Kiri

Tere, Aleksandr!

Edastan VPO poolt mõned ettepanekud, et kestliku turismi vaatest eriti olulisele ligipääsetavuse aspektile mõnevõrra rohkem tähelepanu pöörataks. Kui on küsimusi, anna teada mulle või otse Kristale, kelle sulest ettepanekud ja selgitused 99% ulatuses pärinevad. Selgitused põhinevad valdavalt EL allikatel – loodetavasti see ei tekita OECD kontekstis probleeme?

Tunnustada saab, et suunistes on ligipääsetavust mainitud ning vähemalt praegune tase peaks kindlasti säilima. Samas võiks ligipääsetavus meie hinnangul veel selgemalt ja rohkem teemasid hõlmavalt suunistes sisalduda. See on nt Eesti vaatest oluline nii Eesti 2035, Heaolu arengukava 2023-2030, kui ka Turismi pika vaate eesmärkide saavutamiseks.  

Proposals to emphasize importance of improving accessibility: 

„RECOGNISING the need for tourism development to take place within the wider context of relevant economic development strategies, and in close co-operation with the private sector, advocacy groups for people with disabilities and local communities; 

1. Take measures to secure a robust and stable tourism sector by:

e) Identifying and addressing areas of supply-side weakness and fragility in the tourism sector, e.g. workforce shortages, skills, digitalisation, accessibility. 

1. Take measures to secure a robust and stable tourism sector by:

f) Working across sectors and internationally to anticipate, identify and be better prepared to respond to potential and emerging threats and risks for tourism, and the impact of demographic changes on tourism. 

1. Take measures to secure a robust and stable tourism sector by: 

g) enhancing accessibility, enabling individuals to engage with tourism seamlessly across different life stages and regardless of permanent or temporary special needs. 

4. Enhance and spread the benefits of digitalisation in the tourism sector, while mitigating risks by:

a) Prioritising the digital transition within tourism policy, including the closing of current and anticipated gaps in digital skills, accessibility and infrastructure in the sector, to help reduce disparities between destinations. 

6. Encourage safe and seamless mobility to improve the competitiveness of destinations and the traveller experience by:

b) Coordinating transport and tourism planning and operations in the provision of seamless links between different modes of transport, to benefit both visitors and residents, and improve destination connectivity, accessibility and sustainability. 

Explanation: 

We suggest emphasizing the need for improving accessibility in all aspects of tourism, as proposed above. Enhancing accessibility within tourism sector is imperative to ensure inclusivity for disabled individuals, children, families, and the elderly. Accessibility has been emphasized in e.g. EU strategic goals and international agreements (references below). Considering the demographic changes and that all humans are valued in our societies, and that accessibility measures are still implemented unevenly, we believe that it needs to be stressed also in this document. Improving accessibility is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic economic decision. The European Commission highlights that "making tourism more accessible is not only a social responsibility – there is also a compelling business case for improving accessibility as it can boost the competitiveness of tourism in Europe." Accessible tourism - European Commission 

People with disabilities, older people, pregnant women, families with young children and those who have other permanent or temporary functional, health or mobility limitations might not be able to participate in tourism, if it is not accessible. Not only disabled people, but 100% people experience the need for accessibility features in different stages of their lives, so we are not talking about narrow segment of clients. Client base could be more stable, if people can be retuning clients regardless of which stage of life they are going through. If not needed at a given moment, accessibility features still make the experiences more convenient and enjoyable. By adopting comprehensive accessibility measures, the tourism sector can foster inclusivity, enhance its market reach, and uphold the principles outlined in European strategic frameworks and international conventions. 

Additional sources that point out the need for accessibility in tourism: 

European Agenda for Tourism 2030 - Council conclusions (adopted on 01/12/2022) https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15441-2022-INIT/en/pdf. 

Transition pathway for tourism, European Commission: Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2873/344425 

Union of equality – Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030, European Commission: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Publications Office, 2021, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2767/31633  

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Article 4 §1 pt “c” mandates that States Parties " To take into account the protection and promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities in all policies and programmes" Article 4 - General obligations | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)  

Tervitades

Käthlin

VPO

1.       turismisektori tugevdamine ja stabiilsuse tagamine,

2.       kaasavuse ja ligipääsetavuse suurendamine turismi arendamisel ja juhtimisel,

3.       roheülemineku edendamine turismisektoris,

4.       digitaliseerimise eeliste laiendamine turismisektoris,

5.       kriisidele vastupanuvõime suurendamine,

6.       ohutu ja sujuva reisimise edendamine,

7.       rahastamis- ja finantseerimismehhanismide toetamine kestliku turismimajanduse edendamiseks.