Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/734031
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2016 Opinion 30 F or the last quarter of a century, World Tourism Day, held annually on 27 September, has aimed to foster awareness of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic impact. This year, the UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organisation) has chosen to celebrate World Tourism Day by focusing on one of the major issues that is currently facing the global tourism industry, that of Accessible Tourism. Travel and tourism has become the world's largest and fastest growing industry, with consistent and robust year-on-year growth. With the number of international travellers exceeding 1 billion, countries across the globe are increasingly treating tourism as an important part of their economic growth and development strategies. Moreover, this industry is also an effective driver for inclusive development, creating jobs and wellbeing for their respective communities. This reality can be seen to its fullest extent here in Malta, where the relevance and importance of tourism as a fundamental pillar of our economy follows on the exceptional results, both in terms of arrivals and economic returns, being registered year after year. Given this scenario, the provision of safe, convenient and economical transport and other tourism-related infrastructure is also a key factor for the ongoing success of tourism. Moreover, we strongly believe, as does the UNWTO, that reaching universal accessibility in tourism is a shared responsibility of all parties involved in the tourism value chain, as well as an important business opportunity for companies and destinations. In this context, it must be clear that accessible tourism for all is not only about providing access to people with disabilities. Rather, it is about creating universally designed environments that can support people that may have temporary disabilities and mobility issues, including families with young children, and the ever increasing ageing population. Simultaneously, it also ensures a safer environment for employees to work within. According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 1 billion persons with disabilities globally. This equates to approximately 15% of the world population having a physical, mental or sensory disability. We are also aware that we are facing a rapid ageing of the population across the world. By the year 2050, the number of persons over the age of 60 is projected to increase to around 20% of the world population, with one-fifth aged 80 years or over. Naturally, the growing focus on Accessible Tourism presents a challenge to the global travel industry, including Malta's, in terms of improving policies and mobilising the required investments to carry out the necessary improvements across the board, both in the short and longer term. In view of these developments, my Ministry, in collaboration with the Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Persuni b' Dizabilita' (KNPD), has been at the forefront of promoting the importance of this concept. Through the Malta Tourism Authority, we have been actively encouraging and incentivising hoteliers to invest more in the area of accessibility. This will prove of benefit to the individual traveller, the properties concerned, as well as for our industry in general. I am confident that all hoteliers are viewing this as an opportunity to increase their competitive edge and improve the quality of their offer and ultimately that of the destination, while ensuring that their property is accessible to all. Meanwhile, I am pleased to announce that the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), again in collaboration with the KNPD, have mapped out a curriculum for ITS trainees which specifically focuses on the qualities required to render the work-place more accessible, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors. Apart from raising awareness about accessibility issues, this development will boost the competences of our tourism workers in this important area. Moreover, the ITS, together with the KNPD and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), is assessing specific targets related to inclusiveness with regard to the services offered by local tour guides. We are also building on what we have already achieved in terms of improvement of accessibility to our beaches. This year, new wooden ramps were installed in beaches at Mellieħa to improve accessibility, while amphibious chairs were introduced in all sandy beaches. Customised hoists were also set up at Qawra Point and at Exiles beach in Sliema. Going forward, we have plans to invest further in increasing access to Golden Sands, Armier, Pretty Bay in Birżebuġgja and Fajtata Bay in Marsascala. In his official message on World Tourism Day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said that "Everyone has the right to access leisure and tourism services on an equal basis. Yet even with modern technologies, those with visual, hearing, mobility or cognitive impairments are being left behind in many tourism destinations." Also to this end, enhancing quality along the entire tourism value chain remains a primary objective of our National Tourism Policy, and an essential element of our competitiveness. The issue of accessibility must also be seen in this perspective. However, let us remember that inclusiveness is also a fundamental pillar of the Government's social policy, and this further places a moral obligation on us all to ensure that all visitors to our destination are guaranteed an experience which is free of accessibility constraints, and which is as user-friendly as possible. Edward Zammit Lewis is minister for tourism Promoting universal accessibility in tourism Edward Zammit Lewis Tourism is an effective driver for inclusive development