 2012

4. Raise awareness on accessibility

March
2013

5. Mapping of accessibility EU policies &

financing programs

June 2013

5. Finding common accessibility issues

NECSTouR members

Dec 2013

Accessibility Task Force: Good

Practices

Veneto

Veneto
Ongoing and Future actions
Rising awareness among tourism stakeholders,
public and private actors (e.g. Gitando.All, I diritti
solcano gli oceani);
Implementing the tourism web portal with
accessibility-related information about the regional
tourism offer;
Setting up innovative tools to improve services for
people with special needs (GPS data, service card,
etc.);
Supporting pilot destinations where public and
private actors cooperate in order to improve
accessibility;

Ile de France

Ile de France
Promote the offer: Handistrict.com
Accessibility criteria established by Ile de France
tourism board
Controling the offer (we visit the sites)
Places and services can volunteer
Promoting the offer widely
Open Data
GPS data soon
www.handistrict.com
Official opening February 2013 public launch
July 2013

Flanders

Flanders
Promoting Flanders as Accessible Tourism
destination:

Progressive integration towards and inclusive

Infrastructure, training,
Culture, transport,
approach:
information
heritage

Accessible tourism is tourism

Pilot Project: WW1 centenary 2014-2018

Cooperation with authorities and organisations
Offering an entirely accessible travel destination
a wider choice of accessible points of interest
points of interest are interconnected in an accessible way

Accessibility service chain: building +

surrounding neighborhood, municipality and
entire region
Opportunity to improve quality of facilities &
information channels

Catalonia

Catalonia

Accessibili
ty www.turismeperatothom.com
Aims:
To provide accessibility
for all
To promote full
participation in society
through tourism
To integrate
accessibility within the
different tourism
products
To rise awareness of the
industry
To foster specific
training
To encourage
accessible information
and communication on

Catalonia

Accessibili
ty
Example: Active Accessible
Tourism

Ballo
on
fligh
ts
Divi
ng

Skiin
g
Saili
ng
Bikin
g

CONCLUSIONS

REGIONAL AUTHORITIES HAVE A GLOBAL

VISION

ACCESSIBILITY MEASURES INTEGRATED

Undertake Strategic
actions
Improve the local
situation
REGIONAL TOURISM

STRATEGY
SOCIAL DIALOGUE MEASURABILITY COMPETITIVENESS

SUSTAINABILITY

Thank you!
More info:
communication@necstour.eu
@NECSTouR

www.necstour.eu